Healthy Indoors | 39
trolling asthma triggers. For more information,
go to page 2 of NHLBI's "Asthma Action Plan."
If your asthma symptoms are clearly related
to allergens, and you can't avoid exposure to
those allergens, your doctor may advise you to
get allergy shots.
You may need to see a specialist if you're
thinking about getting allergy shots. These shots
can lessen or prevent your asthma symptoms,
but they can't cure your asthma.
Several health conditions can make asthma
harder to manage. These conditions include
runny nose, sinus infections, reflux disease,
psychological stress, and sleep apnea. Your
doctor will treat these conditions as well.
Medicines
Your doctor will consider many things when deciding which
asthma medicines are best for you. He or she will check to
see how well a medicine works for you. Then, he or she will
adjust the dose or medicine as needed.
Asthma medicines can be taken in pill form,
but most are taken using a device called an in-
haler. An inhaler allows the medicine to go di-
rectly to your lungs.
Not all inhalers are used the same way. Ask
your doctor or another health care provider to
show you the right way to use your inhaler. Review
the way you use your inhaler at every medical visit.
On the other hand, if your asthma is well con-
trolled for several months, your doctor may de-
crease your medicine. These adjustments to your
medicine will help you maintain the best control
possible with the least amount of medicine nec-
essary.
Asthma treatment for certain groups of peo-
ple—such as children, pregnant women, or those
for whom exercise brings on asthma symptoms—
will be adjusted to meet their special needs.
Follow an Asthma Action Plan
You can work with your doctor to create a personal asthma
action plan. The plan will describe your daily treatments,
such as which medicines to take and when to take them. The
plan also will explain when to call your doctor or go to the
emergency room.
If your child has asthma, all of the people who
care for him or her should know about the child's
asthma action plan. This includes babysitters
and workers at daycare centers, schools, and
camps. These caretakers can help your child
follow his or her action plan.
Go to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute's (NHLBI's) "Asthma Action Plan" for a
sample plan.
Avoid Things That Can Worsen Your
Asthma
Many common things (called asthma triggers) can set off or
worsen your asthma symptoms. Once you know what these
things are, you can take steps to control many of them. (For
more information about asthma triggers, go to "What Are the
Signs and Symptoms of Asthma?")
For example, exposure to pollens or air pol-
lution might make your asthma worse. If so, try
to limit time outdoors when the levels of these
substances in the outdoor air are high. If animal
fur triggers your asthma symptoms, keep pets
with fur out of your home or bedroom.
One possible asthma trigger you shouldn't
avoid is physical activity. Physical activity is an
important part of a healthy lifestyle. Talk with
your doctor about medicines that can help you
stay active.
The NHLBI offers many useful tips for con-
i
