Asthma Prevention and Control
Asthma is a chronic disease. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled with proper, long-term treatment.
People with asthma
- have airways that react to irritants — triggers — like smoke or dust
- the airways sometimes become blocked, causing wheezing, coughing, or trouble breathing
- Airways that become inflamed and swollen
Each can be prevented or treated
- Stay away from your triggers or control them
- Take medication that opens your lungs
- Get treatment for the inflammation
3 Actions for gaining Control of asthma
- Learn what starts or prompts asthma symptoms.
- Avoid or control asthma triggers.
- Respond quickly to warning signs of an asthma episode.
- Make 2 treatment action plans with your doctor : one for daily treatment and one for emergencies.
For a Child you also need to
- Teach your child to speak up when needing to avoid a trigger.
- Teach your child how to get help when a flare-updoes occurs.
- Inform daycare providers, teachers, the school nurse of your child's asthma & instruct babysitters on what to do if a flare-up occurs.
Your Action Plan
Your health care team will work with you to make an action plan.
The plan tells what to do to prevent a flare-up & what to do if a flare-up occurs.
With your plan in place, you will:
- Know how to spot the early warning signs of a flare-up.
- Understand the appropriate medications and their uses.
- Know what makes the asthma worse, & learn to help control asthma triggers.