Asthma is a respiratory disease that can be quite dangerous during an attack, potentially fatal if left untreated. How is asthma treated? Below are some treatment methods for an asthma attack.
Diagnostic criteria for asthma:
(1) Main characteristics: ① Continuous or nearly continuous (more than half the time each year) oral glucocorticoid therapy; ② Requires high-dose inhaled glucocorticoid therapy.
(2) Secondary characteristics:
① In addition to inhaled glucocorticoids as a control medication, long-acting (β-2 receptor agonists or theophylline, leukotriene modifiers) should be added daily.
②Short-acting β2 receptor agonists need to be used daily or nearly daily to relieve symptoms;
③ Persistent airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume in one second < 80% of predicted value, daily variability of peak respiratory volume > 20%)
④ One or more emergency medical visits per year;
⑤ Three or more courses of oral glucocorticoid therapy per year; ⑥ A 25% reduction in the dosage of oral or inhaled glucocorticoids results in a worsening of symptoms;
⑦ A history of fatal asthma events.
How to prevent bronchial asthma
1. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption
Cigarettes can trigger many diseases. The chemicals in cigarettes and the smoke emitted during smoking have a direct impact on asthma patients because they irritate the respiratory tract. Therefore, patients should quit smoking. In addition, patients should try to avoid passive smoking. Alcohol consumption should also be limited.
2. Avoid contact with allergens
Asthma patients should be aware of which substances may irritate their respiratory tract and try to avoid contact with them. For example, patients who are sensitive to animal hair should not keep pets at home. Other allergens that can easily trigger asthma attacks, such as blankets, should also be avoided as much as possible, or the blankets should be washed with hot water every week.
3. Prevent respiratory infections
In cold weather, inhaling cold and dry air is very bad for asthma patients, so they should avoid going out as much as possible during an asthma attack. If they must go out, they should drink some warm water beforehand and wear several layers of clothing. It's best to wear windproof and rainproof clothing to help keep warm. If necessary, they can wear a scarf or mask to cover their mouth and nose, avoiding direct exposure of the respiratory tract to cold air and encouraging them to inhale warm air. Those who are not allergic to the flu vaccine can get vaccinated.
4. Maintain good indoor air circulation and cleanliness.
Asthma patients should pay special attention to indoor cleanliness and air circulation, because dust mites and bacteria in the air are the main allergens that trigger asthma attacks, so they should clean frequently to reduce dust in the air.
5. Moderate exercise
Some people stop exercising altogether because they think exercise might trigger asthma, but this is a mistake. Exercise effectively improves cardiopulmonary function and greatly helps control the condition. Asthma patients can continue exercising as usual as long as they consult their doctor before choosing a sport. Swimming is a very suitable exercise for asthma patients because the sufficient water content usually prevents it from triggering an attack.
