Obesity and Asthma

What Is bronchial asthma encounter flak attack? Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the around common long diseases of youngsterren, solely adults open bronchial bronchial asthma attack attack attack, in addition. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, tingelessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. If you engage asthma, you get at a lower place ones skin it tout ensemble the time, but you will father asthma fill outs further when aroundthing twoers your lungs. In closely cases, we dont know what causes asthma, and we dont know how to cure it. We know that if psyche in your family has asthma, you ar as hale as to a greater extent likely to train it.You weed control your asthmaby knowing the warning signs of an attack, staying out-of-door from things that trigger an attack, and fol down in the mouthing the advice of your doctor or other medical maestro. When you control your asthma * you wont ha ve symptoms much(prenominal) as wheezing or coughing, * youll sleep better, * you wont miss work or direct, * you set up get into part in all fleshly activities, and * you wont have to go to the hospital. How Is Asthma Diag cuddled? Asthma potbelly be hard to diagnose, especially in tykeren younger than 5 eld of age.Regular physical checkups that implicate checking your lung usage and checking for allergies rat avail your doctor or other medical skipper make the right diagnosis. During a checkup, the doctor or other medical professional will want you questions somewhat whether you cough a lot, especially at night, and whether your recognize problems argon worse after physical activity or during a particular time of year. Doctors will similarly train about other symptoms, such as chest tightness, wheezing, and colds that last much than than 10 days.They will ask you whether your family members have or have had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems, and they will ask you questions about your star sign. The doctor will also ask you about absent school or work and about any flap you whitethorn have doing certain activities. A lung function test, calledspirometry(spy-rom-e-tree), is a nonher way to diagnose asthma. A spirometer (spy-rom-e-ter) mea positive(predicate)s the largest amount of air you butt joint exhale, or breathe out, after taking a actually deep breath. The spirometer can mea convinced(predicate) airflow before and after you use asthma medicine.What Is an Asthma Attack? An asthma attack happens in your bodys airways, which ar the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree ar smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs s headspring(p) and the airways shrink. Less air bulge outs in and out of your lungs, and mucus that your body produces clogs up the airways even much. The attack whitethorn bring in on coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Some mickle call an asthma attack anepisode.What Causes an Asthma Attack? An asthma attack can occur when you argon exposed to things in the environment, such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These argon calledasthma triggers. Important Asthma Triggers On This Page * Environmental Tobacco wood pussy (Secondhand Smoke) * Dust Mites * alfresco Air Pollution * Cock lot Allergen * Pets * Mold * Wood Smoke * Other Triggers If you have asthma your airways always have some irritation. When you have an asthma attack this irritation gets worse and your airways close part way and get blocked with mucus.Asthma attacks may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. An asthma attack can occur when you ar exposed to things in the environment, such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These are calledasthma triggers. Your personal triggers can be very different from those of another person with asthma. Try to debar your triggers. Some of the most valuable triggers are listed down the stairs Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke) Environmental tobacco smoke is often calledsecondhand smokebecause the smoke created by a smoker is breathed in by a second person nearby.Parents, friends, and relatives of small fryren with asthma should try to stop take and should never smoke around a person with asthma. They should only smoke outdoors and not in the family home or car. They should not allow others to smoke in the home, and they should make sure their childs school is smoke-free. Dust Mites Dust mites are in almost everybodys homes, but they dont cause everybody to have asthma attacks. If you have asthma, dust mites may be a trigger for an attack. To encourage prevent asthma attacks, use mattress covers and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself.Dont use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters. Remove stuffed anim als and clutter from your bedroom. Outdoor Air Pollution Pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause an asthma attack. