Five important things to know about asthma
If you have asthma, here are five important things you should know:
You can control your asthma.
- You don’t need to miss school, sports, or other activities.
Asthma is a disease that makes the airways in your lungs inflamed and swollen.
- During an asthma flare-up (attack), your airways are swollen and sensitive.
- You can control the swelling with medicine, and by staying away from things that bother your airways.
Things that bother your airways are called "triggers."
- "Triggers" cause asthma flare-ups.
- Smoke, pollen, dust, and exercise can be triggers.
- Every person with asthma has different triggers.
- Learn how to avoid your triggers and prevent flare-ups.
- Medicine taken before exercise can help prevent your asthma from flaring up.
Work with your doctor to manage your asthma.
- Know what to do every day to avoid flare-ups.
- Know what to do right away if you have a flare-up.
If someone you care for or live with has asthma, don’t smoke.
- Smoke is a common trigger and can cause asthma to flare up.
- Network Health can help you quit smoking by connecting you to a stop-smoking program.