Your Asthma Can Be Controlled: Expect Nothing Less
Monday, June 6, 2011
This pamphlet was originally designed as a workbook, with checklists and sections to be filled out. To this end, we have created worksheets for various sections that can be printed out individually, filled out, brought to the doctor's office, and used in your daily activities to help you understand and control your asthma. This document can also be read straight through just for information. "Almost all asthma patients can become free of symptoms with proper treatment. Patients and their families should expect nothing less." This is a common and true statement made by many who treat asthma patients. This booklet will help you work with your doctor to become free of symptoms. How? By helping you learn what questions to ask and what information to share with your doctor. This is basic information all people with asthma can use. Read on to learn: What to expect from asthma treatment How you and your doctor can control your asthma How to work with your doctor What to Expect From Your Asthma Treatment--The Goals No symptoms or minor symptoms of asthma (symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness) Sleeping through the night without asthma symptoms No time off from school or work due to asthma Full participation in physical activities No emergency room visits or stays in the hospital Little or no side effects from asthma medicine Do not accept having symptoms as normal. Are You Meeting the Asthma Treatment Goals? All these goals can be met with long-term treatment. You need to work with your doctor to achieve every goal. If you are not meeting a goal, your treatment may simply need to be changed. Your doctor may ask for help from a specialist to achieve your goals. Ask about this. Goal: No time off from work or school due to asthma. How Your Asthma Can Be Controlled Asthma is a chronic disease. It can be controlled with proper, long-term treatment. But it cannot be cured. People with asthma have -- Airways that react to certain things called triggers -- things like smoke or dust Airways that sometimes become narrow and blocked. This causes wheezing, coughing, or trouble breathing Airways that become inflamed and swollen. Each of these features of asthma can be prevented or treated by: Staying away from your triggers or controlling them Taking medicine that opens your airways Getting treatment for the inflammation Treating inflammation is very important in the control of moderate to severe asthma. This may mean the daily use of such medicines as cromolyn sodium or inhaled steroids. Both of these medicines are safe to take. Treating inflammation is the advice given in the 1991 National Asthma Education Program's Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Three Actions to Help You Gain Control of Your Asthma Take your medicine at the first warning sign of an asthma episode. What follows will help you talk about each of the above issues with your doctor. Learn What Things Start Your Asthma Symptoms and Control Them Most asthma symptoms start when your airways are bothered by something. These things are called triggers. Your symptoms will be reduced when you stay away from or control your triggers. Your asthma will be more controlled! Peak flow meters can help you find out what your triggers are. Peak flow meters measure how well you are breathing. The peak flow meter is simple and small. It can be used at home or at work. Talk to your doctor about this. Tell your doctor what your triggers are. Ask your doctor how to control your triggers. Make a plan with your doctor to take your medicines when you cannot avoid a trigger. Write your plan of action for staying away from or controlling your asthma triggers: Respond Quickly to Your Warning Signs of an Asthma Episode Most asthma episodes or attacks start slowly. Most people can tell when an asthma episode is coming. "I learned that when my chest started getting tight, my asthma was going to act up. Now I take my asthma medicine when my chest starts to feel tight. I have prevented many asthma episodes this way. Once I learned this, I felt more in control." You can often stop an asthma episode when you catch it early and take your medicine. If you fail to do this, your symptoms may get worse. Learn what your warning signs are. Make a plan with your doctor or nurse about what to do when you notice your warning signs. Talk with your doctor about your warning signs. Ask your doctor about using a peak flow meter. Write down what your doctor wants you to do when you feel a warning sign: Make Your Treatment Plan With Your Doctor and Follow It Talk with your doctor about your different asthma medicines. Some medicines need to be taken daily to prevent asthma symptoms (inhaled steroids and cromolyn sodium). Other medicine can relieveyour symptoms once your symptoms begin (medicine that opens your airways). Complete the "My Asthma Medicine" forms with your doctor. Be sure to tell your doctor if you do not want to take a medicine. Also, call your doctor if you have any problems taking a medicine. Your doctor can often find something else for your asthma. Ask your doctor to show you how to use an inhaler. Then at each visit, show your doctor how you use your inhaler. Ask if you are using it the correct way. If you have trouble using an inhaler, ask about a spacer or holding chamber. Remind yourself to take your medicines. Here are some ways to do this. Ask your doctor the questions below. Write down what your doctor says for each medicine prescribed to you. Name of medicine: When and how much you should take: How long to take it: What does the medicine do and when will you feel it working: What to do if you forget to take it: Side effects and what to do about them: When to call the doctor: Summing Up: Write a Plan for Controlling Your Asthma Prepare a plan to manage your asthma with your doctor by going to the worksheet and printing it, and filling it out. Include how you will avoid triggers, respond to early warning signs of an episode, and take your medicine. Work with your doctor to make the use of a peak flow meter part of your routine. Lastly, learn the best way to reach your doctor for routine questions and urgent care. Ask your doctor what you should do in an emergency. Write the answers below. What are the signs that tell you to seek care quickly? What should you do if your medicines do not seem to be working? Where should you go to get care quickly? Should you call your doctor first or go to the emergency room? What do you do if you have an asthma emergency very late at night? When you call, what information will your doctor want (your symptoms, what medicines you have taken, when you took them, and your peak flow rate)? How to Work With Your Doctor to Get the Best Care Ask questions. Give information. State what you expect at each visit. Follow directions. Keep your appointments. You'll be in control of your asthma! Ask questions. Follow directions. Helpful Phone Numbers for You Your doctor's office phone number: Emergency phone number: Other Helpful Phone Numbers For You For further information, contact DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED: Under provisions of applicable public laws enacted by Congress since 1964, no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, handicap, or age be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity (or on the basis of sex, with respect to any education program or activity) receiving Federal financial assistance. In addition, Executive Order 11141 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age by contractors and subcontractors in the performance of Federal contracts and Executive Order 11246 states that no federally funded contractor may discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Programs of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are operated in compliance with these laws and Executive Orders. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NIH Publication No. 91-2664
Goal: Full participation in physical activities.
—Deborah, asthma patientMy Asthma Medicines Write your plan for an asthma emergency.
Write down all your questions before each visit. Review this booklet to help you decide what to ask your doctor. Take this list with you when you see your doctor. Then ask your questions.
Tell your doctor what your symptoms have been since your last visit. Be honest. Provide peak flow meter readings, if you have them. Talk about how and when you take your medicines. Talk aboutproblems or concerns you have about your medicines. Use the checklist of treatment goalsgiven in the first part of this booklet. Talk with your doctor about the goals being met and those not being met.
Tell your doctor what you want from the visit. You may simply want some questions answered. Or you might want a change in your medicine.
Write down what you are supposed to do. Repeat back what you think your doctor wants you to do. This helps you to be sure that you know what you are supposed to do. Take your medicine as your doctor tells you. Tell your doctor when you have trouble doing what he or she asks.
Have a way to remind yourself to keep your appointments. Put a note on the refrigerator, your dresser, or some other place. If you cannot keep your appointment, call and change it. With time, you and your doctor will find the care that works best for you.
Remind yourself to keep your appointments.
Your doctor's after-hours phone number:
These groups provide information and materials.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 1-800-822-2762 American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (for pamphlets or a list of board-certified doctors in your area) 1-800-842-7777 American Lung Association Call your local Lung Association Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 1-800-727-8462 National Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics 1-800-878-4403 National Jewish Medical and Research Center Information Service (Lung Line) 1-800-222-5864 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program 1-301-251-1222
Public Health Service - National Institutes of Health
September 1991
0 comments:
Post a Comment