The video above shows an excellent summary of asthma.

 

Asthma is an inflammatory condition in which your airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus.

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For some people, asthma signs and symptoms flare up in certain situations:

• Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry

• Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust

• Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets (pet dander)

For others symptoms occur all the time.

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Asthma symptoms:

• Shortness of breath

• Chest tightness or pain

• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing

• A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children)

• Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu

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Signs that your asthma is probably worsening include:

• Asthma signs and symptoms that are more frequent and bothersome

• Increasing difficulty breathing (measurable with a peak flow meter, a device used to check how well your lungs are working)

• The need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often

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Diagnosis of Asthma:

• Spirometry/Peak flow

• Methacholine challenge

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Treatment for Asthma: 

• Avoid your triggers

• Inhaled (puffer) medications. - steroids, short acting bronchodilators, long acting bronchodilators 

• oral medications - leukotriene modifiers - montelukast, oral steroids, theophylline

• immunotherapy - allergy shot, omalizumab

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It is important to have your immunizations up to date particularly Flu shot and Pneumonia vaccination 

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How do puffers help in asthma?

There are 2 main types of puffer medications:

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1) Bronchodilators: these medications dilate your airways. In there words, they open up airways making them wider or larger. This allows you to breathe more air into your lungs. Bronchodilator medications are a quick “rescue” help for your asthma. They make you feel better quickly, but only temporarily.  They do not prevent the underlying inflammation that causes asthma attacks. Click here for more information on these “rescue” puffers.

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2) Inhaled Steroids: these decrease the inflammation in your airways. They get at the root cause of asthma. They take time (days to weeks) to take effect and they must be taking regularly every day in order to help you. Click here for more information on inhaled steroid puffers. 

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How to take puffers correctly? 

There are many different types of puffers these days. Some puffers have the medication in aerosol form. Others are in a dry-powder form. Click HERE for more information.

One of the most common type of puffer is an aerosol “Metered-Dose Inhaler“. Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these multi-dose inhalers.

Multi-dose inhalers are ideally used with a “spacer” or “aerochamber“, especially for children! Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these spacers.

Some puffers come in the form of a “Diskus“. Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these diskus inhalers.

Some puffers come in the form of a “Turbuhaler“. Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these turbuhalers.

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Have an Asthma action plan in place with your physician so you know when and how to treat your asthma. See the link below for an Action plan.

Asthma Action plan