Who can get Asthma?
There are currently 22 million people in the United States with asthma. Of that 22 million, 6 million are children.
* Children who wheeze or are prone to respiratory infections * Allergy suffers * Eczema * Parental history of asthma
Symptoms
* Wheezing * Trouble breathing * Coughing * Chest tightness * Trouble doing usual activities
ASTHMA
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your airways or bronchial tubes within the lungs. The bronchial tubes are responsible to carry air in and out of your lungs. With asthma, the inside of the airways become irritated, and swollen (inflamed). Asthma causes the lungs to be “super sensitive” to irritants, such as perfumes, aerosols, smoke and cold air. Irritants that cause issues with breathing are called “triggers”. When an asthma patient is exposed to triggers, they may have what is called an asthma attack. During an asthma attack the airways swell, which makes it difficult to get air in and out of the airways. This can cause symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. During an asthma attack one may need to be seen by a doctor, if the medication or inhalers that are prescribed do not relieve the symptoms. * [Type a quote from the document or the summary of an interesting point. You can position the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Text Box Tools tab to change the formatting of the pull quote text box.]
Future Prevention Techniques: * Avoid triggers when possible * Receive allergy testing * Take all medications as prescribed * Maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle * Education! * COMPLIANCE
What causes or aggravates asthma? * Molds * Pollens from plants, trees * Animals * Cockroaches * Feather pillows * Down comforters * Sensitivity to medications * Dust * Dust mites * Change in temperature * Smoke * Campfires, burning leaves * Vapors from paints, cleaning agents etc * References:
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2011). Asthma. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Causes.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Asthma. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/speakit/default.htm
Pollution * Colds, flu or viruses *
Work exposure * Exercise