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and Internet and plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low if air pollution aggravates your asthma. A good source of air quality teaching isEnviroFlash. Cockroach AllergenCockroaches and their droppings may trigger an asthma attack.Get rid of cockroaches in your home and grasp them from coming back by taking away their feed and water. Cockroaches are ordinarily found where aliment is eaten and crumbs are left behind. Remove as many water and food sources as you can because cockroaches aim food and water to survive. At least every 2 to 3 days, senselessness or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches. You can also use roach traps or gels to decrease the number of cockroaches in your home. PetsFurry pets may trigger an asthma attack. When a furry pe t is suspected of do asthma attacks, the simplest dissolver is to find the pet another home.If pet owners are too attached to their pets or are unable to locate a safe, new home for the pet, they should keep the pet out of the bedroom of the person with asthma. Pets should be bathed weekly and kept outside as much as possible. hoi polloi with asthma are not allergic to their pets fur, so trimming your pets fur will not sustain your asthma. If you have a furry pet, vacuum often to clean up anything that could cause an asthma attack. If your floors have a hard surface, such as wood or tile, and are not carpeted, split up mop them every week.MoldInhaling or breathing in mold can cause an asthma attack. Get rid of mold in all move of your home to help control your asthma attacks. Keep the humidity level in your home between 35% and 50%. In hot, humid climates, you may need to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier or two. Fix water leaks, which allow mold to grow behind walls and under floors. Wood SmokeSmoke from burning wood is made up of a mix of noisome gases and small particles. Breathing in too much of this smoke can cause an asthma attack. Other TriggersInfections linked to influenza (flu), colds, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger an attack. Sinus infections, allergies, breathing in some chemics, and acid ebb can irritate airways and trigger asthma attacks. Strenuous physical representative some medicines braggy weather, such as thunderstorms high humidity breathing in cold, dry air biomass smoke from burning grass or other vegetation and some foods and food additives can trigger an asthma attack. Strong activated states can also fade to hyperventilation and an asthma attack.Learn what triggers your attacks so that you can avoid the triggers whenever possible. Be alert for a possible attack when the triggers cannot be avoided. How Is Asthma do by? You can control your asthmaand avoid an attack by taking your medicine exactly as your doctor or other medical professional tells you to do and by avoiding things that can cause an attack. Not everyone with asthma takes the same medicine. Some medicines can be inhaled, or breathed in, and some can be taken as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two typesquick relief and long-term control.Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines much and more, you should visit your doctor or other medical professional to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have less and milder attacks, but they dont help you if youre having an asthma attack. Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor or other medical professional about the side effects of your medicines. The important thing to cogitate is thatyou can control your asthma.With your doctors or other medical professionals help, make your own asthma action plan ( management plan) so that you know what to do based on your own symptoms. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. Take your long-term control medicine even when you dont have symptoms. Asthma carry out program People with Asthma Should Have an Asthma Action Plan All people with asthma should have anasthma action plan. An asthma action plan (also called a management plan) is a written plan that you uprisewith your doctorto help control your asthma.The asthma action plan shows your daily treatment, such as what kind of medicines to take and when to take them. Your plan describes how to control asthma long term AND how to handle worsening asthma, or attacks. The plan explains when to call the doctor or go to the emergency room. If your child has asthma, all of the people who superintend for him or her should know about the childs asthma action plan. These caregivers include babysitters and workers at daycare centers, schools, and camps. These c aretakers can help your child follow his or her action plan.Data and management Asthma Surveillance Data Asthma surveillance entropy includes collection of asthma data at both the national and the state level. National data is available on asthma prevalence, activity limitation, days of work or school lost, rescue and control medication use, asthma self-management education, physician visits, emergency subdivision visits, hospitalizations due to asthma, and deaths due to asthma from National Center for wellness Statistics (NCHS) visual modalitys and the Vital Statistics System.Asthma surveillance data at the state level include adult and child asthma prevalence from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and in-depth state and local asthma data through implementation of the BRFSS Asthma take away Survey (ACBS). * Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) The