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What causes asthma?
What are the symptoms of asthma?
How can I manage asthma symptoms?
How can I avoid asthma triggers?
Asthma affects over three million people, making it one of the most common
respiratory conditions in Canada. It often develops during childhood and
accounts for nearly 25% of all absenteeism in schools.
People with asthma have difficulty breathing. While this statement sums up the
disease quite simply, asthma is anything but a simple health concern. The causes
of asthma are still unknown. Symptoms vary from person to person and can come
and go, making it a very difficult disease to diagnose accurately.
Current estimates suggest that at least six out of 10 people with asthma do not
have their condition under good control. Despite the fact that asthma can be
managed and controlled very effectively with medication and lifestyle changes,
over 500 Canadians die every year from severe asthma attacks.
What causes asthma?
While researchers haven't found the exact cause of asthma, they have learned
that it can be triggered by both inherited and environmental factors. If you
have a parent with asthma, there is a good chance that you will be more likely
to develop asthma. Even if you don't have a family history of asthma,
environmental "triggers," such as pollen, smog or viruses, may also lead to the
development of asthma.
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What are the symptoms of asthma?
The most common symptoms of asthma are:
| • | chronic cough
| | • | shortness of breath
| | • | wheezing
| | • | tightness in the chest
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These symptoms develop when airways in the lungs overreact or become extra
sensitive to airborne irritants. The irritants cause these airways to become
inflamed and swollen, which narrows the airway passages and blocks the flow of
air in and out of the lungs.
Some irritants affect the muscle fibres surrounding the airways, causing them to
tighten and compress airway passages. This may happen when you exercise
vigorously or when you are exposed to cold air, smoke or other conditions. Viral
infections that attack your respiratory system are another common cause of
asthma.
Symptoms of asthma may come and go, so it's not always easy to know whether or
not you have the disease. A persistent cough is a very common sign of asthma,
especially in children. If your child coughs to the point of vomiting, discuss
the possibility of asthma with your family doctor.
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How can I manage asthma symptoms
If you have asthma, you can still lead a normal, active life. With proper
medication and management, you can maintain good control over your symptoms and
disease.
Start by finding out what triggers your asthma. An allergy assessment might help
you to find out if allergens are making your asthma worse. Once you know what
sets off your symptoms, you can learn how to avoid them. Some triggers are
difficult to control, like pollution and viruses. Other things, such as pets and
cigarette smoke, are easier to avoid.
Your doctor may also prescribe a medication to control your asthma symptoms.
It's important that you take the time to learn how to take your medication
properly.
When your asthma is under control, you should be able to participate in normal
activities, including strenuous exercise.
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How can I avoid asthma triggers?
It's not always easy to identify the triggers that are causing your asthma.
Write down your symptoms and the situations that trigger them and discuss your
asthma history with your doctor.
You can manage your asthma symptoms better if you have your indoor environment
(home, work and school) and outdoor environment under control as much as
possible. Here are some practical strategies for avoiding common asthma
triggers:
| • | Pets and animals -
There is no such thing as an allergy-free animal. Animal fur and feathers
are usually the culprits behind asthma symptoms. However, you may also be
sensitive to an animal's dander (skin particles), saliva, urine, feces or
oil secretions. If you have asthma, you should remove any pets or animals
from your home and avoid situations that will bring you into contact with
them. If you can't remove a pet, then have the animal washed regularly,
remove carpeting from the house, clean the house frequently and use
allergen-proof covers on your mattress and pillows.
| | • | Smoking -
Tobacco smoke is very dangerous to people who have asthma. Even second-hand
smoke can trigger asthma symptoms. If you have asthma, you shouldn't smoke
and you should never allow smoking in your home. Try to stay out of smokey
places, whenever possible.
| | • | Dust mites
- Dust mites are small parasites that live off the dead skin we all shed.
The feces and body parts of these parasites can be a powerful asthma
trigger. They are often found in bedding, mattresses, pillows, sofas and
carpets. To avoid exposure to dust mites, remove carpets in the bedrooms,
wash bed linens weekly in very hot water, use a dehumidifier to minimize
dampness and cover your mattress and pillows in allergen-proof plastic.
| | • | Indoor moulds
- Moulds are a type of fungus that can be found in damp places with little
or no air flow, like basements and bathrooms. To avoid the airborne spores
that trigger asthma, keep your house dry and clean. Use a dehumidifier to
remove dampness and keep the house well ventilated. Clean bathrooms with
vinegar or bleach to remove mould and use bathroom fans to improve air flow.
Vacuum regularly. Mould can also collect in damp places outside the house,
such as piles of leaves, stagnant water and garbage containers. Remove all
grass and leaves from you lawn after mowing, keep garbage cans clean and
remove any containers that capture and hold water.
| | • | Pollens -
Airborne pollens, produced by trees, grasses and weeds, are easily inhaled
and can cause asthma symptoms. To reduce exposure to pollens and other
airborne pollutants, use an air cleaner in your home, plant low-allergen
gardens, keep your windows closed when pollen counts are high and avoid
going outside on hot, windy days.
| | • | Cold air -
Cold air or sudden changes in weather can trigger asthma. If the cold
affects your asthma, try breathing through your nose to warm the air before
it reaches your lungs. Wear a scarf or cold-weather mask to warm the air you
breathe and exercise indoors on cold days.
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Is your asthma under control?
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Take the 30 second asthma test and find out.
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Warning signs of a severe asthma attack
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Most asthma attacks develop gradually and can be treated before they become
life-threatening.
But, sometimes, asthma symptoms can be severe enough to require
immediate medical attention.
Learn to recognize these signs of an asthma emergency:
| • | excessive coughing
| | • | excessive wheezing
| | • | extreme tightness in the chest
| | • | extremely laboured breathing
| | • | sweating
| | • | gasping voice
| | • | pale or blue lips or fingernails
| | • | anxiety or fear
| | • | decreased activity
| | • | reliever medication does not seem to be controlling symptoms
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Source: The Asthma Society of Canada
www.asthma.ca
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Asthma or allergies?
People often confuse asthma symptoms with
allergies. Although allergies and asthma are related, they are not the same
thing. People with allergies don't necessarily develop asthma and people with
asthma may not have allergies.
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Asthma AND allergies
If you have been diagnosed with both
allergies and asthma, you must take extra precautions against exposing yourself
to things that trigger your allergic reactions.
Exposure to allergens can make asthma
symptoms worse by increasing the inflammation in your airways and making
them more sensitive.
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Exercise and asthma
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Exercise is an important part of managing asthma symptoms. Learn more about
exercising with asthma.
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Asthma and pregnancy
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When you’re pregnant, you’re breathing for two, so it's important to keep your
asthma under control.
Learn more
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