How to cope with Asthma?

Having asthma can be frustrating. Sometimes, it can even be scary. It is important to know how to manage your asthma properly. This will help keep your asthma well controlled and will help decrease how often you have asthma flares. There are a variety of methods for coping with asthma in order to decrease how much this condition affects your daily life.

HOW CAN I KEEP MY ASTHMA WELL CONTROLLED?

• Keep all regular visits with your asthma health care provider. It is important to see your health care provider and to complete lung function testing so that you will know if your asthma is well controlled or if you need to change your treatment plan.
• Check your peak flow often using your peak flow meter. Record your peak flow readings. This can help you detect an asthma flare before you start having symptoms. Follow your asthma action plan any time your peak flow reading drops into the yellow or red zone.
• Take your maintenance asthma medicines as told by your health care provider. Do not skip medicine doses. If you skip doses, it will be more difficult to control your asthma over the long term.
• Avoid the things that bring on your asthma symptoms or that make your symptoms worse (triggers). If you cannot avoid certain triggers, such as air pollution or seasonal allergies, make sure that you are prepared to follow your asthma action plan.
• Act quickly when an asthma flare happens. Do not wait to see if it will go away on its own. Follow your asthma action plan's steps to treat an asthma flare.

DO I HAVE TO STOP BEING ACTIVE IF I HAVE ASTHMA?

You do not have to stop being active if you have asthma. However, you must keep your asthma well controlled and treat your asthma flares quickly so that you can remain as active as you would like. By taking these steps, you can participate in many activities, such as:

• Playing sports.
• Playing musical instruments.
• Going hiking and camping.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are unsure about new physical activity and how your asthma may be affected by it.

WILL MY ASTHMA EVER GO AWAY?

For most people, asthma is a long-term (chronic) condition that does not go away even if it is well controlled and even if you do not notice any symptoms. For some people, a few years may go by between asthma flares. For a small number of people, asthma can go away. When this happens, it is called remission. Remission does not happen for most people because asthma gradually changes the lining of your airways (remodeling of the airways). Airway remodeling makes you more sensitive to things that can irritate your airways and make it more difficult to breathe, such as:

• Air pollution.
• Chemical fumes.
• Very cold, dry, or humid air.
• Things that can cause allergy symptoms (allergens), such as pollen from grasses or trees and animal dander.

Most people with asthma will always have some airway remodeling, even if they cannot feel it.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I IGNORE MY ASTHMA?

• It may be tempting to ignore your asthma to see if it will go away. However, ignoring your condition will not make it go away, and it could make it difficult for you to control your asthma. Having poor control over your asthma can be dangerous, and it may mean that you will be more affected by it over the long term.

WHAT IF I AM EMBARRASSED BY MY ASTHMA? 

You should not be embarrassed by your asthma, and you should not try to hide it. Asthma is a very common condition. Most people know someone who has asthma. Make sure to tell your family, friends, teachers, coaches, and coworkers that you have this condition. If they know you have asthma, they can support you and help you follow your asthma action plan when you have an asthma flare. Your asthma action plan may recommend:

• Slowing down or decreasing your intensity level while playing sports or while doing other physical activities. You may only have to do this for a short time until your asthma flare goes away.
• Using your fast-acting rescue inhaler or other medicines more often during an asthma flare. If you are regularly using your rescue inhaler more than two times per week, talk with your health care provider. Your asthma treatment plan may need to be changed.

HOW CAN I DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF HAVING ASTHMA?

It is important to know that you are not alone. There are many other people who have asthma. Consider talking about what it is like to have asthma with people you can trust, such as:

• Family members.
• Close friends.
• A member of your church or other faith-based organization or another community group.

When you have questions about your asthma, look for information from trustworthy sources. These sources may include:

• Your asthma health care provider.
• Your primary health care provider.
• Your school nurse, if this applies.

You can also find emotional support and accurate information from an asthma support group and camps developed for people with asthma. Ask your health care provider if there is an asthma support group or camp near you.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTHMA?

You can find more information about asthma from these sources:

• American Lung Association: www.lung.org 
• American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments 
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/resources/lung 

HOW CAN I STAY CALM DURING AN ASTHMA ATTACK?

Instead of panicking during an asthma flare, try to remain calm. Panicking during an asthma flare can make your symptoms feel worse. Follow your asthma action plan and try to relax by:

• Listening to calming music.
• Taking a warm bath.
• Finding a quiet room to rest in.

If your symptoms do not improve, call your healthcare provider or seek medical care from the closest healthcare facility. 

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your healthcare provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your healthcare provider.