Asthma affects 1 out of 11 Americans, and for those living in some suburban or urban communities, the number of children and adults that have these “breathing attacks” is greatly increased. This is a common breathing disorder, but most with “sensitive airways” are not diagnosed until after a major attack = one episode that will not get better on its own, prompting an urgent doctor’s visit or the need to go to the emergency department.
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Wheeze Cough Chest Tightness Shortness of Breath
With the right diagnosis and a tailored treatment plan, one should be able to sleep through the night, not miss any work or school, and participate in your normal activities. With “sensitive” airways, you or your child can then say….
Who should be screened for asthma, with a questionnaire and simple breathing test:
- If you smoke
- If you are exposed to second hand smoke
- If you have allergic rhinitis or hayfever
- If you have recurrent bronchitis
- If an immediate family member has asthma
You may have asthma, if you experience these signs and symptoms:
- Recurrent or persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Wheeze or whistling chest sounds
- Tire more easily or become fatigued with normal activities (walking hills, climbing stairs, for example)
Common asthma triggers include
- Animal hair/dander
- Mold
- Pollen or dust
- Humidity
- Cold weather
- Exercise
- Colds or respiratory infections
- Chemicals in the air, such as tobacco, strong odors or cleaning agents
- Certain medications, such as aspirin
- Certain foods, which contain sulfites
- Emotion or stress
Resources
- Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/asthma/
- National Center for Environmental Health www.cdc.gov/nceh/
- American Thoracic Society www.thoracic.org
- American Lung Association www.lungusa.com