Treating Asthma
0.0 stars from
0 votes
views: 249
Video Description:Asthma doesn't need to be a prescription to sit on the sidelines of life! A plethora of treatments can help sufferers boast normal, active existences.
Transcript:Just because you have asthma doesn’t mean you need to sit on the sidelines! With proper treatment, asthmatics can lead normal, active lives. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition which currently has no cure. But an allergist or pulmonologist can help you create a specialized treatment plan to help keep your symptoms under control. During an asthma attack, the large airways, which are known as bronchi, spasm repeatedly. The bronchi then inflame and produce mucus, further narrowing the airways and making breathing difficult. The goal of asthma treatment is to eliminate symptoms, and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. Treatment plans typically include three components: medication, environmental management and monitoring. Medication works by reducing inflammation, which opens up the bronchial tubes, allowing air to flow easily through them. One type that is inhaled directly into the lungs through use of an inhaler is “rescue” medication. These relax bronchial tubes and improve airflow, and is used during an asthma attack to alleviate symptoms in the short-term. Long-term control medications, like Aerobid, are also inhaled. These corticosteroids work around the clock to relax bronchial tubes and suppress reactions to asthma triggers. In this way, corticosteroids can help prevent an attack, or limit its intensity. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a rescue medication alone, or a combination of medications to provide long-term control and immediate relief. Asthma attacks can be set off by any number of triggers, which can include factors like allergens, stress, exercise, smog and even the common cold. The second component of treatment is to determine which of these factors aggravate your symptoms, and then to take precautionary steps to reduce your exposure to them. Is cold winter air a trigger? You might cover your mouth with a scarf when you’re outdoors. Does cigarette smoke cause a symptom flare-up? Alert the people around you to your condition. If exercise triggers attacks, your doctor may recommend using a rescue medication as a preventative measure before beginning any physical activity. Daily monitoring is the third component of successful asthma treatment. A device called a peak flow meter can help you monitor your lung capacity. To use it, take a deep breath, and exhale into the inhaler-sized device. The meter measures how easily you move air in and out of your lungs. When you notice a drop in your peak flow numbers, it’s an indication that an attack may be imminent. At this point, it’s important to limit your exposure to triggers, or take medication to thwart the attack. Once you and your doctor have devised a treatment plan, stick to it. If you have questions or concerns about your asthma treatment, talk to your physician.
Category:Lung Health/Asthma
Tags:Health, Healthcare, doctor, medical, medication, medications, Physician, Hospital, illness, Medicine, MD, Drug, practitioner, Prescription, Dr., Doc, Intern, GP, Cure, Video, Expert, Treatment, treatments, Symptom, Diagnosis, Nurse, Presciptions, FDA, Therapy, Vaccine, Vaccination, Pharmaceutical, Clinic, Checkup, Physical, Healer, Wellness, Insurance, HMO, PPO, Referral, Heal, Disease, Healing, Drugs, Fitness, Nutrition, Pill, Pills, Sick, ill, feeling bad, Pharmacy, Infection, Injury, ER, Emergency Room, Healthy, pain, injury, surgeon, surgery, operation, asthma, asthma attack, breathe, respiratory, respiratory condition, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, cough, wheeze, chronic respiratory condition, bronchi, airway, peak flow meter, inhaler, trigger, allergen, exercise, allergy, asthmatic, peak flow monitor, allergist, pulmonologist, environmental management, monitoring, inflammation, resuce medication, aerobid, corticosteroids,
Comments
Be the first one to comment!
Create an account or Sign in to post a comment.