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A
sthma attacks can be
scary, especially if you
are watching your child
try to breathe or you are the one
gasping for air. People with asthma
have trouble breathing at times.
Signs of an asthma attack can
include cough, tight-feeling chest,
wheezing and di culty talking.
There is no cure for asthma,
but you can take control of it. We
have made a checklist based on
national guidelines to make sure
you have the tools to manage your
asthma.
Know your asthma medicine.
Meet with your doctor to talk
about your asthma and what
medicine you may need. Most
people need two kinds of medicine
to control their asthma: Quick-
relief medicine to help stop an
asthma attack (“relievers” or
“rescue” medicine) and medicine to
prevent asthma attacks that is used
every day, known as controller
medicine.
Create an asthma action plan
(AAP).
Work with your doctor to
create an AAP to guide how and
when you use your medicines.
Your doctor may have you use your
medicine di erently if you feel
worse or are going to be exposed
to something that makes your
symptoms worse, called an asthma
trigger.
Manage your asthma.
Keep
track of how you are feeling. Adjust
your treatment according to your
Tools for staying in
control of your asthma
AAP. Know when to call your
doctor. is should also be written
on your AAP.
Work with your doctor.
Visit
your doctor about your asthma
treatment at least once a year. Also
make sure to go in
to the doctor’s o ce
after an emergency
room visit or
hospitalization for
asthma.
Know your
asthma triggers.
Avoid your asthma
triggers. Limit
contact with things
that make your
asthma worse—
smoke, dust, strong
smells and sprays,
animals, pollen from
trees and owers,
colds and the u,
and running or other
vigorous physical
activity. Triggers
are unique to each
person with asthma.
Do you know what
triggers your asthma
symptoms?
By working
with your doctor
and learning how
to manage your
asthma, you can
breathe freely and
live an active life.
e Alliance has
a program, called the
Healthy
Breathing for Life Program
, that
covers certain asthma education
visits and classes. Also, Alliance
members ages 5 to 64 with asthma
who complete an AAP with their
doctor can be entered into a
ra e
to win a $50 gift card
. To nd out
more about this program, call the
Health Education Line at
1-800-
700-3874, ext. 5580
.
lung health
5
living
healthy