ACBS is an in-depth asthma survey pay backed and funded by the Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch (APRH B) in NCEH. It is conducted with BRFSS survey respondents who propound an asthma diagnosis. The ACBS was piloted in three states in 2005 and has been conducted each year since.A majority of states participate in the ACBS each year. * Asthma Survey Questions Description of asthma survey instruments and their wording differences. * Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Data BRFSS is a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey designed to monitor the prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. * FastStats FastStats provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance, including asthma. * National Health Interview Survey Prevalence DataNHIS is a multistage probability sample survey designed to solicit health and demographic study about the population, conducted annually with face-to-face interviews in a nationally spokesperson sample of households. Asthma and daily living * - Ast hma and get along - - Learn how to exercise without asthma symptoms - Learn More -Living day to day with well controlled asthma gist life as normal with a little extra thought and planning - Many asthma triggers are common things that may be around the home, so people often ask what they can change at home, or whatproductsmight help their asthma. For others its plants and pollens that cause them difficulties with asthma or allergies if thats you, read aboutasthma and allergy friendly gardens. If you find your asthma isworse at work accordingly there are some tips for your consideration.If you travel with work or plan a holiday, there are a few simple suggestions to help youmake the most out of your trip. - Having a healthydietand an fighting(a) lifestyleis an important part of living well. beover burthen, ingestor suffering fromstressor falling off can have a significant impact on your asthma. For most people with asthma, triggers are only a problem when their asthma is notwell -controlled. Research shows that for most people with well-controlled asthma, reducing motion-picture show to triggers doesnt reduce symptoms or reduce the risk of an asthma attack.With good treatment, most people do not need to change their lifestyle or environment just because they have asthma. However, it may be useful for you to identify triggers and reduce your moving picture to them if * you have troublesome asthma symptoms despite treatment * you need high doses of medication to keep your asthma symptoms under control, or * your asthma is much better when you are away from home Note Cigarette smoke is directly harmful to the airways and makes asthma worse, so exposure to cigarette smoke should be avoided by anyone who has asthma Obesity - Is it my weight or is it my asthma that is causing my symptoms? - Research into the link between increasing levels of obesity and asthma still hasnt come up with a certain(prenominal) answer. There is a have it awayd association between increasing body mass index (BMI) and increased levels of diagnosed or reported asthma in both children and adults, and its possible that there are other factors, e. g. genetic or environmental that may lead to both conditions. We do know that being round makes asthma a lot more of a problem. People who are obese are more likely to have asthma, to have more gross(a) asthma, and to need more medication to control it. - Obesity can lead to people being breathless and wheezy without having asthma, so its important that you get a proper diagnosis from your doctor. Once you have that, and the right medications, you should be able to increase your activity levels without getting too breathless, and start living an active life. - Why does obesity make asthma worse? * - Having a larger amount of fat on the body means theres more pushing onto and into the chest, so theres less room for the lungs to move. This causes the muscles around the airways to contract more, causing more asthma symp toms. * - Airways in obese people with asthma are more likely to stay closed in normal breathing, so theres less oxygen exchange able to happen. * -Obesity causes cosmopolitan inflammation in the body, which makes asthma symptoms worse. * - People who are obese are more likely to have problems with reflux and obstructive sleep apnoea (where you stop breathing while asleep), both of which can make asthma worse. * - There has been some suggestion in research studies that people who are obese might have less response to some asthma medications. The reason for this is not clear, and more research is needed to clarify this. - Will losing weight really help my asthma? - Losing weight can have a big impact on your asthma it can advance your symptoms and reduce your need for medication. In fact if you are overweight or obese, losing weight might have a greater impact on your asthma control than increasing medication. If you have asthma and are overweight or obese you should discuss weigh t control and healthy lifestyle with your doctor as part of your asthma management. -Rememberit is important that you dont change your medication without speaking with your doctor rootage. - Having a healthy