Menara Group

What is Asthma ?

What can you do to control your asthma ?

What is an asthma trigger ?

What is a Reliever?

What is a Preventor ?



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The muscles around the walls of your airways tighten and there is a persistent inflammation in the lining of the airway.

Asthma is NOT contagious but can be inherited genetically. Untreated asthma may cause permanent damage to your lungs!

	Chronic cough, especially at night		Chest tightness
	Increased production of phlegm		Shortness of breath
	Wheezing		Inability to perform your routine physical activities or exercise

You may or may not have all the signs and symptoms of asthma. For some, a cough is the only symptom. Others experience wheezing, chest tightness or difficulty in exercising. These signs and symptoms come and go and are usually triggered by environmental factors.

Identify trigger that are most likely to cause you asthma attacks. Avoid them as far as possible.

Reliever
Preventor

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An asthma trigger could be anything that irritates your airways.

There are 2 types of triggers, namely non-allergic and allergic triggers.

	Exercise		Weather
	Infection		Strong emotions

	House dust mites		Strong smells e.g. paints
	Animal dander		Tobacco smoke
	Pests e.g. cockroaches		Food @ medicine
	Indoor mould		Physical activity
	Plants & pollen		Emotion e.g. stress

Trigger Factors

Recommended Action

House dust mite

	Use vinyl, leather or plain wooden furniture instead of fabric-upholstered furniture.
	Wash bed spreads, pillowcases and blankets in hot water at least once a week.
	Use vinyl, leather or plain wooden furniture instead of fabric-upholstered furniture.

Animal dander

	Keep your pets away from your bedroom

Pests e.g. Cockroach

	Ensure that your home is cleaned frequently and thoroughly.
	Use pesticide spray but make sure you are not present at time of spray.

Indoor mould

	Minimise dampness in the home by cleaning damp areas such as the bathroom frequently.

Plants & pollen

	Stay away from plants and pollen if you realize that they are your triggers.
	Do not place plants in your home.

Strong scents e.g. perfumes, paint, fumes

	Distance yourself from these if they are your triggers.

Tobacco smoke

	Avoid smoking areas. If any family member smokes, it would be advisable for them to stop.

Food & Medicine

	Take not of certain foods that trigger off your asthma attack after consumption and avoid them.
	Avoid aspirin or beta blockers as they cause asthma symptoms

Physical activity

	You can do any normal physical activity, but you need to ensure that symptoms are prevented by taking your reliever before you start your activity.

Emotional state e.g. stress, anger

	Understanding your condition is essential. Know what emotions can trigger your asthma and avoid
	those if possible. Stress management may be helpful for you.

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A Reliever (rescue medication) is also known as a short-acting bronchodilator. It acts to relax the muscles around the airways, thus opening up the airways. It may relieve asthma symptoms almost immediately, so it should be within reach at all times. However, it only provides a temporary relief as it DOES NOT reduce inflammation.
* Frequent usage of reliever may suggest poorly-controlled asthma.

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A Preventor treats asthma as its root cause. It is an inhaled corticosteroid which acts to reduce the inflammation and mucus in the airways. It can provide long-term control of asthma symptoms if taken daily on a long-term basis. However, it takes at least 2 weeks to achieve results, thus it is critical not to stop the medication without seeking your doctor’s advice.

The common side effects of inhaled corticosteroid are hoarse and mild throat infections called thrush (yeast infection). However, these side effects may be avoided by rinsing out your mouth after each use.