Treatments & Common Triggers For Asthma

Living with family members means being prepared to respond to all sorts of emergencies. And if you have family dealing with asthma, this also means being familiar with potential triggers.

Learning to respond to and manage asthma attacks is essential, especially for parents caring for kids at home. Because when left untreated or poorly managed, mild cases can quickly turn into scenarios with severe repercussions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 10 Filipinos has asthma. Yet, only a select few have access to proper treatment and medication. If you’re aiming to create safer households, it should also start by being the best caregivers.

The most recurring symptoms of an asthma attack are coughing fits and difficulty breathing, accompanied by wheezing. However, these signs may not always be apparent, so it’s vital to be sensitive to any sudden changes in behavior, especially in smaller children.

Luckily, it’s reasonably easy to curb severe attacks with doctor-prescribed asthma medication and reliever inhalers. Talking to your physician helps you and your family learn more about this disorder and develop ways to keep your homes safe from triggers. Because even with treatments in place, you should still know how to spot potential factors that can prompt episodes.

What can trigger asthma?

To spot potential triggers, it’s also essential to understand what happens during an asthma attack. During an asthmatic episode, the lining of your airway gets inflamed and swells up, narrowing the air passage. Thick mucus is also produced in the airway, making it even more difficult to breathe, resulting in wheezing.

Although it may seem like it’s next to impossible to predict when an asthma attack will occur, there are known factors that increase the chances of it happening. Here are some of the common causes and elements to look for at home.

Hot & cold temperatures

Seasonal changes, most especially, lead to more cases of asthma episodes. Breathing in cold air irritates your airways to make them tighter. Meanwhile, the hot temperature during the summer season can also trigger symptoms for some people. Because just like in colder months, hot air also narrows one’s airways and causes shortness of breath. Pollen in the air can also make it difficult for people who are allergic.

Allergies

Certain allergies can cause various bodily reactions like rashes and inflammation. And when the lungs are affected, it can lead to symptoms like asthma. The most common allergens that affect the lungs are dust mites, pollen, and animal fur. So before getting any pets at home, make sure that it would be no danger to anyone in the family.

Air irritants

Airborne substances like tobacco smoke and fragrances also cause the inflammation of the airways to trigger asthma symptoms. Fortunately, avoiding these at home is quite simple by closing windows and doors to stop smoke from entering, along with preventing air fresheners that may cause strong odors.

What you can do to help

When a family member experiences an asthma attack, here are some things you can do to help them through the event.

1. Keep them calm

Sitting up straight can make it easier for air to flow through the lungs with obstructed airways. It’s essential to remain calm as stress signals can make the inflammation worse. Guide them through breathing exercises to slow down their breathing. Doing so helps air to enter the lungs.

2. Get their inhaler

Make sure they take one puff of their reliever inhaler every 30 to 60 seconds. Try your best to keep count as the symptoms should get better by the 10th puff.

3. Monitor the symptoms

In most cases, the person that experienced an asthmatic episode should feel better after some puffs with their inhaler. However, if the person doesn’t feel any better after ten breaths, call a healthcare provider to seek urgent care. While waiting for help to arrive, let them continue the process with their inhaler.

4. Set a doctor appointment for a check-up

Even when physicians weren’t required and symptoms went away on their own, it’s still ideal to check in with the doctor. These post-episode check-ups allow your doctor to walk you through what happened and may even uncover new findings regarding your condition.

While an asthma attack can be unpredictable, following preventive medications and keeping an eye out for triggers will create a huge difference. Frequent appointments with the doctor will also ensure that your family member gets the help needed to keep their asthma under control. So that by the next time an asthmatic episode occurs, they’ll have the necessary treatment to keep the whole household safe and calm. — (MyPharma)