May is Asthma Awareness Month

May is asthma awareness month.  That may be perfect timing, especially for those who welcome spring with a box of Kleenex in one hand and an inhaler in the other.  With pollen counts through the roof and mold spore blowing in the wind, May in Missouri can be challenging for those with asthma.

Asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and night time or early morning cough.  The symptoms occur when the air passages in the lungs hyper-react to a stimulus, become inflamed, swell, produce thick mucous, then are obstructed.  These symptoms can happen very quickly and can be very frightening.  If you are tempted to discount the validity of asthma or think it’s an “emotional” illness, try this test.  Jog in place until you are winded, then pinch your nose shut and breathe through a regular size drinking straw.  That will give you a small simulation of an acute asthma attack.

Asthma is a treatable condition with properly used medication and awareness and avoidance of triggers, the stimulus that starts the hyper-reactive response of the airways.  For some, allergens are triggers.  It may be springtime tree and grass pollen or ragweed in the fall.  Mold spore is always in the air unless the ground is covered with snow.  Avoiding these triggers can be as simple as closing the windows in your home and running the furnace or air conditioner, depending on the season.  Allergy shots can also be a long term help.

Major indoor triggers include dust mites that live in our carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture, cockroaches and their droppings and second-hand tobacco smoke.  Dust mites can be contained by putting mattresses and pillows in zippered plastic covers.  Roaches need food and water, so sweep up crumbs frequently.  Traps will also help. Because asthma is the most common long term disease in children, it is vital that homes and vehicles be smoke-free.  I once heard an asthma specialist state that smoking around a child with asthma is child abuse.

Outdoor air pollution from industry and car exhausts can be triggers.  Air quality forecasts for big cities mention asthma suffers all summer.

Coaches and school nurses are aware of exercise-induced asthma.  One jog around the gym will bring on a round of hacking coughs.  Breathing in cold air with outdoor activity can be a trigger too.  Wear a face shield if you’re going to take part in cold weather sports, or work (or play) outdoors.

Animal dander can be a problem for some.  If you can’t part with your pet, keep them out of the bedroom.   Bathing the pet weekly will also help.  Strong smelling odors, even perfume, can set off twitchy airways, as can weather changes.

Because asthma is treatable and acute attacks are reversible, some think it is a disease you outgrow.  The Center for Disease Control reminds us,  “If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only if something bothers your lungs.“  Diagnosis can be difficult, especially in kids under 5.  But your asthma doctor will check your lung function, check for allergies, ask lots of questions about your activities and when you cough and when you  don’t , when you’re short of breath or wheezy and will take a family history.

Then together, your doctor and you will develop an asthma action plan that allows you to control your asthma.  This plan outlines your daily treatment and the steps to follow when you experience worsening of your symptoms.  These plans allow people with asthma a way to follow steps that can avoid emergency room trips.  Avoiding ER trips by controlling asthma symptoms is not only a successful treatment plan, but allows people to live their lives without symptoms.  They sleep better, don’t miss work or school and can participate in physical activities.

Acute asthma attacks are frightening for the whole family.  But asthma is a treatable condition you can control.  New medications work to prevent acute problems, not just slow down an acute episode in progress.  See your doctor, use your medication correctly and stop asthma from controlling your life.

For more information about asthma, visit www.cdc.gov .   All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.