Asthma FAQs
My Asthma Dosent Seem To Be Getting Better. What Can I Do?
Sometimes despite efforts to treat your asthma, you end up back in the doctor's office or the emergency room, wheezing and coughing. Don't get discouraged. By asking the following questions, you and your doctor can start to figure out what's going wrong.
- Is it something in my environment?
- Many people with asthma are allergic to something in their environment (at home, work or school).
- Common triggers of an asthma attack include dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, mold and pollen. Other triggers include viral infection (such as a cold), tobacco smoke, certain pollutants, exercise and cold, dry air.
- Your doctor can use skin or blood tests to figure out which environmental triggers are causing your asthma.
- Avoiding triggers can make your asthma symptoms get better and help your lungs work better. It might even reduce the amount of medicine you have to take.
- Talk with your doctor about ways to remove triggers from your environment.
- Is it something in my workplace?
- Some adults who have asthma are sensitive to something in their workplace.
- You might suspect that something at work is causing your asthma to flare up if some of your coworkers also have asthma symptoms.
- Another clue is if your asthma symptoms get better on weekends or vacations.
- Your doctor can help you figure out if something at work is triggering your symptoms. When you find out what the trigger is, you can try to stay away from it.
- Is it because I'm not taking my medicine the right way?
- In order for your medicine to work, you must take it exactly the way your doctor tells you.
- Many people who have asthma don't follow their doctor's advice about taking their medicine.
- Taking your medicine as prescribed by your doctor can help prevent trips to the hospital and even asthma death.
- Is it because I'm not using my inhaler the right way?
- Asthma inhalers may not always be used correctly. As a result, many people don't get enough medicine into their lungs.
- A simple device called a spacer helps more of the medicine get deeper into your lungs, where it's needed. Ask your doctor about getting a spacer, and have him or her show you how to use it the right way.
- Do I need to change medicines?
- Many medicines are available to help treat your asthma symptoms. If the medicines you take now don't seem to be helping, other medicines might work better.
- Many people who have asthma need at least one preventive (or “controller”) medicine every day to keep their lungs from becoming inflamed, plus a quick-relief (or "rescue") medicine to inhale if the preventive medicine doesn't completely get rid of their symptoms.
- If your asthma is related to allergies, then allergy shots (also called immunotherapy) might help you. Ask your doctor about this treatment.
- Is it because I don't know enough about asthma?
- Learning how to manage your asthma is very important.
- Talk about your asthma with your doctor. Your doctor will help you learn to control your asthma symptoms.
- Ask questions if you don't understand something.
- Is it because I don't know how bad my asthma is?
Many people who have asthma don't know how bad their asthma really is. Keeping track of your symptoms and rescue inhaler use is important; also this will allow the health care providers at the Respiratory Specialist to better direct your care.
Get help right away if:
- Your rescue medicine doesn't relieve your symptoms.
- Your peak flow keeps dropping after treatment or falls below 50% of your best.
- Your fingernails or lips turn gray or blue.
- You have trouble walking or talking.
- You have extreme difficulty breathing.
- Your neck, chest or ribs are pulled in with each breath.
- Is it really asthma?
- Other conditions can act like asthma.
- Not all wheezing is asthma.
- Your doctor may perform exams or tests to be sure.