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Even if you live thousands of miles from a wildfire this summer, there’s a good chance wildfire smoke is affecting or has already affected your air quality.
Air quality plays a critical role in everyone’s lung health, but it is especially important for people with asthma to pay attention to.
We spoke with Nora Barrett, MD, a senior professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, about how women can recognize the signs of uncontrolled asthma and what they can do to control the condition.
What are the signs of well-controlled asthma?
Having two or fewer symptoms in a week is considered good control. If you experience three or more symptoms in a week, it is a sign that your medication is not working well. It might be time to change your inhaler or increase your dose.
What symptoms indicate that asthma is not under control?
Symptoms include chest tightness, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Another sign that your asthma is not under control is if you wake up around 3 or 4 a.m. with asthma symptoms. This is the time when the steroids your body naturally produces are at their lowest. This is a sign that asthma is about to get out of control and is a harbinger of more serious problems, such as: B. a crisis.
Are there any warning signs that an asthma attack or crisis is imminent?
We found that only one in five asthma patients notice their symptoms before they become truly severe. Even if you don’t notice any specific symptoms, there are situations in which you should be vigilant. If you know that a particular allergen or respiratory virus is triggering your asthma, pay attention to how your body reacts to it. In some people, asthma is triggered by chemical irritants such as hairspray or chlorine in swimming pools. There are many runners who have crises in February due to the cold and dry air. If you know triggers are around, keep track of your symptoms and their frequency. Air quality is very important this summer. If the AQI or air quality index is greater than 50, people with asthma are at risk.
How is asthma usually treated?
Asthma is controlled differently today than it was decades ago. Many patients can control their asthma by using two medications at the same time. The first is an inhaled corticosteroid, used daily when symptoms occur. The second is a β-agonist, commonly called a rescue inhaler, which contains long-acting salbutamol. If an asthma attack cannot be controlled with these medications, it is advisable to speak to a specialist or a pulmonologist.
If oral corticosteroids (inhalers) provide relief, are there any risks to taking them?
Yes. Oral corticosteroids are only a short-term treatment and should only be used in times of crisis. The list of possible side effects is huge. Corticosteroids can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. They can even reduce the body’s production of steroids.
Is there a difference between uncontrolled and severe asthma?
Yes. Uncontrolled asthma occurs when you use inhalers and still have symptoms. In these cases you will be referred to a specialist. We determine the severity of your asthma by assessing its impact on your lungs. We measure lung function using spirometry, a test that measures the volume of air you can blow out in one second. The larger the volume, the better the lung function.
Read: Treating Severe Asthma >>
What treatment options are available for moderate to severe asthma that is not controlled?
We now have biopharmaceuticals available. One type of biomedicine reserved for more severe asthma specifically targets allergic antibodies and takes effect after six months. Other biopharmaceuticals block proteins called IL-13 and IL-4. These biopharmaceuticals have been shown to improve lung function on seizure-free days and can reduce seizure severity by up to 81%. Other drugs called IL-5 inhibitors stop the production of IL-5. IL-5 is a protein that causes the proliferation of allergy-related blood cells, which cause the chronic inflammation we see in the lungs of asthma patients. Drugs that reduce IL-5 receptor activity are very effective in patients with high levels of these cells. In general, they can reduce seizures by 50% but have no effect on lung function on seizure-free days.
If your asthma is not well controlled with inhalers, your specialist may recommend a biopharmaceutical.
Biopharmaceuticals are medicines made from living organisms or cells and are used to safely treat many chronic diseases.
Why does asthma get out of control despite taking medication?
Asthma is an inflammation caused by the immune system that can get out of control due to several factors, most often related to exposure to an allergen or something that triggers a severe immune reaction. Asthma medications relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation, but do not stop the underlying immune response that causes asthma.
Does uncontrolled asthma cause long-term effects?
If asthma is not well controlled, you may experience a loss of lung function over time. Lung function affects everything from exercise to walking across the room to the ability to breathe deeply. Reduced lung function also puts pressure on your other organs.
If your asthma is not under control, it is advisable to speak to a specialist.
This educational resource was created with support from GSK, Sanofi and Regeneron.
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