logo        
          tw fb
       
News  Facility listings  Need more info?  About Us  Contact Us
More Information
 

How to control Asthma attack | 16th June, 2017

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs bronchioles. Asthma is caaused by chronic inflammation of these passages. This makes the breathing tubes, or airways of the person highly sensitive to various triggers.
 
When the inflammation is "triggered" by any number of external and internal factors, the walls of the passages swell, and the openings fill with mucus.
Muscles within the breathing passages contract (bronchospasm), causing even further narrowing of the airways.
This narrowing makes it difficult for air to be breathed out (exhaled) from the lungs.
This resistance to exhaling leads to the typical symptoms of an asthma attack. 
 
Asthma can usually be managed with rescue inhalers to treat symptoms and controller inhalers that prevent symptoms. Severe cases may require longer acting inhalers that keep the airways open, as well as oral steroids. 
 
Like any other chronic disease, asthma is a condition you live with every day of your life. You can have an attack any time you are exposed to one of your triggers. Unlike other chronic obstructive lung diseases, asthma is reversible.
 
  • Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.
  • You have a better chance of controlling your asthma if it is diagnosed early and treatment is begun right away.
  • With proper treatment, people with asthma can have fewer and less severe attacks.
  • Without treatment, they will have more frequent and more severe asthma attacks and can even die. Ongoing persistent airway inflammation can lead to progressive deterioration of lung function and can result in disability and even death.
We grow up as children with less exposure to infection than did our ancestors, which has made our immune systems more sensitive.
We spend more and more time indoors, where we are exposed to indoor allergens such as dust and mold.
The air we breathe is more polluted than the air most of our ancestors breathed.
Our lifestyle has led to our getting less exercise and an epidemic of obesity. There is some evidence to suggest an association between obesity and asthma.
 
Since asthma is a chronic disease, treatment goes on for a very long time. Some people have to stay on treatment for the rest of their lives. The best way to improve your condition and live your life on your terms is to learn all you can about your asthma and what you can do to make it better.
 
  • Become a partner with your health-care provider and his or her support staff. Use the resources they can offer information, education, and expertise to help yourself.
  • Become aware of your asthma triggers and do what you can to avoid them.
  • Follow the treatment recommendations of your health-care provider. Understand your treatment. Know what each drug does and how it is used.
  • See your health-care provider as scheduled.
  • Report any changes or worsening of your symptoms promptly.
  • Report any side effects you are having with your medications.
These are the goals of treatment:
 
  • prevent ongoing and bothersome symptoms;
  • prevent asthma attacks;
  • prevent attacks severe enough to require a visit to your provider or an emergency department or hospitalization;
  • carry on with normal activities;
  • maintain normal or near-normal lung function; and
have as few side effects of medication as possible.
 
Current treatment regimens are designed to minimize discomfort, inconvenience, and the extent to which you have to limit your activities. If you follow your treatment plan closely, you should be able to avoid or reduce your visits to your health-care provider or the emergency department.
 
  • Know your triggers and do what you can to avoid them.
  • If you smoke, quit.
  • Do not take cough medicine. These medicines do not help asthma and may cause unwanted side effects.
  • Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can cause asthma to worsen in certain individuals. These medications should not be taken without the advice of your health-care provider.
  • Do not use nonprescription inhalers. These contain very short-acting drugs that may not last long enough to relieve an asthma attack and may cause unwanted side effects.
  • Take only the medications your health-care provider has prescribed for your asthma. Take them as directed.
  • Do not take any nonprescription preparations, herbs, or dietary supplements, even if they are completely "natural," without talking to your health-care provider first. Some of these may have unwanted side effects or interfere with your medications.
  • If the medication is not working, do not take more than you have been directed to take. Overusing asthma medications can be dangerous.
Be prepared to go on to the next step of your action plan if necessary.
If you think your medication is not working, let your health-care provider know right away
 
Your Health is our concern!
 
Mawuena Workartey/ ghanahospitals.org

     
Alphabetical list | Facility Type | Ownership | Specialist fields | Services | Health insurance | NHIS accredited
Advertise with us | List your facility here | Own a website today | Send us a mail | About us
Terms & Conditions       Privacy © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. ghanahospitals