Is asthma part of your personal or family reality? Nonetheless, it is possible to lead a normal and active life with some adjustments.
Are you living with asthma?
Did you know that your pharmacist can help you better control it, including adjusting and optimizing your medication, as well as helping you develop an effective treatment plan? Read more about asthma management here.
Asthma is among the most common diseases in the world. More than 2 million Canadians must live with asthma, and this disease is associated with roughly 500 deaths per year. Although cases involving death are more and more rare, a number of people see their well-being, quality of life, and health seriously affected by asthma.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by an obstruction of the airways caused by bronchial inflammation and contraction and increased production of mucus. Consequently, the lungs receive less air and breathing becomes difficult. Asthma symptoms include:
If your child lives with asthma, it's important to inform school or daycare service staff. Ideally, your child should have an action plan if symptoms or an asthma attack occurs. All of the caregivers responsible for your child should have a copy of this plan, which should include certain key information, including the following:
A child with asthma should always have easy access to his/her rescue medication, which should be well identified and accompanied by instructions for use.
In general, people who have asthma shouldn't have difficulty exercising if their asthma is well controlled. However, the ability to practise a physical activity can be compromised in some cases. Moreover, it should be noted that exercise is among the factors that can trigger asthma symptoms.
Several elements influence the onset of asthma symptoms during the course of a physical activity, including the degree of control of the disease, temperature, inhaled allergens, pollution level or the type of effort. The onset of asthma symptoms during exercise can sometimes be indicative that it is time to review the treatment plan and see a healthcare professional.
People with asthma should not avoid exercise, but simply ensure that their condition is well managed, so they can enjoy their favourite activities without having to deal with asthma symptoms.
Air pollution is a timely topic, something we read about almost daily. So, it's natural to wonder about how the air we breathe affects people with asthma. It’s clear: exposure to certain types of air pollution, even at low concentrations, is linked to an increase in respiratory ailments.
And smog is clearly one of the more common triggers of asthma, one that can even worsen symptoms. So, the best way to prevent asthmatic reactions is to limit exposure air pollution by checking the air quality index before you go outdoors. The index is generally available on weather sites and mobile weather apps.
Studies have also shown that wearing an N95 mask is effective in helping to filter out fine particles from the air during smoggy periods. While N95s aren’t currently recommended for the general population, they may be a good choice for more vulnerable people, such as those with asthma, especially when prolonged exposure is unavoidable.
Cigarettes are one of your health's worst enemies, and this is especially true for people with asthma! If you or a family member suffers from asthma, it is imperative to quit smoking. Direct or indirect exposure to cigarette smoke triggers asthma symptoms, causing significant damage to the lungs, which adds to the damage caused by asthma itself.
If you decide to quit smoking, ask for a consultation with your pharmacist, who can help you in several ways, for instance, by:
There are several safe and effective prescription medications available that can help you control your asthma. They are divided into two main types: "controller" medications (prevention) and "rescue" medications. Your healthcare professional will make an action plan with you to determine how to best use the medication to treat your asthma. You will probably have to take at least one medication daily to prevent asthma symptoms.
Consistency is the key to treating asthma. Because certain individuals do not have symptoms, they do not take their medication or do not take it properly. This is a serious mistake. If you have received a diagnosis for asthma, but have no symptoms, all the better! This most likely means that you manage your asthma consistently and rigorously. Continue to follow your action plan.
As a medication expert, your pharmacist can help you to adequately control your asthma. Pharmacists can:
Never hesitate to speak to your pharmacist for any information about asthma, its treatment or on the ways to better live with the condition!
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