Living with Asthma
Managing your asthma
The American Lung Association asks people with asthma to answer these questions:
- Do you take your quick relief inhaler more than TWO times per week?
- Do you awaken at night with symptoms more than TWO times per month?
- Do you refill your quick relief inhaler more than TWO times per year?
If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, your asthma may be out of control. The best ways to control your asthma are:
- Avoiding your asthma triggers
- Following your doctor’s instructions about using your control medicine and rescue medicine (or quick relief inhaler)
- Using an Asthma Action Plan—this is a written plan that you develop with your doctor
Asthma triggers are things that are harmless to most people but which cause coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing in people who have asthma. Every person with asthma has different triggers. Some common asthma triggers are:
- Cold air
- Tobacco smoke and wood smoke
- Perfume, paint, hair spray, or any strong odors or fumes
- Allergens (particles that cause allergies) such as dust mites, pollen, molds, pollution, and animal dander (which are tiny scales or particles that fall off hair, feathers or skin) from any pets
- Common cold, influenza, and other respiratory illnesses
- Exercise
Medicine for people with asthma
Most people who have asthma find that medicine helps. There are two different types of medicines for treating asthma: rescue medications (or quick relief inhalers) and control medications.
- Rescue medicines (or quick relief inhalers) are used when you are having an asthma attack. Rescue medications are usually inhaled directly into your lungs and they act fast to stop your symptoms.
- Control medicines work over a long period of time to prevent asthma symptoms. They do not help if you only take them when you are having an asthma attack.
Exercise and asthma
Most people with asthma (up to 90%) have symptoms when they exercise. And some people have asthma symptoms only when they exercise. But exercise and physical activity are good for everyone—including people who have asthma. So, if you experience symptoms of asthma when you exercise, it’s important to take action and to talk to your doctor about medicine that can help you.
