Prevention

[lexiLEACH]

What is the best way to prevent a asthma attack?

[caregiver222]

This is a very good question, and the answer is not very simple. The literature suggest that the mortality rate of those who have only rare attacks is far higher than those who have frequent attacks. Presumably this is because those with rare episodes are unlikely to carry an emergency inhaler. Clearly, avoiding antigens (dust, pollen, non-self substances, specifically fine particulate matter) in the lung.

If you have ever had a life-threatening attack you should carry an emergency inhaler with you at all times - forever.

Asthma is not asthma is not asthma. All cases are different. In some cases a short-term of a steroid, a beta agonist or anti-biotics will effectively stop the attacks indefinitely. For others they must use an inhaled steroid every day for the rest of their lives.

You are going to have to experiment with various protocols. I suggest you keep a permanently bound notebook to record attacks and medication. Often for four to eight weeks after pneumonia or a lung infection the airways become "twitchy" and you should reasonably use either oral steroids or an inhaled steroid, every day. In such a case the drill is daily use of a preventative steroid.

That being said, for some people, after that four-to-eight week period the lungs "stabilize", and you may be able to get along with no medication for an indefinite period of time, only avoiding dust and smoke. What percentage of patients fall into this category is hard to say.

Other people have to use at least an inhaled steroid, daily, forever to avoid a life-threatening attack.

You are going to have to evaluate your situation by yourself - with the assistance of your physician, but developing your own protocol with time and experimentation, to best deal with the specific variety of asthma you have.  You will eventually come to a risk-benefit formula that works best for you, balancing the need for steroids, either inhaled or oral, with their side effects, with the reduction in frequency of potentially life-threatening episodes. There is no "one shoe-fits-all".

[zoe114]

Also, you might need to add an allergy medication to your program, depending if it's an allergy that is setting it off. I was told to try Allegra and it has helped a ton along with the asthma medications.
Most people have asthma because ofuncontrolledd allergy, but not all people withallergy'ss have asthma. Also, not all asthma is the result of allergy...confused, sorry...lol

[ChitChatNine]

WELCOME to our Community!

C~

[ducky406]

Agreed- use your medicine as prescribed. That makes a world of difference.

And then the only other thing you can really do is avoid causes. If you need to have the garage cleaned out, but are allergic to dust ask/pay someone else to do it for you. If you can't, avoid the situation wear something like a good dust mask. So, for example, I'm severely allergic to perfume but if I need to travel I'm screwed. I can't ask all the flight attendants and people around me not to wear anything-so I wear a dust mask. You can get these at hard wear stores, but make sure to get a good one. Personally I will usually still get a migraine, but at least I can breath.

[zoe114]

Use your preventive medication each day as prescribed, I was not doing this myself and I started doing this and have been amazed of how much better I feel.