Page 22 - Florida Sentinel 9-25-20

Health
Who Gets Asthma?
Smoking
Asthma Attack Symptoms
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term problem in the tubes that carry air into your lungs that can make it hard for you to breathe. These airways get so narrow that air can't move freely. It can cause serious wheezing and breathlessness, known as asthma attacks. There's no cure, but most peo- ple can control their symp- toms. And the majority of kids with asthma eventually grow out of it.
Asthma Rates on the Rise
The number of people with asthma has been going up steadily in the U.S. for decades. Some re- searchers suggest it's because of better hygiene: The theory is that fewer childhood infections lead to under-developed immune systems, which means a greater risk of asthma. It might also be because we use more household cleaning sprays, we have more exposure to air pollution, or we are being ex- posed to more toxicants in the en- vironment.
Typically, it develops during childhood, but it can affect you at any age. People who have allergies or a parent or close family mem- ber with asthma are more likely to have the condition. More boys have asthma than girls, but it's more common in women than in men.
Occupational Asthma
Some types of jobs can raise your chance of having asthma as an adult, such as working in a fac- tory or another place where you're regularly around and breathing in chemicals or dust.
Several studies suggest that teens and adults who smoke are more likely to get asthma. And there's strong evidence that sec- ondhand smoke plays a role as well. Kids who are around people who smoke have a higher chance of getting asthma early in life.
Asthma Attack Causes
Certain triggers can make in- flammation in your airways worse. The swelling makes the space inside smaller. At the same time, your body may make extra mucus that clogs those airways. It's really hard for air to get in and out of your lungs, so you wheeze and struggle to breathe.
You could be short of breath, gasping, and feel a tightness or hear a whistling sound in your chest. You may not be able to stop coughing or wheezing. A severe asthma attack can be life-threat- ening if you don't use medicine to do something about it.
Asthma Action Plan
Most people with asthma can manage their condition and get rid of most of their symptoms. The key is to work with your doc- tor to come up with a treatment strategy, called an asthma action plan. It should identify your trig- gers, list your daily medications, and outline what to do when you have a flare-up. You can revisit your plan and adjust it when you need to.
Quick Relief for Asthma Attacks
Even when you use long-term medication, asthma symptoms sometimes flare up. Rescue in- halers usually have drugs called short-acting beta2-agonists. They quickly relax the tightened mus- cles around your airways, so air can flow in and out of your lungs. This medication works for most asthma attacks, so you don't have to go to the hospital.
Long-Term Medication
It's virtually impossible for someone with asthma to avoid all of their triggers all the time. Many people need to take medicine every day to prevent asthma at- tacks. Drugs called corticosteroids that you breathe directly into your lungs are the most common. They work by bringing down inflamma- tion in your airways, which makes them less sensitive to allergens and irritants in the air.
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