Asthma: When to go to the Doctor

"If I just take one more puff on my inhaler, and if I just sit here, I will feel better...". or "I don't have time for this..."

People don't realize or they don't want to believe that asthma can be a life threatening illness. I have had people come into our Emergency Room in total denial of how serious their condition is at that moment. They have put off coming to the doctor because it really is a bother. Please remember that if you stop breathing, you will not survive.

It is important to educate yourself on asthma if you or your child have asthma. There is a lot of education online, at hospitals, at clinics about asthma. One of the tools that a person can use to see if they need to go to the doctor is their Peak Flow Meter. Every asthmatic should have one. A Peak Flow meter has three levels: A green level...breathing good. A Yellow level...breathing not so good CALL DOCTOR. A Red level...go to the hospital Emergency Room...NOW. I believe that education is key in knowing when to go to the doctor.

One of my favorite e-books is "Asthma Made Simple". It explains asthma in such a simple language so that a person with Asthma can understand exactly what is going on in their lungs. How asthma works, what is that "tight" feeling in the chest? What is wheezing and why do I wheeze during an asthma attack?

http://www.copdmadesimple.com


If you are having tightness in your chest that is not relieved by your rescue inhalers, If you are coughing and wheezing and nothing seems to help, not even your Prednisone, it is time to call the doctor. Do not wait to see if another breathing treatment will help. Do not wait until it gets worse. Do not keep sitting there hoping that you will be able to take the next breathe. The American Lung Association says that when you can't breathe, nothing else matters...believe that.

Know when your inhalers will run out. Educate yourself on which medications you are taking and how each one works in your lungs. If you are using your inhalers more often than what your doctor ordered, you need to call your doctor to let them know this.

If you have asthma, please get yourself a Pulmonologist...a lung doctor. They will be up to date on the newest treatments. They know the lungs and how they work intimately.

In review on when to go to the doctor with your asthma:


1. When your Peak Flow Meter is in the Yellow
2. You are taking your inhalers more often than ordered by your doctor
3. The tightness and the wheezing is not relieved by your medication

Why & How to educate yourself about Asthma:

1. Know your illness
2. Know why you have asthma attacks and what will make them better.
3. Learn online. Find someone who explains it so that you understand it. Find someone who is not out to impress you with their medical terms. Again the e-book about asthma made simple is a good one.

http://www.copdmadesimple.com

4. Ask your Respiratory Therapist if they have a Certified Asthma Educator at their hospital.

It is imperative that we take Asthma seriously. I have seen a teenager die from an asthma attack because he had the wrong inhaler with him. When they got him to the hospital, we were unable to open up his lungs they were so shut down. Please believe that this is a very serious illness.

Call your doctor, educate yourself, take control of your asthma. You can do it!