Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | March 2020

HEALTHY 2 Think about how hard it would be to breathe through a straw for minutes or hours on end. That’s how breathing can sometimes feel for people who have asthma. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the airways to narrow. This can make it hard to breathe. More than 25 million Americans now live with asthma, and that number continues to rise. And while asthma affects people of all ages, it most often starts when you’re a kid. It’s important to spot the symptoms of asthma and to get medical help for it. What are the signs? Sometimes asthma symptoms are mild and go away on their own. But at other times, symptoms can get worse. When this happens, it could bring on an asthma attack. Common asthma symptoms include: ● Coughing ● Wheezing ● Chest tightness ● Shortness of breath Not all people with asthma have the same symptoms. And having these symptoms doesn’t always mean someone has the disease. If you think you have asthma, see your doctor. He or she can find out if you have the disease by: ● Looking at your health history ● Doing a physical exam ● Performing a simple lung function test What causes it? The cause of someone’s asthma isn’t always known. But a number of things—known as triggers—can bring on symptoms or make them worse. Common triggers include: ● Allergens, such as dust mites; animal dander; mold; and pollens from trees, grasses and flowers ● Cigarette smoke, air pollution and certain chemicals ● Respiratory infections ● Physical activity ● Stress If you do have asthma, your doctor can help you find out what your triggers are. You can then learn how to avoid them. Treating asthma There is no cure for asthma. But it can be managed well if you learn how to control your asthma. It’s important to get ongoing care and watch for signs that the disease is getting worse. Asthma is treated with two types of drugs: ● Quick-relief drugs. These provide temporary relief from asthma symptoms. ● Long-term control drugs. These are taken daily to control airway swelling. It’s important to take your asthma drugs the right way. So be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions. Most of the time, you can treat asthma symptoms on your own. But get medical help right away if you: ● Have trouble walking or talking because you are out of breath ● Develop blue lips or fingernails By working with your doctor and learning how to manage your asthma, you can breathe freely and live an active life. Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Could it be asthma? THE ALLIANCE is here to help! The Alliance offers the Healthy Breathing for Life Program. This program connects our members with asthma education classes for all ages. You and your child can learn new ways to manage asthma. You will also learn how to avoid asthma attacks and how to use medicine the best way. Call the Alliance’s Health Education Line at 800- 700-3874, ext. 5580 for more information. How to spot the symptoms