Managing asthma for a better life

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it harder to get air in and out of your lungs. Common symptoms of asthma typically include:

• Shortness of breath
• Persistent coughing, especially at night
• Wheezing 
• Chest tightness or pressure
• Difficulty with exertional activities like exercise or cycling

Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be effectively managed with the right combination of medical treatment and day-to-day life choices.

Create a plan with your primary care physician

If you have asthma, it can help to find a doctor you trust and feel comfortable visiting on a regular basis. This allows you to create a plan to best manage the condition. 

There are four types of asthma. Your doctor will determine which medicines are the most helpful for the type of asthma you have and prescribe them for you.  These medicines can help control your asthma symptoms. By taking the right medicine at the right time, you may find that you can breathe more easily and have fewer symptoms. 

Asthma treatments

Asthma medicines come in two types: quick-relief (fast-acting) and long-term control. 

• Quick-relief medicines can control the symptoms of an asthma attack. They work quickly and you’ll notice improvement in your breathing within 5-15 minutes
• Long-term control medicines can help manage your asthma more effectively. Long-term control medications can decrease the severity and frequency of your asthma attacks, leading to fewer and milder attacks. They don't help you while you are having an asthma attack.

Bronchodilators are a type of inhaler that relaxes the airways. This makes breathing easier. Inhalers often contain albuterol. This drug can help ease difficult breathing and chest tightness as well as wheezing and shortness of breath. 

For most inhalers, it’s important to use a spacer. This is a tube that attaches to the mouthpiece of your inhaler. The spacer makes sure that more of the medication gets into your lungs and not just into your mouth, back of your throat or surrounding air.

Anti-inflammatory medicines, called corticosteroids, reduce swelling and mucus production inside the airways. When inflammation is reduced, breathing becomes easier. 

Allergy medications, like loratadine or cetirizine, can also be helpful if you have an allergy in addition to asthma. 

Be aware of common asthma triggers 

If you have asthma, you’ll want to be aware of things in your environment that make it harder to breathe. These are known as "triggers." These triggers can cause your airways to swell or create extra mucus, which makes breathing more difficult. This is also known as an asthma flare-up or "attack." 

Knowing your triggers can help prevent an asthma attack. Common triggers include: 

• Weather, pollen and air pollution 
• Smoke
• Allergies, mold or pets
• Respiratory viruses or colds
• Exercise
• Strong odors
• Strong emotions or stress

Keep a detailed journal of the activities or environments that make you feel worse. Avoid those triggers as much as you can. Or find ways to reduce their effect. For example, does wearing a mask cut down on breathing in pollen or smoke? 

After an asthma flare-up, you will likely feel tired. Additionally, you are at a greater risk of having another flare-up in the next several days.

Create an asthma action plan

Create an asthma action plan with your doctor. Note the steps to take if your asthma is getting worse.  Learn when to call your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room. 

It’s especially important to have an asthma action plan for a child who attends school or day care. This specialized plan for school-aged children lets caregivers know how and when to give medication. It may also explain when a child can give their own treatment. 

Asthma action plans often include recording your "peak flow measurements." A peak flow meter is a handheld device that shows how well air moves out of your lungs. It indicates how well your asthma is being controlled, tells you how bad an attack is and if your medicine is working. These measurements help your doctor determine if your asthma is worsening. 

Tracking your peak flow helps you and your doctor understand how well your asthma is controlled. 

Physical activity and asthma

Physical exercise has many benefits for people with asthma. Daily activity helps improve lung capacity. It also promotes blood flow to the lungs and heart. 

Many people with asthma avoid physical activity out of fear of triggering symptoms. But regular exercise can be beneficial for asthma management. 

To exercise more safely if you have asthma:

• Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
• Ask whether to use your inhaler before working out.
• Always warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
• Opt to exercise indoors when outside air quality is unhealthy. 

Other tips for managing asthma

Breathing exercises: 

When you’re feeling short of breath, try using a "Pursed Lip" breathing technique to ease your shortness of breath. Try practicing pursed lip breathing when you feel calm and relaxed so that you can use it when you’re feeling short of breath.

Managing stress:  

Emotions may be a trigger for some people. Here are a few ways to lessen your stress:

• Talk with someone close about what is stressing you.
• Be kind to yourself and find time to practice self-care.
• Eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Try meditation, gentle yoga or Tai Chi.
• Get a good night's sleep.

Vaccinations: 

With asthma, getting the flu, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses can make it harder for you. To protect yourself against these illnesses, you should be immunized every year. There are two pneumonia vaccines. Pneumovax 23 is administered once, but sometimes a booster is recommended. Prevnar 13 is recommended for older adults. Ask your primary care physician about what vaccines you should get.

To help free you from the constant worry about your next asthma attack, work with your doctor, know your triggers and take your medication, as needed. 

If you have concerns about your lung health, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.