Take Charge of Your Asthma

—Do you cough during or after exercise?

—Experience shortness of breath?

—Make a wheezing sound when you breathe?

—Feel tightness in your chest?

You might be one of nearly 15 million Americans who have a chronic condition called asthma. While asthma can be serious—and sometimes even life-threatening—knowing the facts about it can help you take the steps necessary to control it

Who gets asthma?

People with a family history of asthma or allergies, especially an allergic skin condition called eczema, are most likely to get the disease. They frequently have another allergic condition such as hay fever or eczema before they develop asthma.

Women seem to be especially susceptible to asthma in their adult years if they had the disease in childhood. Childhood asthma occurs more frequently in boys, however.

What happens during an asthma attack?

An asthma attack is often preceded by coughing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, a scratchy throat or chest tightness. During an attack, the airways in the lungs become inflamed and swollen, causing bronchospasm—a tightening of the muscles around the windpipe. This spasm blocks the flow of air in and out of your lungs so that you wheeze and struggle to breathe.

If you have experienced these symptoms, it's important to see your healthcare provider so that you can be properly evaluated, diagnosed and treated for asthma.

What causes asthma attacks?

Most people with asthma are sensitive or allergic to something—or many things—that may bring on attacks. These include:

foods, especially eggs, shellfish and milk
indoor and outdoor air pollution, including smog, smoke, pollen, mold, animal dander, dust, perfume, and paint or hair spray fumes
vigorous exercise
cold air or a weather change
a virus or other respiratory illness
stress, anxiety or an emotional outburst such as crying, laughing or screaming

How can I find out what sets off my asthma attacks?

Discovering the causes of your asthma attacks and learning how to avoid these triggers are important aspects of controlling the disease. Begin by keeping an asthma diary. Each time you have an attack, write down what you were doing before your symptoms started and where you were. Soon you should be able to recognize some recurring triggers.

Your healthcare provider might recommend skin tests to find food allergies or a special diet designed to avoid common problem foods. By adding potentially troublesome foods back to your diet one at a time, you may discover those that trigger your asthma attacks—and then avoid them whenever possible.

Asthma triggers are in the air all around me. How can I avoid them?

You may find it difficult to control triggers in the air you breathe, particularly when you are outdoors. Try to avoid going outside when air pollution, pollen and mold spore levels are high. If you must go out, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.

The air in your home is easier to control. These tips can help:

Use air conditioning so you can keep windows and doors closed against pollen and mold spores. Air conditioning also lowers indoor humidity, which helps control mold and dust (see "Dust Mites: Tiny but Troublesome").
Install a special filter in your central air conditioning and heating unit to help remove offending particles from the air. Another option is a freestanding air-cleaning unit with a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter that removes dust, mold and pollen.
To get rid of mold, make sure that your bathroom, kitchen and basement are clean and have good air circulation. Set your humidifier to 25-50 percent humidity. A dehumidifier will help prevent mold and control dust, particularly in your basement. Empty the collected water from your dehumidifier and clean the container often.
Sleep on foam pillows with airtight covers to prevent mold from forming when you perspire, or wash your pillows weekly. Replace pillows every year.
If you cannot control mold on your houseplants, keep them outdoors.
Wear a dust mask when vacuuming, or purchase a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and special collection bags.
Do not use a fireplace or wood stove.
Ask family members and visitors not to smoke in your home.
Remove pets from your home if they trigger symptoms—even birds, hamsters and guinea pigs may cause problems. If you choose to keep a pet to which you are allergic, make sure it stays out of your bedroom. Bathing your pet weekly or brushing it frequently may also help.
Cockroaches can cause problems because their droppings collect in house dust, triggering attacks in sensitive individuals. Clean thoroughly and follow the hints in "Dust Mites: Tiny but Troublesome."
Avoid strong odors or fumes from room deodorizers, cleaning chemicals, perfume, paint and talcum powder.

Can medication help?

In addition to avoiding situations that trigger your symptoms, you may need to take medicine to prevent asthma attacks—or lessen their severity. Because doctors now understand that an asthma sufferer's lungs are inflamed even when no symptoms are present, drugs that reduce inflammation often are used to control asthma. Other medicines that open up the airways can be used after an attack has begun or, if exercise is a trigger, before you exercise.

You may also use a peak flow meter to monitor the condition of your airways. When you blow into this device, it measures the speed of the air coming out of your lungs. This "early warning system" tells you when your airways are closing down so that you can use medication to head off an attack.

Dust Mites:

Tiny but Troublesome

House dust, full of microscopic spiders called dust mites, is one of the most common triggers for people with asthma—and the toughest to control. In addition to the hints listed for avoiding airborne triggers, consider these strategies for ridding your home, and especially your bedroom, of mites:

Clean your home with an allergy-control solution that combats dust mites.
Put mattresses and pillows in airtight covers, and cover the zippers with tape.
Wash your bedding weekly in hot water—at least 130 degrees, and remove the bedspread at night.
Clean surface dust often, using a damp mop or cloth. Do not use aerosol or spray cleaners in your bedroom.
Remove bedroom carpeting.
Use window coverings that are easy to clean, such as plastic shades or washable curtains.
Keep stuffed furniture and stuffed animals out of your bedroom.
Bedroom closets should contain only clothes. Place them in closed plastic garment bags—not commercial dry cleaning bags—to keep out dust.
Cover bedroom air vents with several layers of cheesecloth, or buy vent filters.
Use a dehumidifier.

For More Information

Allergy and Asthma Network

3554 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 200

Fairfax, VA 22030-2709

800-878-4403

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

611 East Wells Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202

800-822-2762

American Lung Association

800-LUNG-USA

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

1125 15th Street NW, Suite 502

Washington, DC 20077

800-7-ASTHMA

Indoor Air Quality Clearinghouse (Contractor for Environmental Protection Agency)

P.O. Box 37133

Washington, DC 20013-7133

800-438-4318

National Asthma Education and Prevention Program

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

P.O. Box 30105

Bethesda, MD 20824-0105

301-251-1222