Understanding Asthma - Prevention

How Can I Prevent Asthma Attacks?

Learn to identify your triggers. Keep a diary for several weeks, detailing all the environmental and emotional factors that are associated with your asthma. When you have an asthma attack (exacerbation), go back to your diary to see which factor, or combination of factors, might have contributed to it. Some common asthma triggers are not always obvious, such as house dust mites, molds and cockroaches. Ask your doctor about allergen skin testing or RAST testing to determine to which allergens you have become sensitized. You can then take measures to minimize your exposure to those allergens.

When planning vigorous exercise or exercise in cold or dry environments, prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) by following your doctor's advice regarding pretreatment (usually with albuterol) and warm-up and cool-down periods.

Monitor your lung function at home. For this you'll need a peak flow meter or pocket spirometer (instruments which cost 20-60 dollars US and are available without a prescription. After you determine your personal best lung function (PEF or FEV1), check it again whenever you have asthma symptoms. A decline of more than 20% in lung function confirms that you are having an asthma exacerbation (a fall into the yellow zone) and should quickly follow your written asthma action plan to prevent a further worsening of airway inflammation.

Minimize exposure to all sources of smoke, including tobacco, incense, candles, fires, and fireworks. Do not allow smoking in your home or car, and avoid public places that permit smoking. If you smoke cigarettes, get help to quit successfully. Smoking always makes asthma worse. Avoid close contact with people who have respiratory symptoms (which suggest that they are suffering from a respiratory virus) and wash your hands thoroughly after touching items which may have been handled by others with a respiratory infection.

Get a flu shot every year to protect against the flu virus, which almost always makes asthma much worse for days to weeks. Also get a pneumonia shot (Pneumovax) once every 5-10 years, because people with asthma are about twice as likely as others to get pneumococcal pneumonia.