By Dr Aisha Harris
It is not just asthma. There are 26 million people in the United States who have asthma, which is equal to about 1 in 13 people, according the National Center for Health Statistics. With at least 40% of adults having asthma attacks each year, it is beneficial to know the warning signs that better asthma control is needed.
Often. people connect asthma with children more than adults. But more adults are living with asthma, and children with asthma grow up to be adults with asthma. Asthma is not as causal as people think, and adults are six times more likely to die from asthma than children. Additionally, Black people in the U.S. are nearly three times more likely to die from asthma than white people in the U.S.
Asthma is a chronic or long-term lung disease where there is inflammation and swelling in the lung tissue or airways, which causes narrowing and difficulty breathing. There are different triggers for asthma symptoms that vary from person to person. Ideally, a person is able to take clear and easy breaths in every day to day situation, but that is not always the case. Many people with asthma have inhalers that help deliver medicine to the lungs directly, and some even take medications by mouth to control asthma symptoms.
Knowing the triggers for asthma symptoms is helpful to decrease exposure and flare-ups of asthma symptoms. Sometimes it takes time to figure out triggers from animals and cigarettes, to pollen and mold, but there are many more. There are a variety of things, especially with airborne particles that can trigger asthma symptoms.
Asthma symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pain or discomfort. Often those with asthma utilize a “rescue” inhaler of albuterol medication to help alleviate the symptoms and feel better when symptoms suddenly come on. If there are frequent asthma symptoms not alleviated by the rescue inhaler or occurring multiple times a day talking to a medical doctor is recommended for better asthma control.
Many people with asthma also use a daily “controller” inhaler that delivers medicine to the lungs for a longer period of time. It can be an art to figure out what combination of medicine is right for someone, but the appreciation of being able to breathe better is priceless.
Some people benefit from pill or injectable medications for their asthma, especially if there an an environmental allergy-related trigger that worsens their asthma symptoms.
It is important to discuss asthma control and management options with a medical doctor to determine the right combination of medication, especially if there is undermanagement of symptoms and frequent asthma attacks or flares. The longer asthma goes uncontrolled, the more injury or long-term damage that the lung tissue can experience, which can cause complications and increased hospitalizations in the future. When someone is not able to breathe well then they are not able to exchange oxygen to help fuel their body and mind. So taking a step back to check on asthma control can save someone’s life as they improve their breathing and lung health overall.
Dr Aisha Harris, MD is a Flint native and board certified family medicine doctor at Harris Family Health in Flint, Michigan. Harris Family Health is a membership-based clinic that provides personalized and full primary care to adults and children. Learn more about Harris Family Health by visiting www.harrisfamilyhealth.com. Feel free to submit health questions to Dr Harris via theflintcouriernews@gmail.com.
