What is Asthma?
Asthma is one of our nation's most common chronic health conditions and is on the rise. It can start in childhood, resolve, recur or develop in adulthood. Many people have both asthma and allergies. Unlike an allergy, asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. Since your nose connects to your lung, the inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway. Once the airway begins to swell, breathing becomes difficult. Asthmatics are often short of breath and have a feeling of tightness in the chest. All asthmatics should be under a doctor's care to manage their disease, to keep it under control, and to keep them healthy.
Asthma Triggers
- Cigarette smoke
- Cockroaches
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Pets and animals
- Pollen
- Cold air
- Exercise
- Stress
- Respiratory infections
- Ozone
Asthma Attack Plan
- Don't panic
- Breathe deep, slow and easy
- Rest
- Take your prescribed asthma medication
- Call for help
- Get to a doctor
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/assets/docs_a_e/asthma_and_its_environmental_triggers_508.pdf)
Learn more about asthma, at the following Web sites:
- Environmental Health Center: Asthma Fact Sheet
National Safety Council’s Indoor Air Quality - American Lung Association: Asthma Information
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/ - The National Health Interview Survey
http://www.lungusa.org/data/data_102000.html
Asthma Survey Worksheet
Use this space to create questions you think should be on your Asthma
Survey.
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