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When you're pregnant, you are breathing for two, so it's important to keep your
asthma under control.
Uncontrolled asthma is associated with pregnancy complications, such as:
| • | premature birth
| | • | low birth weight
| | • | changes in maternal blood
pressure
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Severe asthma attacks can endanger your baby by reducing the amount of oxygen it
receives.
Managing your symptoms
The risks of uncontrolled asthma are higher than the risks of the medication
used to control your symptoms. Although most asthma medications are safe during
pregnancy, the best protection for your baby is to avoid asthma triggers that
may provoke an asthma attack.
Cigarette, second-hand or environmental smoke can expose the baby to additional
risks. Babies are three times more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) if their mothers smoke during pregnancy.
If your asthma is under control, you should have no more complications during
your pregnancy than a woman who does not have asthma.
Source: The Lung Association
http://www.lung.ca
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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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