Asthma Myths Quiz

Asthma is a predisposition to chronic inflammation of the lungs in which the airways (bronchi) are reversibly narrowed.During asthma attacks , the smooth muscle cells in the bronchi constrict, and the airways become inflamed and swollen. Breathing becomes difficult.Attacks can be prevented by avoiding triggering factors and by drug treatment.

These are some of the many faces of asthma. Most researchers believe that the different patterns of asthma are all related to one condition. Other researchers feel that separate lung conditions exist. There is currently no cure for asthma and no single exact cause has been identified. Therefore, understanding the changes that occur in asthma, how it makes you feel, and how it can behave over time is vital.

This knowledge empowers you to take an active role in your own health care.Asthma exists in two states: the steady-state of chronic asthma, and the acute state of an acute asthma exacerbation. The symptoms are different depending on what state the patient is in.Common symptoms of asthma in a steady-state include: nighttime coughing, shortness of breath with exertion but no dyspnea at rest, a chronic 'throat-clearing' type cough, and complaints of a tight feeling in the chest. An acute exacerbation of asthma is commonly referred to as an asthma attack. The cardinal symptoms of an attack are shortness of breath (dyspnea), wheezing and chest tightness.

Self-Care at Home

Current treatment regimens are designed to minimize discomfort, inconvenience, and the extent to which you have to limit your activities. If you follow your treatment plan closely, you should be able to avoid or reduce your visits to your health-care provider or the emergency department.

* Know your triggers and do what you can to avoid them.

* If you smoke, quit.

* Do not take cough medicine. These medicines do not help asthma and may cause unwanted side effects.

* Aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can cause asthma to worsen in certain individuals. These medications should not be taken without the advice of your health-care provider.

* Do not use nonprescription inhalers. These contain very short-acting drugs that may not last long enough to relieve an asthma attack and may cause unwanted side effects.

* Take only the medications your health-care provider has prescribed for your asthma. Take them as directed.

* Do not take any nonprescription preparations, herbs, or dietary supplements, even if they are completely "natural," without talking to your health-care provider first. Some of these may have unwanted side effects or interfere with your medications.

* If the medication is not working, do not take more than you have been directed to take. Overusing asthma medications can be dangerous.

Medical Treatment

If you are in the emergency room, treatment will be started while the evaluation is still going on.

* You may be given oxygen through a face mask or a tube that goes in your nose.

If your asthma has just been diagnosed, you may be started on a regimen of medications and monitoring. You will be given two types of medications:

* Controller medications: These are for long-term control of persistent asthma. They help to reduce the inflammation in the lungs that underlies asthma attacks. You take these every day regardless of whether you are having symptoms or not.

* Rescue medications: These are for short-term control of asthma attacks. You take these only when you are having symptoms or are more likely to have an attack -- for example, when you have an infection in your respiratory tract.