Download - Asthma + Allergy Triggers
Keys to Breathing Easy Keys to Breathing Easy Ways to Manage Your Asthma
EHAP Environmental Health Action Project| Proyecto de Acción de Salud Ambiental |
SUPPORTED IN PART BY:
Project H17 MC 00170 from Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Childrens Program, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration,Department of Health and Human Services
Project X 98132201-0 from Urban Environmental Initiatives Program, Region 1 – New England,US Environmental Protection Agency
© 2002 Environmental Health Action Project. All rights reserved.
Keys To Breathing Easy is a publication of the Environmental Health Action Project (EHAP). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written consent of EHAP.
EHAP is a partnership of the Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC),Brown University Swearer Center for Public Service, and Providence Community HealthCorps.
EDITING: Chris Camillo & Kris HermannsTRANSLATION: Federico Rivera & Mirna MendezDESIGN: Ryan Andrew ScroILLUSTRATION: Matt Castigliego
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
The families of PCHC for their review and insightStanley Block, MD • Claudia DeCesare • Judy Morris, RNWill Newman • Kathy Shay • Jeremy Smith • Lizette MurielAna Mendoza-Diaz • Adolf Rahmer • Joya Lonsdale
EH0302-E 6/02 20
Keys to Managing Your Asthma:
Know your asthma
Know your medications
Know your triggers
Communicate
INTRODUCTION
I N T R O D U C T I O N 4
You can manage asthma.
Asthma should not stop you from doing the things you want to do.
I N T R O D U C T I O N 5
You need a plan.
Asthma affects each family in different ways. Each family needs their own,
special plan to manage asthma.
I N T R O D U C T I O N 6
Families need to make decisionsabout which actions are partof their special asthma plan.
How do you want to manage asthma?
I N T R O D U C T I O N 7
You are not alone!
Asthma affects individuals, families, neighborhoods, and cities.
Over 17 million adults and children inthe United States have asthma.
The number of people with asthma is increasing in the U.S. and around the world.
I N T R O D U C T I O N 8
Your environment is the indoor and outdoor spaces and places where you spend time. The environment affects
everyone in good and bad ways. This is especially true for people with asthma.
Everyone is affected by their environment.
LESSON ONE:Know your asthma
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 10
Lungs and airways:
When you breathe, air goes into your mouth and nose, down your windpipe, and
into the small airways of your lungs.
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 11
Asthma lungs and airways:
Asthma affects airways by causing:1) inflammation and mucus
2) constriction
normal airway
normal airway constricted airway
inflamed airway
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 12
Asthma airways are “twitchy.”
The airways of people with asthma are more sensitive to the things around
them than are the airways of people who do not have asthma.
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 13
Everyone’s asthmais different.
Doctors describe asthma as stairs with 4 levels. People with level 4 asthma have symptoms regularly.
Learn your asthma level. Work with you doctor to
decrease your level.
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 14
What are your asthma symptoms?
Symptoms are clues that your body gives you about your asthma. They let you know:1) that you are reacting to something
in your environment2) how badly inflamed and
constricted your airways are
coughing
itching
wheezing
tired or wired chest tightness
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 15
Listen to your body. Act when youfirst notice symptoms or your
asthma may get worse. In most cases, asthma attacksdo not happen by surprise.
Pay attention to the road ahead.
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 16
What should he do?
What do you do when you feel the first symptoms of asthma?
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 17
Take action.
1) Take your quick-relief medication.2) Tell someone that you are having trouble with asthma.
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 18
Take action.
3) Check your peak flow.4) Stay calm and closely watch your symptoms.
L E S S O N O N E : Know your asthma 19
Take action.
Seek medical help at once if you do not get better or your asthma gets worse.
Ask your doctor how to contact her when her office is closed.
LESSON TWO:Know your medications
L E S S O N T W O : Know your medications 21
There are 2 types of asthma medications:1) Controller medications
relieve airway inflammation.2) Quick-relief medications relieve airway constriction.
Controller and quick-relief medications:
controllermedication
+ =
+ =
inflamed airway normal airway
quick-reliefmedication
constricted airway normal airway
L E S S O N T W O : Know your medications 22
There are many medications to help people with asthma. They may
look alike but need to be used in different ways. This can be confusing.
What questions do you haveabout your medications?
L E S S O N T W O : Know your medications 23
What have you heard?
People try to manage asthma in many different ways. Some people take
medications. Some people use family remedies. Some people use both.
What do you do?
LESSON THREE:Know your triggers
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 25
The fire of asthma:
Avoid triggers and take medications to keep your “fire” under control.
