What is asthma?
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes sporadic breathing difficulties. The classic symptoms of asthma are breathlessness, cough and wheezing. It is caused by the swelling and narrowing of the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. Asthma often starts in childhood, although it can also develop in adults, and affects people of all ages. There is currently no cure, but patients can live full and rewarding lives with the right treatment and management.
Image credit: Health Essentials - Cleveland Clinic
Asthma attacks
During an asthma attack, the patient may experience worsened breathlessness, coughing and wheezing, and the patient may be too breathless to speak, eat or sleep. If a person appears to be having an asthma attack they should sit up straight and take slow, regular breaths, and take regular breaths from their inhaler, as per their treatment plan instructions. If possible, a medical professional should be contacted immediately.
Asthma attacks can be fatal but are largely preventable and manageable.
10 ways to prevent asthma attack:
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Take your asthma inhalers as per your doctor’s and pharmacist’s instructions. Not only is it important to make sure you use the inhalers at the correct dose and timing, but also use it with a correct technique. You may ask a pharmacist to demonstrate it for you if you are unsure. Optimised asthma treatment is crucial to prevent bad clinical outcomes such as asthma attacks.
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Quit smoking. You may approach any community pharmacist that provides mQuit services for an effective smoking cessation programme
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For people with moderate to severe asthma, it is advisable that they have an annual influenza vaccination (flu jab). You may make your flu jab appointment with us on the Doc2Us app!
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Identify your asthma triggers. Some of them include air pollution, allergies, cold air, cold or flu virus, sinusitis, smoke and/or fragrances.
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Stay away from your asthma triggers or allergens that may worsen your asthma.
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Prevent cold virus by practising good hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with people who have cold and flu.
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Allergy-proof your environment to lower the odds of getting an asthma attack. For instance, do not eat in restaurants that are smoky or allow cigarette smoking.
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Attend your follow-up with the doctor regularly. Do not skip those follow-up and refill your own inhalers without the doctor’s instructions. A thorough clinical investigation is required to determine if you’re suitable for continuing the same inhaler regimen.
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Keep track of your own asthma progress through the written asthma action plan (WAAP). If you do not have one, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about it.
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Monitor your asthma by using a home peak flow meter. The meter shows how well air is moving through your lungs. During an attack, your airways narrow. The meter can let you know this is happening hours or days before you have any symptoms. This gives you time to take the medications listed in your treatment plan and possibly stop the attack before it starts.
Image credit: Lib and Learn
Asthma during COVID-19
As COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, it can affect the nose, throat and lungs, causing an asthma attack among asthma patients. Generally, people with asthma are advised to take precautions whenever there is a spread of respiratory infection in the community, not just specifically for COVID-19 only.
The CDC advised people with asthma to do the following during the COVID-19 outbreak:
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Stock up on supplies (a 14 to 30 day supply)
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Take steps to keep a distance from others (social distancing, about 6 feet)
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Avoid people who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often
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Avoid crowds as much as possible
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Avoid non-essential travel
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Clean and disinfect your home and car regularly, especially items you touch often like doorknobs, light switches, cell phones, car door handles and steering wheels, etc.
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Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 to 30 seconds, always after coughing or sneezing. If you don’t have access to running water, use an alcohol-based hand cleanser that is at least 60% alcohol.
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Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
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Stay away from people who are sick or have been in contact with someone who is sick.
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Don’t share makeup, food, dishes or eating utensils.
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Take your daily asthma medicines to keep your asthma under control.
Image credit: Medscape
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Make an appointment for a house call at https://qmed.asia/AMC
References:
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CPG Management of Asthma in Adults 2017
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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/asthma.html
