A LIFETIME OF ASTHMA (My Experience of Asthma)

Member Name: PRINCESSPUSSYCAT

Product:	My Experience of Asthma
Date:	29/12/08 (184 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bringing it under control

Disadvantages: Can be life threatening

- ASTHMA -

Asthma is a debilitating condition, and you should be aware of the symptoms to correctly diagnose it. Asthma affects approximately 20 million people in the United States alone, and identifying the condition is intrinsic to learning how to handle it effectively.

I have suffered with asthma since quite a young age and I, in turn have handed it down to my youngest child. Asthma is hereditary as is, migraine, hayfever and eczema. They are of the same family and they are all inter-related. Learning to cope with asthma is half the battle.

Asthma can start at time, and any age. The symptoms of asthma are easily recognisable, and if you are in any doubt at all as to whether you are suffering from asthma or not, you should consult your medical practitioner immediately. As with any medical conditions the degree of asthma can be mild, moderate or severe, and in extreme cases can be fatal. So this is a condition that should not be ignored just because you feel your symptoms are not affecting the running of your life.

Mild asthma could possibly develop into severe asthma if left untreated, and can cause irreparable damage to the airways. Asthma is hereditary so if anyone in your family has any of the interrelated conditions of asthma, such as, eczema, migraine, of hay fever you could be at risk.


- THE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA -

Wheezing Shortness of breath Coughing And a tightness in the chest. You will find that the symptoms may be worsened at night due to the laying down where the mucous will form on your chest. This is a result of the airways becoming inflamed and irritated, and this in turn will produce extra mucus and cause the airways to become narrower. So if you feel you have any of these symptoms you should get them checked out straight away.


- THE CAUSES OF ASTHMA -

First and foremost asthma is hereditary so this may answer your question immediately. An infection such as flu or a cold can trigger it also. Some of the most common triggers are smoking, airborne pollens, house dust mite, pet hair, fur, feathers, chemicals, particularly the ones in household aerosols, as the gases contained within these sprays can aggravate the airways. Also irritants such as cigarette smoke, fumes, and dust. Excercise, particularly in cold weather. Even emotions such as laughing, crying, and stress can bring on an attack.


- TREATMENTS FOR ASTHMA -

When you go to your doctor he will discuss with you what you think has triggered the asthma, and he will try to identify the cause. You will then be asked to blow into a peak flow metor, and this will indicate how much breath you can expel, which will show the severity of your current condition. You will try best of three and the doctor will take the average from this.

You will be given a peak flow meter to take home and record in a diary your peak flow strength day and night for a given period of time. So that when you return to the doctor they will be able to see how your asthma is doing.

The treatment for asthma starts with a preventative, and this will normally be given in a form of a preventer inhaler such as Becatide. Taken over time this will help to control your asthma so that the frequency that you have to take your reliever should be lessened.


The preventer and the reliever will normally be given to you in puffer' form which contains a gas which will direct a correct measured dose to your airways. In more serious cases you will be put on a short course of steroids such as prednisolone to bring your asthma to a more acceptable level.

In the most severe case, you may be have to go to hospital where you will be put on a nebuliser which delivers a mist of water and asthma medicine which you breathe in. The nebuliser will deliver more of the drug directly to where it's needed and this method is more effective and immediate than conventional inhalers. You may even be required to keep a nebuliser at home depending on the seriousness of your condition.

Depending on the severity of your asthma you will be given a course of treatment that is tailored to your needs. Asthma can stop and start at any time, so don't be fooled into thinking it has gone for good. Asthma is incurable and as such should be treated as an ongoing condition.

Preventing and controlling at all times will establish a routine which will enable you to live a normal life. Basically, Identifying and avoiding the things that trigger your asthma are an essential step, and avoidance to these main triggers will help to keep your asthma under control.-

My experience of asthma has not been a major drawback to my everyday life. The drugs have controlled it to an acceptable level. There are certain times of year when it becomes worse, such as winter and summer. The extremes in weather heighten the symptoms and cold and flu can make it quite severe.

The main thing is, to stick with the drugs which are prescribed and to make them a routine part of your life. They keep the asthma under control and help alleviate the harsh coughing which is associated with asthma that can be very damaging to the lungs.

To be as asthmatic is something that is always there. It can go away for long periods but it can return unexpectedly. Accepting this and continuing with the prescribed medicines is all important to keeping the asthma under control. -



Christianna Garrett-Martin.

Thank you for reading
December 29-08

Summary: A difficult condition which can be controlled to a certain extent.