Asthma Prevention

What causes an Asthma Attack?

Now, we have already discussed what the three changes are that are found in the lungs of those who have asthma. We have also discussed the concept of triggers, and recall that an asthma trigger is something that makes your asthma worse. But what really happens when you are exposed to an asthma trigger?

The airways of a person with asthma are hyper-responsive, meaning they produce a much greater response to a trigger than someone who doesn’t have asthma.  The airways of someone with asthma are always slightly inflamed when compared to normal airways. Now, when someone with asthma breathes in a trigger, let’s say dust particles, their airways swell even more.  The lungs respond to the trigger by: 1) swelling 2) squeezing the muscles around the airways and 3) producing a large amount of mucous. All of these changes make it difficult for the person to breathe. When this happens, you may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and frequent cough.

Some people respond to triggers with a mild asthma attack and they return back to normal after using an inhaler they have at home. When asthma is poorly controlled and airways are already very inflamed, exposure to a trigger can result in a life threatening asthma attack. When breathing does not become any easier after using a rescue inhaler, it is essential that you go to the hospital where they can provider further treatment for an asthma attack

The root of preventing asthma attacks is to identify your personal asthma triggers and then figure out ways to avoid them. However, preventing asthma is really a two-pronged approach:

1.) Identify and avoid your personal asthma triggers

2) Take your prescribed asthma medications

Asthma Medications

After a discussion with your healthcare provider, you will likely be placed on two types of medications: long term, controllers; and short term, rescues.

Long term controller medications are medications you take everyday to control the level of inflammation, constriction and mucous production in your lungs. Over time, these medications work to reduce the effects of the three main changes in the lungs of someone with asthma (1. swelling 2. constriction 3. mucous production).  These medications will have no affect on symptoms of an asthma attack. There are a variety of different long term controller medications that your doctor might write a prescription for. One example of a long term, controller medication is: Flovent (Fluticasone)

Short term, rescue medications are medications you take only when you are feeling the symptoms of an asthma attack. These medications work quickly to open up the airways in your lungs. You will find that if you are exposed to an asthma trigger, you will likely need to use these rescue medications shortly after the exposure. If you have optimal asthma control. you will find that you do not need to use these medications frequently. One example of a rescue mediation is Ventolin (Albuterol).