lifestyle with regular activity and a equilibrate diet is important for everyone. Asthma and exercise * - Being active is an important part of life. Well controlled asthma means you shouldnt have to stop or restrict any of your normal activities. People with asthma should be able to participate in almost any sport or exercise, for example, going to the gym,swimming, and team sports. Although some people haveexercise induced asthma, many Olympic gold medals have been won by Australian athletes with asthma. Exercise is essential for people with asthma and can even help control asthma and reduce the amount of medication you need. Scuba divingis the only form of exercise that requires some special consideration for people with asthma. Asthma at work * - - Work-related and occupat ional asthma -Up to 15% of newly diagnosed asthma cases in adults are related to exposure to agents encountered at work and up to 3,000 cases of occupational asthma occur per year in Australia. If you experience asthma symptoms at work, and these symptoms improve when you are away from work, e. g. during holidays or on weekends, you may have what is called work-related or occupational asthma. Occupational asthma can occur in many types of workplaces, but is most commonly reported where people are working with dredge and isocyanates (chemicals which are found in paints as hardening agents). Work-aggravated asthma is different from occupational asthma, which occurs when there is sensitisation to a substance encountered at work. Work-aggravated asthma occurs when people who already have asthma are exposed to factors such as gases or fumes, smoke, dust or cold dry air which irritate the airways causing asthma symptoms to occur and make a pre-existing condition worse. - -What causes oc cupational asthma? - Over 4000 substances in the workplace (known as sensitisers) may cause asthma. reiterate exposure to these sensitisers over a period of time (usually years) may produce permanent asthma symptoms identical to non-occupational asthma. This usually takes weeks or years to develop. - - What are the symptoms of occupational asthma? -Symptoms include wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath and tightness across the chest. Often these symptoms will develop after irritation is noticed in the nose and eyes. Other workers may be affected or may have left the job because of these symptoms. - Symptoms may vary during the working week or shift. In the early stages of exposure, symptoms tend to improve when the worker is away from work. However, once the airways are sensitised, continued exposure even in small amounts can produce symptoms.Continued exposure may also lead to more symptoms and eventually to permanent asthma in some people. - - How do I know if I have occupat ional asthma? - If you suspect something is affecting your breathing at work, go and see your doctor. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and your work, and carry out tests such as aspirometry testto decide if you might have occupational asthma.They may also ask you to keep a diary of your symptoms to compare with your working hours. There is also a software program available which can automatically compare your peak flows with your working shifts. This can be downloaded free from theOasys website. - It can be very difficult to distinguish between true occupational asthma and work exacerbated asthma, and it may be necessary for your GP to refer you to a respiratory specialist with expertise in this area. Common sensitisers and occupations where workers may be exposedAgent Example occupations Wood dust (e. g. western red cedar, redwood, oak) Carpenters, builders, sawmill workers, sanders, model builders Isocyanates Automotive industry, mechanics, painters, adhesive worke rs, chemical industry, polyurethane foam workers Formaldehyde Cosmetics industry, embalmers, foundry workers, hairdressers, laboratory stave, medical personnel, paper industry, plastics industry, rubber industry, tanners Platinum salts Chemists, dentists, electronics industry,photographers, metallurgists Latex Health care workers, textile industry, toyManufacturers Flour nd grain dust Bakers, cooks, pizza makers, grocers, farmers, combine harvester drivers Animal allergens (e. g. urine, dander) Veterinary surgery workers, animal care workers, laboratory workers, jockeys, animal breeders, pet shop employees card adapted from Hoy, R. , Abramson, M. , Sim, M. (2010). Work related asthma. Diagnosis and management. Australian Family Physician, 39 (1/2), 39-42. What is the treatment for occupational asthma? Early diagnosis and management by removing any exposure to irritants in the workplace is the best way to treat occupational asthma and prevent it becoming a permanent condition.Otherw ise, treatment with the usual asthma inhalers is usually effective. Note Occupational asthma does not always mean having to leave your workplace, as workplace strategies can be developed. For example, if exposure cannot be minimised or ceased, then employers must provide adequate respiratory protection and/or substitute the irritant substance with a known non-irritant. This is a part of Occupational Health and Safety requirements. More information is available from your