Do You Know How to Prevent an Asthma Attack?

Asthma is a lifelong condition that can have life-threatening consequences if not properly managed.

At Healthy Life Family Medicine, John Monroe, MD and his team offer a wide range of asthma treatments and customized prevention plans to lower your risk for asthma attacks. We also continue to monitor your health in the long term to prevent asthma-related complications.

Understanding asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes sudden inflammation in your lung’s bronchial tubes, which makes it hard for you to breathe. Your lungs also produce excess mucus that further complicates your ability to take in enough oxygen.

Asthma attacks can be triggered by:

• Allergies
• Cigarette smoke
• Air pollution
• Cold weather
• Strenuous exercise

You may wheeze, have chest tightness, or develop a persistent cough during an asthma attack. Without treatment, you may be at risk for life-threatening complications due to a lack of oxygen.

Asthma attack prevention tips

The best way to prevent an asthma attack is to plan ahead. Our medical team has extensive experience creating asthma prevention plans so you can avoid asthma-related complications.

Here are some guidelines to follow to lower your risk for an asthma attack:

1. Use asthma medications as directed

There are medications available to treat asthma attacks when they happen and to prevent inflammation in your lungs. You should know how to recognize the signs of an asthma attack in the earliest stages so you can treat it before your symptoms worsen.

If you need medications, be sure to use them as directed. We can teach you how to use fast-acting inhalers during an attack and may recommend in-office breathing treatments to keep your lungs clear.

If allergies trigger your asthma attacks, we can customize an allergy treatment plan using medications or immunotherapy to best manage both conditions.

2. Become familiar with your triggers

Asthma triggers vary from person to person, so it’s important to know what triggers your breathing issues. Pay attention to your activities when you start coughing or have trouble breathing.

We can review your triggers and help you develop strategies to avoid them. Our team can also help your loved ones understand how to help you through an asthma attack.

3. Stay current on vaccinations

To lower your risk for asthma flare-ups, you should receive seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccinations to protect you from lung complications caused by these viruses.

Vaccinations are especially important for people with asthma because colds and other viruses can trigger severe asthma attacks.

4. Schedule routine health evaluations

Dr. Monroe at Healthy Life Family Medicine offers routine health checkups to monitor your overall lung function and ensure your current asthma medications are working. These visits also allow us to address any new asthma triggers or symptoms you’re experiencing to prevent asthma complications.

It’s vital that you receive medical attention immediately after an asthma attack. Even if medications relieve the symptoms of an attack, you still need an evaluation to ensure your lung function is stable.

If you need help managing asthma symptoms, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Healthy Life Family Medicine. You can book an appointment online or call the office near you today.