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Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs. The airways are very sensitive and swell up in response to certain triggers. The muscles in the airways tighten and the airway lining becomes swollen and inflamed, producing sticky mucous. These changes cause the airways to become narrow, making it difficult to breathe and causing typical asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Why asthma management is importantMedication is essential to manage asthma well. Good asthma care also involves treating other conditions that can affect asthma, such as hay fever. A healthy lifestyle can help you stay in control of your asthma symptoms and feel well. With good asthma management, you can lead a normal, active life. Following your personal written asthma action plan, developed with your doctor, is the best way to keep your asthma under control. An action plan provides simple instructions for routinely managing your asthma, plus advice on what to do if your asthma symptoms flare up. The main aims of asthma treatment are to:
What is an asthma action plan?An asthma action plan is created by you and your doctor to help manage your asthma. It includes information about what you must do to stay healthy, and what to do when your asthma is unstable and you need help. There is no ‘standard’ asthma action plan, as everyone’s asthma is different. Your plan needs to be developed to deal with your own triggers, signs and symptoms, and medication. It might be based on symptoms, peak-flow readings or both. However, symptom-based plans are more common. Action plans are available in many different formats, you can also upload it to the Asthma mobile website. Download an asthma action plan . Contents of an asthma action planAn asthma action plan includes:
Review your asthma action plan with your doctor every 6 months, or after a severe asthma flare-up. Asthma action plans for childrenIf you are a parent or carer of a child with asthma, it is important to obtain a clear, written summary of how to manage your child’s asthma. This is called an asthma action plan and is an important tool for anyone caring for your child. It provides up-to-date, detailed information (including your child’s emergency first aid plan) to help manage your child’s asthma. Give a copy of the plan to your child’s school, kindergarten, childcare centre and anyone else caring for your child. When your child is old enough to understand, make sure that you explain asthma to them and encourage them to be aware of their symptoms and how to treat them. Common asthma triggersAsthma is a big health problem in Australia. More than 2 million people have asthma (about 1 in 9 adults and children). While the cause is not always known, allergy often plays a large part. Asthma can be triggered by a variety of factors, including things in our everyday environment. Triggers can also vary from person to person. Common asthma triggers include:
Treatment for asthmaThe two main types of asthma medication are relievers and preventers. Everyone who has asthma needs a reliever to use when they have asthma symptoms. Some children and most adults with asthma also need to take preventer treatment. This helps to make the airways less sensitive to triggers and reduces the inflammation. Reliever medication for asthmaReliever medication is used for an asthma flare-up or emergency. It opens the airways quickly and is taken as needed for immediate relief from asthma symptoms. Reliever medication is sometimes overused. Using too much, or too often, could lead to side effects, including tremors (shaking or trembling) and a rapid heart rate. These side effects are not likely to cause harm. However, frequent use of reliever medication may be a sign that your asthma is not being well controlled. If you need to use a reliever more than twice a week for asthma symptoms (apart from use before exercise), see your doctor to review your asthma and medication. Preventer medication for asthmaPreventer medication makes the airways less sensitive and reduces inflammation and swelling. It needs to be taken as prescribed, over the long term, to be most effective in reducing the risk and severity of any flare-ups. Most preventer medication for asthma is inhaled corticosteroid. Because the medication goes straight to your lungs where it is needed, the risk of side effects from taking inhaled steroids is very low. Most adults with asthma can achieve good control of their asthma symptoms with a low dose of inhaled corticosteroid. Preventer medication for children with asthmaSome children with asthma need to take a regular preventer. This can be an inhaled corticosteroid (like the adult medication). There is also non-steroid medication available, including a tablet. Talk to your doctor about the best type of medication for your child – this usually depends on the child’s symptoms and age, as well as how easy it will be to give properly. Safety and extra preventer medication for asthmaPeople who use a regular preventer (such as an inhaled corticosteroid), but still get regular asthma symptoms, may need to step up their medication. These stronger preventers are called ‘combination’ therapies because they include a second medicine and the inhaled corticosteroid. Asthma preventers should be prescribed at the lowest strength that works for you or your child. There is no extra benefit in taking medication that is stronger than you need. Inhaler devices for asthma medicationSome people need extra help to take their asthma medication and make it work more effectively. Work with your doctor to decide which device is best for you. Inhalers are the most common devices for asthma medication. The 3 main types of inhaler devices are:
Watch National Asthma Council which show you how to use different types of inhalers, including this video on how to use a standard metered-dose inhaler. Some other types of medication may be used for more severe asthma. Your doctor may prescribe these additional therapies or refer you to a respiratory specialist. Spacers for asthmaA spacer is used to make it easier for people with asthma to inhale their medicine. Using a spacer with an inhaler (puffer) lets more medication reach your lungs and reduces possible side effects from the medication. A spacer is a special device that looks like a clear tube. It is attached to a metered-dose inhaler. Fire one puff of the medicine into the spacer, breathe in slowly and deeply, then hold your breath for about 5 seconds or as long as comfortable. Young children should breathe in and out normally for 4 breaths, before the next puff is fired into the spacer. Nebulisers for asthmaNebulisers were once commonly used for asthma. Research suggests a puffer with a spacer works just as well as a nebuliser – they are also easier and cheaper to use and reduce the risk of side effects. If you still use a nebuliser for taking asthma medication – whether day-to-day or just when symptoms flare up – talk to your doctor about making the switch. How to take asthma medication effectivelyTaking medication regularly can be difficult. It can be easy to forget and many people dislike having to take medication, especially when they feel well and have no symptoms. But it is important to take your medication correctly and follow medical advice. Tips to help you take asthma medication include:
If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor, asthma educator or pharmacist. Tips for parents and carers of children with asthmaAll the above tips also apply to children, but useful tips to help your child manage their asthma include:
Other medication and asthma triggersSome medication for other health conditions can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger an asthma flare-up or attack. It is very important that you inform your doctor and pharmacist that you have asthma when a new medicine is prescribed to you or when you are buying over-the-counter medication or complementary therapies. If you feel a particular medicine is making your asthma worse, treat your symptoms and contact your doctor immediately. Some medicines known to trigger asthma symptoms in some people include:
Asthma first aidAn asthma flare-up (attack) can take anything from a few minutes to a few days to develop. It can be a very frightening experience. Anyone who is having an asthma attack needs immediate help. The 4 steps of asthma first aid are:
Where to get help
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