Asthma Healing

 An asthma action plan can help you recognize early warning signs, and how to act to prevent an asthma attack.

Up to 10% of children in the United States have asthma, and asthma control is key to preventing long-term problems. National treatment guidelines recommend inhaled corticosteroids to control symptoms in very young children with persistent asthma. Listen to experts discuss the options available for children under the age of five.

Children with respiratory problems risk being misdiagnosed with asthma if their race is not taken into account, Canadian researchers say.

People who are obese tend to suffer from more severe asthma symptoms as compared to those with normal weight. Along with its other side effects, obesity can also create problems for those suffering from asthma. A number of previous studies tell that obese people are at a greater risk of developing asthma than their normal-weight counterparts. But as to whether being overweight affects asthma severity still remains a matter of contention.

If you have asthma, you're not alone. More than 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lifetime, about a third are children under 18 years of age.

As a kid, Jean G. was determined to participate in sports, but asthma held her back. "Playing sports was a big thing. But I tried out for field hockey and it was horrible. I just couldn't keep up with all the running. I had to drop out," she says.

Unfortunately, too many people can relate to the impact that asthma can have on someone's life, like Donna H, who says, "I was out with a group of people and all of a sudden I just couldn't breathe. There was no air. I remember my mom and dad taking me to the hospital. The doctor said I had asthma, and she gave me an inhaler to use in emergencies. And that was the start of my journey."

Some people learn they have asthma late in life. Richard P., a psychology professor from Tennessee, blamed his difficulty breathing on being out of shape. When he was finally diagnosed with asthma he was in his mid-40s. For years, he relied on an albuterol quick-relief inhaler to treat his asthma. "It used to be a common joke that I had a racquetball racket in one hand and a quick-relief inhaler in the other," he says.

Asthma is a variable and unpredictable disease. Attacks, sometimes known as flare-ups, can occur with very little warning. Severity varies from episode to episode. People who live with asthma daily understand the fear, stress, and discomfort an attack can cause.

Whether you've recently been diagnosed with asthma or lived with it for years, managing your asthma can help you live a healthy, active life. But you have to follow your treatment plan as developed by your healthcare professional.

Here are some tools that may help you better manage your asthma. Of course, these tools do not take the place of a diagnosis from a healthcare professional. Please follow up with your healthcare professional once you've armed yourself with information.

If you have been diagnosed as having asthma, it will never go away. The underlying airway inflammation is always present—even if you don't have symptoms all the time. By not treating it or not treating it correctly, you may run the risk of causing long-term lung damage and experiencing more frequent and severe asthma flare-ups.

Some people who have asthma may find that it becomes worse if they breathe in dust, fumes, or other asthma triggers at work. In some cases, these substances (triggers) may actually cause asthma.

Since many people with asthma have allergies that trigger their asthma symptoms, your healthcare professional may decide that allergy testing and allergy shots may help you manage your asthma.

Medications can come with different types of devices. If your healthcare professional suggests that you use a special device to optimally deliver your asthma medication, spend some time to learn how to use the device properly.

If you've had asthma for some time, you might not expect much from your medications. You may even accept living with a certain level of wheezing and shortness of breath. On the other hand, if you were recently diagnosed with asthma, you probably wish it would just go away.