Asthma in adults: Aftercare patient handout
Asthma in adults
AfterCare® Instructions: What You Should Know:
• Asthma (as-ma) is an illness that causes the air passages in the lungs to be irritated, make mucus, and to swell. The airways may also become smaller. You may have trouble breathing, a tight feeling in your chest, or wheezing. Wheezing is a loud noise that you hear when you breathe in or out. An asthma attack happens when your airways narrow which makes it hard for you to breathe. Asthma attacks are also called flare-ups, exacerbations (eks-as-sir-bay-shuns), or episodes (ep-uh-sodes).
• There is no cure for asthma, but it can be treated. With time and working with caregivers, you will learn how to care for your asthma. Medicines can control the airway swelling. Avoid things that bother your airways, such as tobacco smoke. Your asthma may change with time. You may get new allergies, or your asthma may get better or worse. Caregivers may need to change your treatment plan if your asthma changes. Asthma can be managed, and you should be able to live a normal life.
Instructions:
— If you are given a prescription for medicine, use it as ordered by your doctor.
— Avoid pollen, dust, animal dander, molds, smoke, and other things that cause attacks at home and at work.
- You may have fewer attacks if you lessen the amount of dust in your home.
- It may help to replace your pillows or mattress with materials that do not cause allergies.
— If you are not on a fluid restriction, drink 8-10 glasses of water each day. This will help thin sputum so that it can be coughed-up more easily.
— Discuss an exercise routine with your doctor.
— If animal dander is the cause of asthma, you may need to get rid of those pets.
Call If:
— You have wheezing and shortness of breath even if you are taking medicine to prevent attacks.
— You develop a temperature over _____F (_____C).
— You have muscle aches, chest pain, and thickening of sputum.
— Your sputum changes from clear or white to yellow, green, grey, or bloody.
— You have any problems that may be related to the medicine you are taking (such as a rash, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing).
Return Immediately If:
— Your usual medicines do not stop your wheezing, difficulty breathing, or coughing.
— You have increased difficulty breathing.
Copyright © MICROMEDEX Inc. 1974 - 2001 All rights reserved. The CareNotes(TM) System Vol. 19 expires 6/2001.
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