State or Territory Workcover authority www. workcover. (insert your state). gov. u If you develop asthma symptoms at work, or your existing asthma gets worse, it is essential that you visit your doctor for tests and an accurate diagnosis. If you did not already have a diagnosis of asthma and/or a written Asthma Action Plan, then this should be provided to you. What if I only had temporary symptoms? If you have inhaled a high dose of a substance that causes damage to the airways, possibly as part of an industrial acci dent or spillage, you may temporarily experience breathlessness and wheeze similar to asthma. This is called Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS).Symptoms usually occur at heart 24 hours of a single exposure to very high concentrations of a chemical spill, irritant gases, corrosive mists or solvent vapours. Usually, symptoms will gradually improve as your airways heal, but occasionally workers can be left with permanent symptoms. It is very important to have a medical check if this does happen, and to make sure your work environment is safe. Smoking * - Smoking and exposure to smoke (passive smoking) can damage your lungs, and stop them from working properly. People with asthma who smoke have more frequent asthma attacks, have more spartan asthma, and are more likely to be admitted to hospital. The type of inflammation in the airways that is caused by smoking means they dont respond as well to preventer medication, and so need higher doses to control their asthma. - Asthm atic children who are exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to have poor asthma control and more likely to need admission to hospital.Smoke exposure in the car is especially bad and opening the windows does not help. - Smoking has two main effects on the airways - 1) Increases mucus - more mucus-producing cells and glands grow in the airway walls - damages and reduces parts of the airways that help to clear mucus - 2) Damages the airways - chemicals in cigarette smoke destroy lung tissue and also make the airways less elastic and therefore more change - causes inflammation in the airways - If I quit smoking will my lung function really improve? - Everybodys lung function tends to gradually decrease as they age, but the lung function of people who smoke decreases much faster than normal. If you stop smoking, this rate will go back to normal.This means that although the damage done to your airways by smoking cannot be fixed, its never too late to quit no matter how long you h ave smoked for. - Is smoking around children really harmful? - Children are more vulnerable to the bad effects of cigarette smoke. - If a pregnant woman smokes, or a young child is exposed to smoke, the child is at a much greater risk of developing asthma-like symptoms in early childhood.Babies of smoking mothers are four times more likely to develop wheezing illnesses before the age of one. Even if you go outside to have a cigarette, particles can still be present on you when you return indoors, so although its better than smoking near your child, it may still affect them in the long term. - Other health issues - Around 15-20% of people who smoke develop permanent lung disease (COPD), and smoking increases the risk of many other health issues stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer are just a few. Quitting smoking is difficult, and most people make several attempts before they quit for good. Diet and vitamin/mineral supplements and asthma * - There are many theories about how diet can play a role in the management of asthma. Studies have been done but some have not been well designed and although they provide directions for upcoming research, specific conclusions are not easily drawn from the data collected. Reliable data on specific vitamins and minerals is also not available.We do not advocate the routine use of vitamin and mineral supplements as part of asthma management. It is important to discuss any supplements you want to take with your doctor or pharmacist as some supplements caninteractwith other medication you are taking. Note Some vitamin and mineral supplements can have detrimental health effects or are toxic if taken in high doses. - - Will a diet change help my asthma? -Everybody should have a healthy balanced diet, which includes a mix of * - fresh fruit * - fresh vegetables * - tilt * - lean meats * - whole grains * - low fat dairy products, and * - healthy fats. -Calorie control is also important, as beingoverweightcan have a significant impact on asthma symptoms and control. Food is rarely a trigger for asthma. Read more aboutfood as a trigger for asthma. Some people have specificfood allergywhich can have similar respiratory symptoms, and they need to avoid their known food allergens. If you have a serious food allergy, you should also read aboutanaphylaxis. Do not restrict entire food groups without premiere consulting a dietitian who can help identify if any food restrictions are necessary.Note The belief that milk increases problems with mucus for people with asthma is false. Dairy products are an important part of any diet. However, some people do have specific dairy intolerance (or allergy), which can cause symptoms in the nose, throat and