CAN YOU CONTROL YOUR ASTHMA?
To adequately control asthma is to reduce
its frequency and severity, which in turn does not interfere with
normal activities.
The degree of control which we expect varies
with each child as some children with severe asthma are extremely
difficult to control. But what ever degree of control is warranted
has an extreme benefit. It helps restore a normal life to whom
may be afflicted.
The first and foremost control of asthma
begins by learning which trigger factors help bring upon an episode.
Since no two people with asthma are alike, an individualized comprehensive
evaluation must be made of your condition to determine your trigger
factors. Your history is by far the most important part of the
evaluation. Your evaluation would consist of:
Possible skin testing may be required to
determine which allergens may be important.
Pulmonary Function Studies - a series of lung function test to
determine the degree of airflow in and out of your lungs.
Individualized treatment and therapy program.
Trigger Factors - Stay Away!
Avoiding trigger factors can make a great
difference in you or your child's condition. If you or your child
could avoid exposure to all of his or her allergies (such as house
dust, molds, pets, etc), you've just decreased your chances of
an episode.
Viral respiratory infection and exercise
(physical activity) are going to be difficult to avoid, but you
or your child should definitely avoid such trigger factors as
cigarette smoke and other inhaled irritants.
Medications
This is the single most important way to
control your asthma. Learn the correct way use your medications
and their respective delivery devices. Proper technique and dosage
is critical while good cleaning will decrease the chances of an
re-infection.
Monitor side effects along with how well
you respond to your drug therapy. (i.e. peak flow meter) and discuss
the findings with your physician.
Allergy Injections
Hyposensitization, allergy shots, immunotherapy
or desensitization are synonyms for injection treatments which
reduce sensitivity to those unavoidable allergens.
This therapy is not recommended for all
children with asthma. Small quantities of proven allergens are
given in gradually increasing dosage until the child is able to
better tolerate his or her allergies. This form of therapy has
been shown to decrease the allergy antibody level and to increase
the protective or blocking antibody level.
Skin tests are done prior to recommending
the injections. Usually a one-year series of allergy injections
is prescribed to determine their effectiveness. Hyposensitization
is not always recommended.
If proven effective, injections are then
continued on a schedule determined by your physician. Allergy
injections are no substitute for avoidance of allergens or medication.
You must continue allergen avoidance measures even when your child's
asthma is controlled or the problem may again worsen.
Team Approach/Patient Education
Emphasis is now placed on improved patient/parent
education and goal setting. Physicians, nurses and respiratory
therapists are spending more time teaching patients about the
subtleties of asthma management. Major emphasis is placed on peak
flow monitoring as a guide to treatment and a way to better understand
the dynamics of asthma.
There are many other aspects of asthma
management which should be taught to the child and parents to
better prepare them to deal with asthma directly and efficiently.
By better understanding their treatment program, they can comply
much better and this is a major step toward asthma control.
The physician, nurse, respiratory therapist,
child and parents should set specific goals and follow up on these
each visit. With this type of team approach, asthma usually comes
under excellent control. Most children with asthma can fully recover
and participate in sports and not be bothered by unwanted medication
side effects.
American Lung Association:
Asthma Control 8/2000
