About ten million Americans suffer the wheezing, chest tightness, and breathing difficulty that typifies asthma, which is what doctors call an episodic disease--acute attacks alternate with symptom-free periods. Asthma is a physical problem, not an emotional one (although stress, anxiety, or frustration can cause asthma to worsen), and it can be severe enough to disrupt people's lives.
What makes asthma different from other respiratory problems? Simply stated, the muscles within the small air passages of the lungs go into spasm and narrow the airways, causing wheezing and breathing difficulties.
A variety of triggers can set off asthma attacks:
- Breathing an allergen like pollen, mold, animal dander, or particles of dust or smoke
- Eating certain foods or taking certain drugs
- Experiencing emotional distress
- Exercising too hard
- Having bronchitis or an upper respiratory tract infection
Asthma attacks range from mild to severe, and treatment varies accordingly. Generally, asthma is too complex to treat with over-the-counter preparations. A doctor should monitor your condition and, if necessary, prescribe appropriate medications.
Asthmatics can do a number of things to help themselves, though.
- Always drink plenty of liquids (2 to 3 quarts a day) to keep secretions loose.
- Figure out what triggers your asthma, and eliminate allergens or irritants at home and at work.
- Make a special effort to keep your bedroom allergen-free.
- Sleep with a synthetic pillow, not a feather one.
- Don't smoke, and avoid exposure to air pollutants.
- Wear a scarf around your mouth and nose when walking or exercising in cold winter air to warm the air as you breath it in. This will prevent cold air from reaching sensitive airways.
- Discontinue vigorous exercise immediately if you start to wheeze.
- Avoid foods and medications that contain sulfites, used as preservatives and found chiefly in shellfish and wine. (Sulfites may trigger asthma attacks in as many as 10 percent of asthmatics.)
- Sit up during an asthma attack; don't lie down.
- Always keep your asthma medication close by to abort an attack as early as possible.
- Be cautious about using aspirin--some asthmatics are allergic to it. Use acetaminophen instead.
If you consult a doctor for help in controlling your asthma, he or she may prescribe any of the following medications.
- Bronchodilators, either in oral or aerosol form, which open airways to make breathing easier.
- Steroids, either in oral or aerosol form, to counteract an allergic reaction.
- Cromolyn sodium to be inhaled before an anticipated attack as a preventive measure for asthma that's triggered by allergic reactions or exercise. (Once an attack is under way, this drug is ineffective.)
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