May 1st, World Asthma Day

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Source: Global Initiative for Asthma


Today is World Asthma day! The theme this year is “Never too early, never too late. It’s always the right the right time to address airways disease”. On this day we are raising the awareness on asthma and its management. Asthma is an airway disease in which breathing becomes difficult because the airways get narrowed, inflamed or swollen; there is also excess mucous production. Asthma attacks affect the quality of life of a sufferer, causes absenteeism at work and school.

Signs & Symptoms
·         Difficulty in breathing (breathlessness), speaking or walking
·         Chest tightness
·         Wheezing
·         Coughing
·         Distress
·         Grey-blue tinge to the lips, earlobes and nail beds (known as cyanosis)

Causes
The muscles of the air passages in the lungs go into spasm. This makes the airways narrower, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma attacks in patients can be triggered by smoke and other air pollutants, cold and flu, certain scents, allergies, fumes, stress and physically exerting activities.

Treatment
Asthma must be managed based on medical advice given by a doctor and strictly adhered to. Preventing an asthma attack is most definitely the best line to tow.

Preventive measures:
-Follow strictly the treatment recommendation by your doctor
-Identify and avoid asthma triggers
-Know the symptoms and act immediately you feel the least sign.
-Do not trifle with airway illnesses as they could trigger an attack
-Always have your recommended inhaler within reach

First aid for an asthma attack
  • Reassure the person that(s)he will be ok
  • Find out if the person has an individualized asthma action plan from a health care provider.
  • Then help them use their reliever inhaler straight away(if available). This should relieve the attack
  • Next, sit them down in a comfortable position
·          If it doesn’t get better within a few minutes, it may be a severe attack. Get them to take one or two puffs of their inhaler every two minutes, until they’ve had 10 puffs
·          If the attack is severe and they are getting worse or becoming exhausted, or if this is their first attack, then call Emergency Medical Service
·          Help them to keep using their inhaler if they need to. Keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response
·         If they lose responsiveness at any point, open their airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat someone who’s become unresponsive. Carry out CPR
 
#TheFABSIdea-If you are asthmatic or know someone who is, be properly informed. Stick with a recommended treatment plan, as suggested by the doctor. Ensure your drugs are taken as prescribed by the doctor, avoid triggers as much as possible. Do not ignore signs and symptoms that indicate a poor wellbeing, especially as enumerated above

#BeEmergencyReady
#BePreparedAlways
#BeFABulouS

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