Pomerene Hospital Blog

Asthma:

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs. The airways become blocked or narrowed making it hard to breathe due to:

-The muscles around the airway tighten and squeeze the openings

-The airway lining becomes inflamed and swollen

-Excess mucus is produced in the inflamed airway

Breathing:

Difficulty breathing is one of the main symptoms of asthma, along with:

-Wheezing

-Coughing

-Chest tightness

-Shortness of breath

Controlling:

To help prevent the next attack you can control your asthma by leading a healthy, active life by:

-Staying away from triggers such as smoke, pollen, pets, and cold air.

-Trying to stay healthy and avoiding getting viral infections which make asthma worse

-Using controller medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids that can keep daytime and nighttime symptoms under control.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Asthma. Lifestyle changes and medications can help provide the help that is needed to live
 a healthy, symptom free life. The key to tackling asthma is to become educated. The more you are familiar with your type of
asthma, what triggers your symptoms, and what works for you, the better controlled your asthma will be.

Blog Written by Chastity Hostetler, RRT