➜
➜
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 26
Asthma triggers:
Triggers are things that make asthma worse by causing:
1) airway inflammation and mucus 2) airway constriction
Each person has different asthma triggers.
normal airway
normal airway constricted airway
inflamed airway
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 27
You need a plan.
Each person needs their own special plan to control triggers. There are 4 steps
to completing your trigger control plan:1) Learn about asthma and your asthma triggers.
2) Know your asthma triggers.3) Know where you are exposed to triggers.
4) Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 28
Asthma triggers: allergens
Exposure to allergens can make your asthma worse. Allergens are things in your
environment that you are allergic to. Allergens can trigger an asthma attack or allergy
symptoms. Each person’s allergies are different.
Step 1: Learn about asthma and your asthma triggers.
dust mites cockroachesmolds cats
food pollenrats/mice dogs
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 29
Asthma triggers: irritants
Exposure to irritants can make your asthma worse. Irritants are things in
the air that bother everyone’s airways. The sensitive airways of people with
asthma are even more affected by irritants.
Step 1: Learn about asthma and your asthma triggers.
gas stovecigarette smoke chemicals/sprays
car exhaust/pollutionstrong odors
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 30
Asthma triggers: aggravators
Aggravators are other things that can make your asthma worse.
weather
stressexercise
cold/flu
Step 1: Learn about asthma and your asthma triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 31
What are your asthma triggers?
There are 2 ways to identify your triggers:1) past experience
2) allergy skin testing
Step 2: Know your asthma triggers.
allergy skin testing
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 32
Asthma triggersin the bedroom:
What triggers can be in a bedroom?It is important to try to control triggers in the places where you spend the most time.
Step 3: Know where you are exposed to triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 33
Asthma triggers in the kitchen:
What triggers can be in a kitchen?It’s important to figure out how much you
are around each of your triggers.
Step 3: Know where you are exposed to triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 34
Asthma triggers in the bathroom:
What triggers can be in a bathroom?Some triggers are caused by the age of ahome or by the way the house was built.
Step 3: Know where you are exposed to triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 35
Asthma triggers in the living room:
What triggers can be in a living room?
Step 3: Know where you are exposed to triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 36
Dust mites.
Dust mites live in fabric items. They growbest in places that are warm and humid.
stuffed animals
beds and pillows carpets/rugs
curtains
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 37
Dust mite controls:
Take action to control dust mites. Start in places where you spend the most time
and where you can make changes.
mop
freeze stuffed animals
wash bed sheets weeklyand wash curtains
throw rug away
use special mattress and pillow covers
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 38
Cockroaches.
Cockroaches need water and food to live. They like to live in places that are warm and dark.
dirty dishes
pet food leaking sink
garbage
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 39
Cockroach controls:
cover garbage
wash dishes
repair leaks
Take action to control cockroaches. Start in places where you spend the most
time and where you can make changes.
use baits and trapsto kill cockroaches.
(keep out of the reach of children)
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 40
Molds.
Molds need water to live. Molds grow bestin places that are humid, dark, and warm.
mold in corners
ceiling leak leaking sink
rugs
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 41
Mold controls:
Take action. Find mold and clean places where mold grows best.
mop
use cleaning supplies throw rugs away
repair leaks
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 42
Cats and other animals.
Being around cats, dogs, and other animalscan make your asthma worse.
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 43
Animal controls:
Take action. Try to spend less time aroundanimals that make your asthma worse.
give pets away
cover garbage tokeep mice away
keep pets out of your bedroom
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
fish are fun,safe pets
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 44
Smoke.
Smoke irritates the airways of all people. Smoke makes asthma worse.
Even if you don’t smoke, being around people who are smoking will make
your asthma worse. Smoking is particularly harmful to young children.
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
L E S S O N T H R E E : Know your triggers 45
Take action. Stop smoking. Spend less time around people who smoke.
Smoke controls:
stop smoking ask people tosmoke outside
Step 4: Take action and control triggers.
LESSON FOUR:Communicate
L E S S O N F O U R : Communicate 47
Who is on your asthma team?
Everyone who helps you manage asthma is part of your asthma team. Remember, you are the
most important member of your team.
doctor
teacherfamily
friends
neighbors
L E S S O N F O U R : Communicate 48
What does your teamneed to know?
Communicate with your asthma team so they canunderstand your plan for managing asthma.
• Your early asthma symptoms• Signs of a severe asthma attack• Your medications• Your triggers
L E S S O N F O U R : Communicate 49
You can manage asthma.
Communicate with your asthma team so they can help you reach your goals.
L E S S O N F O U R : Communicate 50
What are your keys to managing asthma?
Take action to control asthma so that it does notstop you from doing the things you want to do.
Know your asthma Know your medications
Know your triggers Communicate