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Asthma
Provides links to how-to information about asthma. Includes info on asthma in teens and adults, using an asthma action plan, and using inhalers.
Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma
Covers control of asthma with an asthma action plan. Includes knowing the asthma zones and working with a doctor on a plan and medicines for symptoms and attacks.
Asthma: Using an Asthma Action Plan
Covers what an asthma action plan is. Explains how to use an asthma action plan. Covers ways to work with your doctor on an asthma action plan.
Asthma Zones
Asthma zones are part of your asthma action plan. The zones are defined by your symptoms, your peak flow, or both. Knowing what zone you're in can help you know how well your asthma is under control and if you need help. The three zones are: Green zone. Green means good. This zone is where you want to be. When you're in...
Asthma Action Plan: Red Zone
An asthma action plan is based on zones defined by your symptoms, your peak flow, or both. It tells you what to do if you have a sudden increase in your asthma symptoms ( asthma attack). You are in the red zone of your asthma action plan if you have severe asthma symptoms. Symptoms include: Any shortness of breath while...
Challenge Tests for Asthma
Exercise challenge tests and inhalation or exhalation challenge tests are sometimes used to diagnose asthma and workplace asthma (occupational asthma). In an exercise challenge test, spirometry is done before and after you exercise on a treadmill or...
Asthma: Finding Your Triggers
When you have asthma, certain things can make your symptoms worse. These things are called triggers. Things that you're allergic to can trigger your asthma. They may include: Dust. Dust mites. These are tiny, nearly invisible creatures. They live in bedding, carpet, and furniture. Cockroach droppings. Pet dander. Dander...
Occupational Asthma
What is occupational asthma? Occupational asthma is the most common form of work-related lung disease in many countries. When a person gets asthma as an adult, exposure at work is a likely cause. This type of asthma happens when a person is exposed to certain substances in the workplace. Examples are wood dust...
Asthma Attack
When asthma symptoms suddenly occur, it's called a flare-up or an asthma attack. It may also be called an acute asthma episode or exacerbation. Attacks can be brief (about an hour) or last for several days. They may be seasonal (similar to hay...
Asthma: Symptoms of Difficulty Breathing
When you have asthma, it's important to know the symptoms of trouble breathing, such as breathing faster than normal or using your chest and belly muscles to breathe. Follow your asthma action plan to know what to do. When you have trouble...
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Exercise-induced asthma is an asthma attack that happens during or after exercise. It's also called exercise-induced bronchospasm. Most people with exercise-induced asthma feel short of breath, have chest tightness, and may have a cough. These...
Asthma: Overcoming Obstacles to Taking Medicines
Taking medicines for asthma every day can be hard to get used to. You may have several reasons why you find it hard to take your medicines. But figuring out how to handle these challenges can help you take good care of yourself. Here are some...
Asthma in Children: Knowing How Bad an Attack Is
It can be hard to know if your child is having a mild, moderate, or severe asthma attack. The following chart may help you. Talk with a doctor if you can't tell how bad your child's symptoms are. In most cases, you can take care of your child's...
Asthma in Teens and Adults
Covers causes and symptoms of asthma in teens and adults. Includes info on avoiding triggers and treating attacks. Looks at treatment with controller medicine. Covers delivery systems that include metered-dose and dry powder inhalers and nebulizers.
Asthma in Children
Discusses causes and symptoms of asthma in children. Looks at treatment with medicine such as inhaled corticosteroid and albuterol. Discusses avoiding triggers and treating attacks. Covers using nebulizers, metered-dose with spacer and dry powder inhalers.
Asthma Diary
Explains how to use an asthma diary to track peak flow, symptoms, and triggers.
Asthma During Pregnancy
Covers questions about asthma during pregnancy and labor. Looks at treatment with medicines. Includes treatment of allergies. Covers safety of steroids for pregnant mother and baby.
Asthma Action Plan
An asthma action plan is a written plan that tells you what asthma medicine to take every day and how to treat an asthma attack. It can help you make quick decisions in case you can't think clearly during an attack. Your plan can help you stay active and have fewer problems. It may include: Your treatment goals. A list...
My Asthma Action Plan
My name:__________________ Doctor's name: ___________________ Doctor's phone: _______________ Controller medicine How much? How often? Other instructions Quick-relief medicine How much? How often? Other instructions GREEN ZONE This is where I want to be! YELLOW ZONE My asthma is getting worse. RED ZONE Danger! Symptoms...
