What is asthma?
— Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways causing airway hyper-responsiveness that leads to recurrent
episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning.
Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma does not always cause symptoms. But when symptoms occur, they can be scary. Asthma
attacks happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed. Asthma can run in families.
The prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis in Nigeria is high with variabilities across regions and age groups. The number of persons with
clinical asthma in Nigeria (approximately 13 million) is likely to rank among the highest in Africa.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
— Asthma symptoms can include:
● Wheezing or noisy breathing
● Coughing
● A tight feeling in the chest
● Shortness of breath
Symptoms can happen each day, each week, or less often. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Although it is rare, an episode of asthma can sometimes even lead to death.
Is there a test for asthma?
— Yes. Your healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and have you do a breathing test to see how your lungs are working.
How is asthma treated?
— Asthma is treated with different types of medicines. The medicines can be inhalers, liquids, or pills. Your healthcare provider will prescribe
medicine based on how often you have symptoms and how serious your symptoms are. Asthma medicines work in 1 of 2 ways:
●Quick-relief medicines stop symptoms quickly – in 5 to 15 minutes. Almost everyone with asthma has a quick-relief inhaler that they carry
with them. People use these medicines whenever they have asthma symptoms. Most people need these medicines 1 or 2 times a week – or less often. But when asthma symptoms get worse, more doses might be needed. Some people can feel shaky after taking these medicines.
A few people also need a machine called a “nebulizer” to breathe in their medicine.
●Long-term controller medicines control asthma and prevent future symptoms. People with frequent asthma symptoms take these 1 or 2 times each day.
You must take all the medicines the healthcare provider prescribes, exactly how you are supposed to take them. You might have
to take medicines a few times a day. You might not feel a medicine working, but that does not mean it is not helping you.
Not taking your medicines correctly can cause symptoms to get worse. If your symptoms get much worse all of a sudden, you might even need to go to the hospital for treatment.
What is an asthma action plan?
— An asthma action plan is a list of instructions that tell you:
● Which medicines to use each day at home
● Which medicines to take if your symptoms get worse
● When to get help or call for an ambulance.
If you have frequent or severe asthma symptoms, your healthcare provider might suggest that you have an asthma action plan. If so, you and your healthcare provider will work together to make one. As part of your action plan, you might need to use something called a “peak flow meter.” Breathing into this device will show how your lungs are working. Your healthcare provider will show you the right way to use your inhaler and peak flow meter.
Should I see a healthcare provider?
— Yes. See your healthcare provider if you have an asthma attack and the symptoms do not improve or get worse after using a quick-relief medicine.
If the symptoms are severe, call for an ambulance.
If you need asthma medicine every day, you should see your healthcare provider every 6 months or more often.
Can asthma symptoms be prevented?
— Yes. You can help prevent your asthma symptoms. You can stay away from things that cause your symptoms or make them worse. Healthcare providers call these “triggers.” If you know what your triggers are, avoid them as much as possible. Some common triggers include:
●Dust
●Mold
●Animals, such as dogs and cats
●Pollen and plants
●Cigarette smoke
●Getting sick with a cold or flu (that’s why it’s important to get a flu shot)
●Stress
If you can’t avoid certain triggers, talk with your healthcare provider about what you can do. For example, exercise can be good for people with
asthma even if it is an asthma trigger. But you might need to take an extra dose of your quick-relief inhaler medicine before you exercise.
What if I want to get pregnant?
— If you want to get pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how to control your asthma. Keeping your asthma well-controlled is important for the health of your baby. Most asthma medicines are safe to take if you are pregnant.
MKO Abimbola holds a doctoral degree in physician associate studies from the United States of America. He is a Harvard Medical School scholar affiliated with Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas. He specializes in Internal medicine, Acute care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgical services.
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