Asthma is a chronic condition and people suffering from asthma will need long-term treatment from it. Dealing successfully with your asthma will involve following an asthma action plan and other ways to actively deal with your attacks.
Your asthma action plan is formulated by both you and your doctor. It is a plan that includes quick relief and long-term medications you need to take and the steps to handle specific situations dealing with your asthma including the handling of exacerbations you may undergo someday. This plan also makes you aware of the indoor and outdoor factors that trigger your asthma so you may be able to avoid contact or exposure to them. Another important point of the plan is knowing when to avail of immediate emergency care especially if the asthma attack plan fails to relieve your attack.
Older children who can manage their asthma attacks on their own, particularly those aged 10 years and older, should be part of the creation of their asthma attack plan with their doctor. Usually individuals who faithfully their asthma attack plan live fairly normal lives. They usually go for regular check ups and will go for emergency medical treatment when they have severe exacerbations that their plan is unable to address well.
Another thing to remember to better cope with your asthma condition is learning to use your medicines properly. When you use your inhaler for the first time, make sure that your doctor has shown you the proper way of using it. If you are prescribed long-term asthma meds, be sure not to skip your intake or take dosages not indicated by your physician.
Track your asthma attacks as diligently as possible and if your doctor recommends you to use a peak flow meter, use it to see how well how your lungs functions. Listing down the time of your asthma attacks and the reading of peak flow meter measurements for at least two weeks prior to your doctor’s appointments can be studied by your doctor during your appointment in order to assess your health status and determine what asthma medicines can work best for your type of asthma.
Even after your appointment, tracking your asthma attacks and your peak flow meter readings before and after taking medications will help you gauge how well you’re handling your asthma over time and help your doctor decide whether to stick to your present plan of treatment or modify it.
If your asthma symptoms are getting worse with your asthma attack plan, you need to go to your doctor and tell him about difficulties in managing your attacks. He will need to create a new form of plan that should better address your condition. Some of the signs to look for that may indicate the worsening of your asthma can include:
- Using your inhaler more frequently than normal and if you need to take your quick relief meds more than twice in a week. Both of these show poor handling of your asthma.
- The necessity to go to the emergency room or the sudden need to see your doctor because of your asthma
- Being unable to work, go to school or do daily activities because of your asthma
When you experience any of these, consult immediately with your doctor. Your doctor may need to change your medications or make a new plan to better control your asthma.
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