Asthma and Vocal Cord Problems
Vocal cord dysfunction is the uncontrolled closing of the vocal cords when you breathe in. The symptoms can seem to be the same as those of asthma and may occur alone or along with asthma. If you have asthma and vocal cord dysfunction, it may be difficult for you to tell the difference between symptoms of the two...
Asthma: Peak Expiratory Flow and Personal Best
What are peak flow and personal best? Peak expiratory flow, or peak flow, is how much air you breathe out when you try your hardest. You measure peak flow with a peak flow meter, a device that you can use at home. If you can breathe out quickly and with ease, you have a higher number. This means you have a higher peak...
Asthma: How to Overcome Treatment Obstacles
At times, you may find it hard to manage your asthma and stay with your treatment plan. If you're having trouble, it may help to figure out what's getting in your way. Then you can decide how to work around those barriers. Here are some common...
Asthma and Wheezing
Wheezing is a whistling noise that occurs when the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs, narrow because of inflammation or mucus buildup. Wheezing is often present in asthma. During an asthma attack, the bronchial tubes become smaller. At...
Asthma: Measuring Peak Flow
It's important to know how well your lungs are working. One way to do this is by checking your peak flow with a peak flow meter. Your peak flow can tell you if your asthma is staying the same, getting better, or getting worse. It helps you know if you need to take action.
Treating Asthma in Babies and Younger Children
Babies and small children need early treatment for asthma symptoms to prevent severe breathing problems. They may have more serious problems than adults because their bronchial tubes are smaller. Babies and young children may be treated with oral or inhaled medicines. Even if your child's asthma does not appear severe...
Steroid Medicine for Asthma: Myths and Facts
Medicine helps you breathe easier and keeps your asthma under control. Controller medicines help stop problems before they happen. They also reduce inflammation in your lungs. Quick-relief medicines are used when you can't prevent symptoms and need to treat them fast. One of the best tools for managing asthma is a...
Inhaled Corticosteroids for Asthma
Make sure you know about each of the medicines you take. This includes why you take it, how to take it, what you can expect while you're taking it, and any warnings about the medicine. The information provided here is general. So be sure to read the information that came with your medicine. If you have any questions or...
Inhaled Quick-Relief Medicines for Asthma
Make sure you know about each of the medicines you take. This includes why you take it, how to take it, what you can expect while you're taking it, and any warnings about the medicine. The information provided here is general. So be sure to read...
Asthma's Impact on Your Child's Life
Asthma is a challenging condition. It can affect all areas of your child's life. Many children who have asthma miss school days. When this happens, have your child call a friend to ask about the work that was missed. Doing this both helps your child keep up with schoolwork and gives some of the social contact that...
Asthma and GERD
GERD is found in many people who have asthma. GERD is the abnormal backflow, or reflux, of stomach juices into the esophagus, the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach. People with asthma who have heartburn—after meals, when they bend...
Asthma Treatment Goals
Explains how the goals for asthma treatment are to control symptoms and to reduce the risk for future problems.
Asthma: Educating Yourself and Your Child
Educating yourself and your family about asthma is essential for you and your child to manage the condition. If you understand asthma, you will have an easier time following the different aspects of treatment, such as avoiding substances that cause...
Allergy Shots for Asthma
Allergy shots are a type of immunotherapy treatment. Small doses of substances to which you are allergic (allergens) are injected under your skin. Over time, your body may become less responsive to the allergens. This means that you may have fewer...
Omalizumab for Asthma
Omalizumab (Xolair) is a medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people age 12 and older who have moderate or severe persistent asthma. This medicine costs a lot more than any of the standard treatments for asthma. The medicine works by blocking immunoglobulin E (IgE) from attaching...
Asthma: Ways to Take Inhaled Medicines
When you use inhaled asthma medicine, you usually use a device that delivers the medicine directly to your lungs. Different types of delivery systems are available. And one type may be better for certain people or age groups or certain medicines. ...
Asthma: Overuse of Quick-Relief Medicines
Quick-relief beta2-agonists quickly reduce symptoms. For this reason, people sometimes overuse them instead of adding the slower-acting, long-term medicines. Overuse of quick-relief medicines may be harmful. If you overuse quick-relief...
