Asthma January 2011
What is Asthma? Asthma is a lung disease that affects the breathing tubes (airways) that allow air to go in and out of the lungs. Normal airways are wide open, so air can go in and out easily. With asthma, the airways become narrow so it is harder for air to go in and out. notes:
How you should feel with asthma? Play and be active Feel good all the time Sleep through the night notes:
Normal Lungs
How do we help the asthma symptoms? Take medicine that relieves or prevents symptoms Avoid things that make asthma worse called Triggers notes:
Quick Reliever Relaxes muscle tightening on the outside of the airway Works fast and last for 4 hours Use as needed for: -Cough -Wheeze -Tight chest -Problems Breathing
Controller Controllers decrease inflammation or swelling inside the airways Controllers work very slowly!!!!! You will not notice anything when you puff the medicine. It may take a couple of days to see a difference. Must be taken regularly to keep the airways open Pulmicort Singulair Flevent QVAR Pulmicort Asmanex Symbicort Advair Advair notes:
When controller medicine is needed every day The benefit you get from taking daily controller medicine: -It will open up the inside of the airway -As long as the medicine is used everyday the airway will stay open -It will prevent asthma symptons notes:
Avoid things that make asthma worse =Triggers notes:
Triggers The most common trigger for children is a cold or infection. Wash hands often and avoid people with colds or flu. notes:
Common Triggers Weather Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth in cold weather Outdoor Pollen and Mold Keep windows closed and stay indoors when pollen and mold is high. Avoid places of mold like wet leaves and debris. Avoid going outside on ozone days Exercise Warm up before you exercise and cool down after exercise. If needed use Quick Reliever before exercise
Indoor Triggers Strong Smells Avoid using perfumes, room Deodorizers, incense or candles. Use non-perfumed cleaners when possible Smoke If you smoke, try to quit. Do not smoke in the car. Do not allow smoking in your home, smoke outside and wear a cover-up. Make sure woodburning or gas stoves are vented to the outdoors Indoor Mold Keep bathrooms, kitchens and basements as dry as possible. Run exhaust fan or vents to remove excess moisture from the air. Avoid using humidifiers; keep humidity less than 50 percent.
Indoor Triggers Cockroach Keep the house clean, free of clutter and uncovered food. Keep the house dry, fix any water leaks. Seal up cracks and openings along baseboards, sinks and windows. Use roach motels or gel traps to get rid of roaches. Animals If possible, remove animals from the house or classroom. If you have a pet, keep in out of the bedroom and wash weekly. Change filters for the furnace twice a year. Dust and dust mites Cover mattress and pillow in an airtight cover. Wash bed linens and stuffed animals in very hot water once a week. Keep indoor humidity less than 50% use a dehumidifier if needed. Vacuum carpets a couple of times a week. Dust surfaces regularly
Red Zone = Stop! Yellow Zone = Slow Down! Green Zone = Feel Good! notes:
Quick Reliever Use every 4 hours as needed for cough, wheeze and/ or problems breathing in: Green, Yellow and Red Zones notes:
GreenZone This is the feeling Good Zone No cough, wheeze or problems breathing You may need a daily controller medicine to stay in the Green Zone notes:
GreenZone Seasonal Plan The Seasonal Plan will help you feel good every day during your worst asthma season notes:
What to do for an Asthma Episode * IF the Quick Reliever does not work fast or last for 4 hours *IF the Quick Reliever is used more than 2-3 times in one day *IF there are problems breathing and it is not clear whether this is Yellow or Red Zone 1. Use the Quick Reliever Wait 20 minutes 2. Use the Quick Reliever Wait 20 minutes 3. Use the Quick Reliever Wait 20 minutes If If you get better got to to Yellow Zone If you do not get better go to Red Zone
YellowZone The purpose of Yellow Zone is to prevent Red Zone from happening Start Yellow Zone as soon as a known trigger, lilke a cold or weather changes, has started or is about to start notes:
REDZone Red Zone should be started if you do NOT feel better after 3 Quick Reliever treatments in one hour Your child may be sinking in at the ribs and neck and finding it hard to breath. notes:
Why use a Spacer with an Inhaler? Inhaler alone When an inhaler is used alone, medicine ends up in the mouth, throat, stomach and lungs. Inhaler used with spacer device When an inhaler is used with a spacer device, more medicine is delivered to the lungs. Comparative respiratory deposition of 99m Tc labeled particles of albuterol using a metered dose inhaler, a metered does inhaler with Aerochamber spacer and OptiChamber spacer in healthy human volunteers using gamma-scintigraphy, R. Beihn, PhD, Scintiprox, Inc., Indianapolis, IN and D. Doherty, MD, Dept. of Pulmonology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 1997. Images kindly provided by Respironics HealthScan Inc. Allies Against Asthma, Center for Pediatric Research, 855 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-668-6435
Spacer Mask
Spacer with mouthpiece
For more information Visit our Asthma Wesite at: www.childrensmercy.org/asthma