Controlling triggers helps with asthma prevention Published May 13, 2011 By Capt. Melissa B. Blackburn Certified Pediatric RN, 72nd Medical Group TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Breathing is something most of us take for granted every day, but for those who suffer with asthma it can be a chore just to get air in and out. According to statistics millions of Americans, including many here at Tinker, are affected by asthma each year. May is National Asthma Awareness month and it is a great time to learn more information about controlling asthma. The best way to prevent asthma complications is to know what triggers them. Before we take a look at asthma triggers, let's take a closer look about what asthma is and how it affects breathing. Asthma is a chronic disease that affects airways. There are two main components: inflammation and constriction. Inflammation causes the airway to become very sensitive and causes airways to react. For example when someone is allergic to a bee sting they become swollen on the outside. For someone who has asthma, the inflammation causes the airways to become narrower, causing airway constriction. Because this processes is slow, people may not know until their airways are badly blocked. This constriction causes less air flow to the lungs and makes it difficult for someone with asthma to breath. You or someone you know may experience coughing, chest tightness, wheezing and have difficulty breathing. Often these symptoms are worse at night and early in the morning and when these symptoms are worse than normal they cause an asthma episode or attack. When this happens, the airways become even more swollen and it may feel like breathing through a straw. More mucus can be produced, which can make it more difficult to breathe. Now that we know what asthma is, it's time to talk about what triggers asthma. One way to can find out what triggers asthma is to keep a diary. For example ask yourself a series of questions such as "was I near an animal?" or "was I vacuuming the house?" If you were near an animal, your trigger could be pet dander; if it was vacuuming, it could be dust mites. Once you find out what triggers your asthma talk with your Primary Care Manager about which ones can be avoided and which ones can't. The most common triggers of asthma include allergens -- such as dust mites, molds/pollen, cockroaches and pet dander -- respiratory infections and colds, exercise, weather, expressing strong emotions (anger, fear, excitement), irritants in the air like second hand smoke and some medications. The following are helpful hints on how to control some of these triggers. Allergens such as mold, pollen and pet dander can be controlled by vacuuming carpets daily or putting a HEPA filter on your vacuum. You can also buy plastic covers for pillows and mattresses, having ductwork cleaned at least yearly and changing air-conditioning filters as recommend by the manufacturer. Those with small children should limit stuffed animals to ones that can be washed frequently. You can also watch the news for mold/pollen counts. If the counts are high you should try to stay inside an air conditioned building. Pollen tends to collect on exposed body surfaces, have you ever seen your car on a high pollen day? I know mine turns yellow. So if you need to go outside, remove the pollen by showering and remember to wash your hair. You can also keep mold away by cleaning your bathroom with bleach. A bigger trigger for asthma attack can be second-hand smoke or a respiratory infection. Many of you already know you should avoid being around smoke. Most of us, however, probably don't realize that even if someone smokes outside it stays on their clothing, hair and skin until you shower or wash it off. Last, but not least remember to get a flu shot every year to prevent pneumonia and other respiratory infections. The next step is to take your medications as provided by your PCM. You may be prescribed an inhaled steroid. The most common ones are Pulmicort, Flovent and Advair. Your PCM will know what works best for you. It is important to remember to take them every day to prevent an asthma attack from occurring. Remember to rinse your mouth after using the medication, otherwise it stays in your mouth. A good way to remember this is to keep your inhaler by your toothbrush. Most importantly watch your asthma and learn the early signs that it is becoming worse. One way to monitor asthma symptoms is to use a peak flow meter, which can be obtained from a PCM. This device can tell if the airway is getting smaller hours or even days before symptoms appear. Peak flow numbers are normally designed to work in zones (green = safe, yellow = caution, red = emergency) and normally part of an asthma action plan. In addition to the peak flow meter ,you should look for warning signs from your body. Asthma sufferers almost always get some type of warning from their bodies that they are going to have an episode. Warning signs can include coughing, chest tightness and feeling tired. It is important to listen to your body for the warning signs, because you may not feel any symptoms until your airways are almost blocked. Remember you can control your asthma instead of it controlling you. Asthma should not prevent you from performing any daily activities. Make sure you see your provider two times a year for follow up and follow three simple steps: 1) know your asthma triggers and try to decrease them, 2) know your meds and when to take them 3) watch your asthma symptoms using a peak flow meter and listening to your body. Contact your PCM for any other questions or concerns.