WHAT IS ASTHMA?
The video above shows an excellent summary of asthma. In short, asthma is caused by INFLAMMATION of a person’s airways. This inflammation can be caused by a number of different triggers.
The symptoms of asthma include:
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest
- Coughing
- Wheezing.
Click here for even more information on “What is asthma?”
HOW DO YOU TREAT ASTHMA?
- Avoid your triggers. (This especially includes smoking, you smoke or live with people who smoke!)
- Inhaled (puffer) medications. (See below for more information on puffers).
- Sometimes, for specific cases of asthma, your doctor may prescribe oral medications, like Singulair.
HOW DO THE PUFFERS HELP YOUR ASTHMA?
There are 2 main types of puffer medications:
1) Bronchodilators: these medications dilate your airways. In there words, they relax them; they open them up; they make them wider or larger. This allows you to breathe more air into your lungs. Bronchodilator medications are a quick “rescue” help for your asthma. They make you feel better quickly, but only temporarily. They do not prevent the underlying inflammation that causes asthma attacks. Click here for more information on these “rescue” puffers.
2) Inhaled Steroids: these decrease the inflammation in your airways. They get at the root cause of asthma. They take time (days to weeks) to take effect and they must be taking regularly every day in order to help you. Click here for more information on inhaled steroid puffers. 
The following video nicely explains how these two types of puffers work. The video is intended for children, but it still shows clear and useful information for adults too!:
HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR PUFFERS?
There are many different types of puffers these days. Some puffers have the medication in aerosol form. Others are in a dry-powder form. Click HERE for more information.
One of the most common type of puffer is an aerosol “Metered-Dose Inhaler“. Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these multi-dose inhalers.
Multi-dose inhalers are ideally used with a “spacer” or “aerochamber“, especially for children! Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these spacers.
Some puffers come in the form of a “Diskus“. Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these diskus inhalers.
Some puffers come in the form of a “Turbuhaler“. Click HERE FOR A VIDEO on how to use these turbuhalers.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR ASTHMA IS UNDER CONTROL?
The goals of asthma control are:
- Requiring your “reliever” (“rescue”) inhalers as little as possible – 3 or less times per WEEK.
- Never having asthma symptoms at night.
- Your asthma is not affecting your physical activity or ability to exercise.
- Flares of your asthma are mild and infrequent.
- You never have to miss school nor work because of your asthma.
*** If you are not meeting ALL the above goals, then your asthma is NOT under proper control and you should return to see your doctor or health care provider. ***
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: