Asthma; Prevention.There is no way to prevent asthma from developing. You can learn to identify your asthma or allergy triggers and possibly avoid them. Developing an asthma management plan with your health care team can help you determine which medication works best for you and what other strategies you can use to improve your condition. Here are a few suggestions for avoiding triggers:Track your symptoms to identify what triggers your asthma attacks; once identified try to avoid them Always be prepared to manage your attacks, if they occur Prevent symptoms before they occur, if possible. If you're allergic to cat or dog dander, use your asthma medications before visiting someone with these pets. If necessary, find a new home for your pet or keep it out of your sleeping area. If you smoke, quit, and turn your home into a smoke-free zone. When pollen counts or ozone levels are high in the summer, try to stay indoors and in air conditioning; use air filters on your furnace and air conditioner. If cold air is a trigger for you, wear a scarf to cover your mouth and nose when you are outside in the winter. Wash all your bedding, including pillow cases, clothes and stuffed animal toys, once a week or more often in hot water (greater than 130 degrees Fahrenheit) and dry at high heat to kill dust mites. Use a dehumidifier Dehumidifier Equipment designed to reduce the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. There are three methods by which water vapor may be removed: (1) the use of sorbent materials, (2) cooling to the required dew point, and (3) compression with aftercooling. in damp areas such as bathrooms and basements to reduce mold build-up. Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold or the flu, and wash your hands regularly. Get a flu shot in the fall Work with your health care professional to come up with a medication regimen that will still allow you to exercise. Use your asthma medications before exercising in cold air References "Who is at risk for asthma?" The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. May 2008. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Accessed June 2008. "Asthma." The Mayo Clinic. Last updated February 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed June 2008. "GERD GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD abbr. gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD and asthma." The Cleveland Clinic. 2008. http://my.clevelandclinic.org. Accessed June 2008. "Asthma facts and figures." The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for and controlling asthma, food allergies, nasal allergies and other allergic diseases. AAFA's mission is also to educate the public about these diseases. . http://www.aafa.org. Accessed June 2008. "Rhinitis Rhinitis Definition Rhinitis is inflammation of the mucous lining of the nose. Description Rhinitis is a nonspecific term that covers infections, allergies, and other disorders whose common feature is the location of their symptoms. and sinusitis sinusitis Inflammation of the sinuses. Acute sinusitis, usually due to infections such as the common cold, causes localized pain and tenderness, nasal obstruction and discharge, and malaise. ." The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Last updated 2005. http://www.aafa.org. Accessed June 2008. "Severent Diskus." RXList.com. (For black box warning). http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/salmeterol.htm. Accessed June 2008. "Tips to remember: Allergy and asthma medications." The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2008. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/asthmaallergymedications.stm. Accessed June 2008. "Asthma treatment in adolescents and adults." Uptodate.com. Last reviewed January 2008. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed June 2008. "Management of asthma during pregnancy." Uptodate.com. Last reviewed February 2008. http://patients.uptodate.com. Accessed June 2008. "Tips to remember: Asthma and pregnancy." The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2007. http://www.aaaai.org. Accessed June 2008. "Bronchodilator bronchodilator /bron·cho·di·la·tor/ (-di´la-ter) 1. expanding the lumina of the air passages of the lungs. 2. an agent which causes dilatation of the bronchi. , adrenergic adrenergic /ad·ren·er·gic/ (ad?ren-er´jik) 1. activated by, characteristic of, or secreting epinephrine or related substances, particularly the sympathetic nerve fibers that liberate norepinephrine at a synapse when a nerve ." Mayo Clinic. Updated February 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed June 2008. "Adult onset asthma." Johns Hopkins Hospital
"Tips to Remember: What are 'allergy shots'?" AAAAI. 2007. http://www.aaaai.org. Accessed June 2008. "Asthma." The National Center for Health Statistics. 2006. http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed June 2008. "Peak Flow Meters." The American Lung Association. 2007. http://www.lungusa.org. Accessed June 2008. "Executive Summary of the NAEEP Expert Panel Report: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma - Update on Selected Topics 2002." National Asthma Education Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Accessed June 2002. "Your Asthma Can Be Controlled: Expect Nothing Less" (Patient Education Pamphlet) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Accessed May 2001. Lemanske, Robert F. Jr, MD; et al. "Long Acting Beta-Agonist Monotherapy vs. Continued Therapy with Inhaled Corticosteroids in Patients with Persistent Asthma," and "Inhaled Corticosteroid Reduction and Elimination in Patients with Persistent Asthma Receiving Salmeterol." Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. 285:2594-2603, May 23/30 2001. "What is Asthma?" Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Copyright 20002-2003. http://www.aafa.org. Accessed Nov. 2003. "Anti-IgE Antibody Gets High Marks From Patients and Physicians." Respiratory Reviews.com. Volume 6, No. 2, February 2001.http://www.respiratoryreviews.com U.S. Food and Drug Administration New and Generic Drug Approvals: 1998 - 2003. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. Major Recommendations From the Expert Panel Report 2: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.http://www.asthmainamerica.com. Accessed Nov. 2003 MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Revised Nov. 2003. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. "Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use, and Mortality, 2000-2001," National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . Reviewed Jan. 2003. http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. "Morbidity & Mortality: 2002 Chart Book on Cardiovascular, Lung, and Blood Diseases," National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, May 2002. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. Keywords: asthma, triggers, symptoms |
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