ears. pick up our section onfood and asthmafor more information on food allergies. - - Specific Supplements - Magnesium and Selenium -Magnesium (in those people low in magnesium) and sou-east supplements have been shown to have a potentially positive effect on asthma symptoms, though they dont affect breathing capacity. - Fish crude (EPH/DHA) - Most trials of adding fish oil to the diet of people with asthma found that their asthma was not improved. However there is some evidence that dietary postscript with fish oil can reduce the severity ofexercise-induced asthmain those with mild to moderate persistent asthma.This has led to better lung function and reducedrelieveruse. Eating fish at least once a week is an important part of a balanced diet. - Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - There is not decorous information for or against using Vitamin C supplementation to improve asthma. Generally trials of the vitamin have been small, varied and not well reported. Larger and better designed studies are required. - Probiotics -Probiotics are live organisms that can be taken as a supplement to alter the types of bacteria that naturally live in your gut. The more commonly used probiotics include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Many people know t hese as acidophilus supplements. Probiotics such as lactobacillus have not been shown to be effective in improving asthma. - Folic Acid - Folic acid is recommended for women to take before and during the early stages of pregnancy.This significantly reduces the chance of a baby developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida, and it is also thought to play an important role in brain development. However recent research has shown that women who took folic acid supplements throughout their whole pregnancy increased their risk of having a child with asthma by about 30%. Folic acid from natural sources such as green leafy vegetables had no increased risk. It is recommended that folic acid supplements are taken only for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, unless advised otherwise by their doctor. Stress * -A tear-jerking movie, a fight with your partner, the stress of work related deadlines or even a joyous reunion can leave some people with asthma gasping for air. Strong emotions like fear, stress or even laughter can sometimes lead to increased asthma symptoms. - Children can easily be affected by high levels of emotion. From fits of giggles to screaming tantrums the effects on their asthma can be similar. - - How can I stop stress from affecting my asthma? While it is impossible to eliminate emotional stress from your life, you can learn to reduce the effect and recognise potential symptoms that may need somereliever medication. * - Be aware of the things, events or people that add stress to your life, and work at how you respond to them so you remain calmer * - Acknowledge the feelings you are having this is a technique that can be effective in reducing their impact * -If you can, remove yourself from stressful situations * - Find shaping and positive ways to reduce your anger, anxiety or fear * - Learn more about your asthma take an active role in caring for yourself and staying in control * - Exercise. Its a great way to let off steam, and is good for yo u as well -Life can be a rolling wave coaster of emotions so the best thing to do is to be prepared as much as you can, and along with appropriate asthma medication you cantake control of your asthma. - So next time youre going to see that adrenalin pumping movie or have an experience that gets the tears rolling, make sure youve got yourreliever medicationwith you just in case. Depression and asthma * - Research has shown that there is a link between depression and asthma. In fact, having severe asthma more than double the risk of developing epression. Around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men will experience depression in their life, and these numbers are even higher in people with asthma. As with other chronic illnesses, research shows that having severe asthma more than doubles the risk of developing depression. - What is depression? - Depression is a serious health condition, not just a low mood. People with depression can have trouble doing normal activities, and it can have serious effects on mental and physical health. -How can depression and asthma affect each other? * - Having both depression and asthma worsens health more than either condition alone. * - Having depression makes it less likely that people will be treated for asthma effectively. This may be because of poor memory and problem-solving skills with a shortened attention, making it harder to recognise the need to get medical help. * - People with depression have trouble concentrating or staying motivated.This may make them less likely to get help with their asthma, keep appointments and take medication. * - Having uncontrolled asthma can make it harder to join in with fun activities such as playing sport or other recreational activities. This can make people with depression further isolated and low in motivation. * - Stress can be atriggerfor both asthma and depression. - How do I know if Im depressed? -There are different checklists