Related topics: •  Asthma Center •  Revised Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment •  Smoking and Asthma •  What Causes Attacks •  What are the Symptoms of Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes your airways to narrow in response to various triggers like allergies, exercise, or even cold air, making it difficult for you to breathe. An estimated 20 million Americans have asthma, and that number is rising -- perhaps due to increasing air pollution and other irritants. In fact, asthma is the most common chronic illness among children. Fortunately, by taking the proper steps, you can prevent most attacks.

Having asthma is like running around for five minutes, then trying to breathe through one of those tiny coffee stirrer-straws, asthma sufferers say. Typical symptoms include difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, wheezing (a rasping or whistling sound when you breathe), coughing or spitting up mucus, tightness in your chest, and restless sleep or insomnia.

For some people, these symptoms are mild, infrequent, and last only a few minutes. For others, attacks happen often, are severe, and go on for hours or even days. In rare cases, asthma attacks are deadly.

Signs of a life-threatening attack include these symptoms:

•feeling as though you're suffocating

•being so breathless that you can't speak

•your lips and fingernails have turned blue or gray

If you (or someone you know) ever experience any of these symptoms, don't wait. Asthma kills almost 4,000 people every year. Take your asthma medication immediately and call 911 for emergency help.

Asthma attacks are usually set off by a trigger, though sometimes they can strike unexpectedly. Here are common culprits:

•anything you may be allergic to, such as dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, mold, smog, and animal dander

•tobacco smoke

•strong odors or fumes, such as from perfume, paint, or hair spray, pesticides, household cleaners

•smoke from a wood-burning fire

•cold air

•colds, flu, respiratory infections

•exercise

•strong emotions (such as getting upset or angry)

Asthma can be very serious, so it's important to see a physician if you have symptoms. Keep in mind, though, that a single episode of wheezing does not necessarily mean you have asthma.

If you've already been diagnosed, be sure to tell your doctor if you have breathing problems at night that prevent you from getting a good night's sleep or symptoms that are making it difficult for you to do things during the day. See your doctor also if you find you need to take more medicine than your prescription allows or your medicine stops working as well as it previously did.

•Identify and avoid triggers. Keeping a diary of the things you've done, the places you've been, and what you've eaten can help you figure out what causes your attacks. Once you know, steer clear of it.

•Find a medication program that works for you. Bronchodilators relax the muscles in your airways, so they open up and make it easier to breathe. Anti-inflammatory drugs keep your breathing passages open all the time by reducing swelling and mucus production. Both types of drugs come in inhalers (which you spray into your mouth) and pills.

•Monitor your lung capacity with a peak-flow meter. This simple, hand-held device tells you how constricted your air passages are. That can help you and your doctor decide which medications you need and how often you should take them. It can also alert you if your asthma is getting worse before you start feeling symptoms. Finally, it can help you identify triggers by showing you how your airways are doing at any given time. If your asthma is severe, your doctor may advise you to check your air flow several times a day; if it's mild, you may only need to use the meter when you feel your symptoms getting worse.

•Stay healthy. Eat a healthful diet, get enough rest, and exercise regularly. However, since exercise triggers attacks in some people, it's important to talk to your doctor before embarking on a workout program. Some physicians recommend swimming, since the moist air around a pool can soothe lung tissue (but be sure you're not allergic to chlorine). Taking your medicine as instructed can also ensure a problem-free workout.

•Do not smoke, and be sure to avoid places where there is a lot of secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke is especially irritating to children who have asthma, so ask family members and friends to smoke outdoors.

•Try cutting out foods containing sulfites (such as beer, wine, wine vinegar, instant tea, grape juice, lemon juice, grapes, fresh shrimp, pizza dough, dried fruits, canned vegetables, corn syrup). These foods have been linked to allergic asthma attacks.

-- Kate Lee is a former associate editor at Consumer Health Interactive and researcher at Time Inc. Health. She is currently a senior editor at BabyCenter.

Further Resources

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 611 East Wells Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: (414) 272-6071 Patient Information and Physician Referral Line: 1-800-822-2762 http://www.aaaai.org

References

Last updated October 28, 2008
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