Introduction
During an asthma attack, the airways
swell and narrow. This makes it hard to breathe. Asthma is a lifelong problem,
but it does not have to limit you. If you take charge of your asthma, you can
lead a full and active life.
You and your doctor will make an
asthma action plan that outlines the two approaches to
taking charge of asthma:
- Controlling asthma over the long term. Daily
controller medicine helps reduce the swelling of your airways and prevent
attacks.
- Treating attacks when they occur. The action plan will
outline the steps to take and medicine to use to treat asthma attacks.
Using the asthma action plan also helps you keep track of
your asthma and know how well your treatment is working.
If you or
your child has been recently diagnosed, it may seem like there is a lot to
remember. But the things you need to do to take charge of your asthma are
really quite simple. With some practice, they will become part of your normal
routine.
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