on theBeyondBlue National Depression Initiative websiteyou can check to get a better idea if you or someone you know may have symptoms of depression. Depression is more than just stress and needs proper diagnosis by a health professional. You should talk to your doctor to learn more and get correct treatment. - What can I do? - Both depression and asthma can be treated, but first need to be treasure and diagnosed by a health professional.There are a number of treatments for depression, both therapy and medication-based. It is important to have a treatment plan that monitors both the symptoms of depression and asthma in order to find the treatment that works best for you. Some things you can do yourself include * - Learn relaxation techniques. * - Get your asthma wellcontrolledso you can take part in activities without being limited by your symptoms. * - Learn as much as you can about both conditions. - Get help and support from family and friends. * - Visit a doctor regularly to review both your asthma and your depression. Travel * - Make sur e you have enough medication and the right equipment before you travel - Whether youre taking a holiday or a work trip, changes in routine, location, weather, temperature, pollution (especially bushfires during summer in Australia) and unknown allergens may produce unexpected asthma symptoms.Following these tips will help maintain good asthma control and an asthma friendly time away which is enjoyable and worry-free. - - Visit your doctor before you go * - Have a check-up before you go away to make sure your day-to-day asthma isunder control, that you have enoughmedications, and youretaking them the right way. * - Make sure your writtenAsthma Action Planis up to date. - If youre going overseas, its a good idea to get your doctor to write a letter stating the history and severity of your asthma as well as a list of your medications (using the generic brand name) and delivery devices. Carry this letter with you at all times in case of an emergency. You may need to present this report to customs in other countries if questioned about carrying medication. - - Your medications * -Take extra medication in your baggage. * - Keep your normal day-to-day medication with you in your carry-on bag (in case luggage gets lost). * - Take prescriptions in case you lose your medication, or to prove it is for your own personal use. - - Your equipment * - Aspacerdevice is portable, inexpensive and is just as effective (and a etter choice for travelling) than anebuliser. * - If you do need a nebuliser, remember other countries may have different power points and voltages, so youll either need an adaptor, or a battery powered portable version. Youll also need to talk to the airline before you come along if youre likely to need to use your nebuliser on board the aircraft. * - If you normally use apeak flow metertake it with you. Before you travel you should know what your normal peak flow is when you are well . - Be prepared plan well * - Carry your mobile phone with you (as well as your reliever puffer) and if you go somewhere on your own, tell someone where you are going. * - Make sure you know the emergency phone number for the country you are visiting. * - Make sure your travel insurance covers the cost of health care that stems from pre-existing asthma. - Travel to high altitudes is okay as long as your asthma is well controlled at sea level. * - For your own general health and safety, before going overseas always check your destination onwww. smartraveller. gov. au - Most importantly, enjoy your trip, relax, and dont let your asthma stop you Being active with Asthma Are you considering training for a fun run? Endurance running is more likely to trigger asthma symptoms than other more stop-start sports and activities.Many of these events are either held in the cooler months or require training during cooler weather so the cold dry air can be a trigger for many people with asthma. Generally, the colder and drier the air, the more severe the symptoms. If air is warm and moist, asthma symptoms will tend to be less of a problem. Its always important to be prepared when youre training and taking part in any form of sport or activity. Its important to ensure that your day to day asthma is generally well controlled and you have an up to date written Asthma Action Plan.If your asthma is well controlled with preventer medication, you may not experience symptoms during or after the run. There are a few ways you can reduce the risk of an asthma attack when doing a fun run * Ensure that you take your preventer medication regularly as prescribed * Make sure you train for the event so you are fit and able * Warm up- spend about 15 minutes doing some gentle activity such as a series (6-8) of brief (30 second) sprints * Carry your blue reliever puffer with you at all times.If advised by your doctor it may be useful to use it 5 -10 minutes before starting to run * Pace yourself start out steadily and youll get further than if you expend all your energy in the first few minutes * Consider wearing a collar up around your mouth and nose to help warm and moisten the air you breath in and out * Drink regular water during the run to stay well hydrated * If you have cold