According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma is a disease that causes airway narrowing and results in episodes of wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and difficulty breathing. If you have asthma, you have it all the time--but the attacks are typically episodic and occur in response to a trigger. The trigger is different in each patient but can include exercise, weather changes, infection and allergens. Though asthma attacks can be frightening, you can take certain steps to reduce the chances of an attack.
Significance
According to the National Institutes of Health, 22 million people in the United States live with asthma. When asthma isn't well controlled, it can result in missed school and work days as well as having to undergo hospitalizations. In children, asthma symptoms can prevent normal play and activity. If home treatment of asthma is optimized, symptoms can often be controlled and patients can lead normal lives.
Home Preventive Measures
You can take measures at home to reduce the chance of an asthma attack. Over time, most patients learn to recognize the trigger for their own asthma attacks. If allergies play a role in your asthma, you can take measures to reduce exposure to allergens. This includes staying away from animals that cause a response, using dust mite precaution measures in the case of a dust mite allergy and taking medications to reduce the body's response to allergens. Reducing exposure to cigarette smoke is particularly important, according to the American Lung Association.
Preventive Medications
You can take medications daily to reduce the chance of an asthma attack, according to MayoClinic.com. These medications are called long-acting inhaled corticosteroids, taken via an inhaler or nebulizer machine to reduce inflammation in the airways. Corticosteroids can have side effects, particularly in children, but these are reduced with the inhaled formulation because it's not absorbed into the bloodstream as readily. Some patients are also on long-acting beta-2 agonists. This type of medication helps keep airways open but is currently prescribed only with the inhaled corticosteroids.
Quick-Acting Medications
Patients are typically prescribed medications to use when an attack begins. The most common medication is a short-acting beta-2 agonist such as albuterol. It quickly helps to open up the airways and can rapidly provide symptom relief. Some patients are instructed to also take oral corticosteroids for more powerful anti-inflammatory effects if they have worsening issues with asthma.
Considerations
Maintain an active and healthy lifestyle to control asthma symptoms, and keep a healthy weight. Control reflux disease and allergies, as these can worsen asthma. Preventive and proactive measures at home can go a long way in reducing asthma symptoms and improving quality of life. If symptoms don't improve with home treatment or if the symptoms include difficulty breathing or rapid breathing, talk to your physician or go to the emergency room immediately.