Assessing Your Asthma Knowledge
Understanding asthma can help you control your symptoms and reduce your risk of asthma attacks. The following statements summarize what you should know about asthma. If you don't know or aren't sure about any of them, talk to your doctor. The more...
Allergies: Should I Take Allergy Shots?
Guides you through decision to have allergy-shot immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic asthma. Explains how allergy shots work. Covers who should not have them. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Coughs, Age 11 and Younger
Briefly discusses causes of coughs in children, including common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, allergies, choking, and chemicals in the air. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Children's Health
Provides links to info on child growth and development topics. Also includes links to info on illnesses that might affect a child's health. Topics listed include immunizations, healthy eating for children, and asthma in children.
Coughs, Age 12 and Older
Briefly discusses causes of coughs, including common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, GERD, COPD, choking, and chemicals in the air. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older
Briefly discusses respiratory problems that older children and adults can have. Covers viral and bacterial infections, allergies, and asthma. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Child Safety: Air Pollution
Environmental Illness Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years Health and Safety, Birth to 2 Years Healthy Habits for Kids Current as of: October 25, 2024 Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffClinical Review BoardAll Healthwise education is reviewed by...
Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger
Briefly discusses respiratory problems that babies and children can have. Covers viral and bacterial infections, allergies, and asthma. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
Breathing Problems: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer
Covers helping a child use a metered-dose inhaler with mask spacer. Explains that a metered dose inhaler delivers a measured dose of medicine directly to the lungs. Includes pictures on how to use metered-dose inhaler with mask spacer.
Tips for Reducing Indoor Pollutants in Your Home
Exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause respiratory problems, such as asthma attacks. It can also cause diseases, such as lung cancer. Pollutants include smoke, pet dander, radon, mold, cleaning products, and other chemicals. You can create a healthier home by following the tips below. Reduce allergens. If pets make...
Allergies: Controlling Cockroaches
Cockroaches leave behind particles from their feces, eggs, and shells that can cause an allergic reaction. These particles, called antigens, can travel through the air, and you can breathe them into your lungs. They can cause coughing, sneezing,...
Breathing Problems: Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler
A metered-dose inhaler lets you breathe medicine into your lungs quickly. Inhaled medicine works faster than the same medicine in a pill. An inhaler allows you to take less medicine than you would need if you took it as a pill. "Metered-dose" means that the inhaler gives a measured amount of medicine each time you use...
Black Lung Disease
Black lung disease is the common name for a lung disease that results from breathing in coal dust. When people have this disease, their lungs look black instead of pink. Another name for it is coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). There are two forms:...
Controlling Dust, Dust Mites, and Other Allergens in Your Home
Dust and dust mites are a common indoor allergen. Allergens are things that can trigger an allergic reaction. Allergens can cause a rash, a stuffy nose, or other symptoms such as wheezing or coughing. Dust mites are visible only through a...
Breathing Problems: Using a Dry Powder Inhaler
Covers using an inhaler to get needed medicine into lungs quickly. Describes dry powder inhalers, how they work, and why to use them. Includes pictures on how to use a dry powder inhaler.
Breathing Problems: Using a Nebulizer
A nebulizer is a tool that delivers liquid medicine as a fine mist. You breathe in the medicine through a mouthpiece or face mask. This sends the medicine directly to your airways and lungs. A nebulizer may be used to treat lung problems. These...
Forced Expiratory Volume and Forced Vital Capacity
Forced expiratory volume (FEV) measures how much air a person can exhale during a forced breath. The amount of air exhaled may be measured during the first (FEV1), second (FEV2), and/or third seconds (FEV3) of the forced breath. Forced vital capacity (FVC) is the total amount of air exhaled during the FEV test. Forced...
Home Lung Function Test
A home lung function test uses a peak flow meter or a home spirometer to monitor and evaluate any breathing problems you may have on a day-to-day basis. A peak flow meter allows you to measure your peak expiratory flow. A home spirometer allows you to measure your forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1). If you have...
Lung Function Tests
Lung function tests check to see how well your lungs work. The tests can find lung problems, measure how serious they are, and check to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working. The tests look at: How much air your lungs can hold. How quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs. How well your lungs put...
Living With More Than One Health Problem
Many people have more than one long-term (chronic) health problem. You may be one of them. For example, you may have high blood pressure and diabetes, or you may have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure. When you have more than one problem, doctors call the health problems comorbidities. One health problem...