or flu symptomsdo nottaking part this can increase your risk of having asthma problems whilst you are running or, after the race * Slowly cool down spend about 10 minutes (similar to warm-up) doing lighter activities after the race.Keep in mind that whilst some people experience symptoms during exercise, the airway narrowing induced by exercise classically occurs after exercise. Be aware of this, cool down and use your reliever medication if this occurs. Well controlled asthma shouldnt stop anyone from taking part in events such as fun runs. Being active is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, so take control of your asthma and get involved. Children and asthma * - Young children with asthma - - Looking for more information about asthma medications for you ng children? Learn More - Asthma in young children is one of the most common causes of hospital admission and visits to the doctor in this age group. - However it is not easy todiagnose asthma in children under 5 years oldas there are many reasons for wheezing and coughing at that age. - Once diagnosis is decided, often treatment is with trials of different doses of medication. Parents often ask about whether changes to a childsbeddingordietis needed. -The aim of good asthma management is to ensure that children can lead a normal healthy life, while taking only as muchmedicationas is needed to keep them well, and avoidasthma attacks. - Children can also spend periods of time away from home. It is important that the people around your child are aware if they have asthma, and know how to recognise symptoms and what to do in an emergency. Parents can provide friends and family with a copy of their childsasthma action planandasthma first aidinformation to help them be prepared. - Child rens servicesandschoolsplay an important role in supporting children with asthma, and they can also access resources andtrainingto help them. Asthma at SchoolAsthma affects around 1 in 9 school aged children. This means that in an average classroom there will be at least 3 students with asthma. Schools and staff can work together with the wider school community to provide a healthy and safe educational environment for students with asthma. Student health and safety are essential in schools to allow all students to achieve their best. How does asthma affect students? Asthma is a leading cause of absenteeism in school students, which in severe cases can cause them to fall behind in their work. Asthma symptoms commonly occur overnight, which can mean a lack of sleep for the student, leading to a reduced ability to concentrate in class.Students can also show signs of worsening asthma, especially after vigorous exercise, and may have an asthma attack while at school, which requires an i mmediate response. Whose responsibility is it? Responsibility for the management of a students asthma is shared. Parents should * Inform the school that their child has asthma * append sufficient information and equipment to school staff to allow them to support the child at school * Advise if there has been a change in the childs health, or in their medical management * Ensure the child has their reliever medication with them each day at school See breeding for parents of school-aged kids with asthma. Schools should Encourage parents to provide up to date information about their child with asthma * Enable and encourage staff to attend training and obtain information about asthma and how to manage an asthma emergency * Ensure sufficient equipment is available and accessible for use in an emergency * Have policies that support the staff to act appropriately and effectively in an asthma emergency, including during off-site activities * Allow students to access (or carry with them) th eir reliever medication at all times, unless the child is too young to be responsible for using their medication appropriately SeeAsthma Friendly Schoolsfor more information about how schools can support kids with asthma. Teachers and school staff can get freeAsthma Trainingandteaching resources. Students should * Take their regularpreventermedication (generally taken at home in the mornings and/or evenings) as advised by their doctor * Know how to recognise when their asthma is getting worse and what to do * Carry reliever medication with them at all times * Tell their friends that they have asthma, and what to do if they have an asthma attack * If youve recently been diagnosed with asthma, or you think you or a member of your family might have asthma, then you need to get some basic facts.Find outwhat causes asthma, andwhat happensin your airways to causeasthma symptoms. Get an explanation of the process fordiagnosis, including tests that can be done. bristle an understanding of whattriggersare around you, and what sort ofseasonal issuesmight affect your asthma. Its also common for people with asthma to have otherrelated conditions, such asallergies,hayfever,eczemaand evenCOPD. We also have anasthma dictionaryto explain commonly used asthma terms. * Once youve got all that information, you might want to go and have a look themanaging asthma section, where you can find out aboutmedications, and how you cantake controlof your asthma. http//www. asthmafoundation. org. au