It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine. The flu is a respiratory virus and the most common cause for asthma flare ups this time of the year. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about getting a flu shot.

Here are 10 tips to help you manage your asthma in the winter.

1. Take your daily asthma control medications as prescribed. To keep your asthma well controlled during winter, daily controller medications are important. Do not stop taking your asthma controller. This helps to lower the chances of having asthma problems in the winter.

2.  Have your rescue inhaler available at all times. Take it with you whenever you leave the house. Look at the expiration date and be sure your inhaler is not expired. Let your healthcare provider know if you need refills on any of your asthma medicines.

3. Wear a scarf or mask to cover your nose and mouth to avoid breathing cold wintery air. If you need to shovel snow or walk from your car into the store on a cold day, breathing cold air can make your chest feel wheezy and tight. Children with asthma should wear a scarf or mask to prevent asthma problems when playing outside on a cold day

4. Avoid use of indoor deodorizers, air fresheners, scents, sprays and all smoke types. During the winter we spend more time indoors where odors and smoke, even fireplace smoke, can be an asthma trigger.

5. Keep house dust at a minimum. House dust tends to collect in our homes during the winter. If you have an allergy to dust, vacuuming and damp dusting once a week will lower dust accumulation in your home.

6. Let your health care provider know if you are using your rescue inhaler more than twice a week. This could be a signs that your asthma is getting worse.

7. Have a written Asthma Action Plan. An Asthma Action Plan is a guide that tells you what to do if your asthma begins to flare up. If your asthma does flare up and is not better within 2 days call your healthcare provider. He or she can prescribe other medications before your asthma gets worse.

8. Wash your hands several times during the day. This will keep germs down and lower your risk of getting sick.

9. Stay indoors on very cold days. Watch a movie, do some laundry or read a book when the weather gets really cold. Keeping safe and warm at home can protect you from having asthma problems.

10. Schedule an asthma check up with your health care provider.  If you haven’t seen your doctor or asthma specialist in a while it’s a good idea to get an asthma checkup. Just like making sure your blood pressure is OK, your asthma needs to be checked at least once a year.

Make an appointment today! Visit www.indyhealthnet.org for more information!

Post by Dan Wilson, RRT, CPFT, AE-C

Fresh cut grass and pollen from blooming flowers and trees are typical allergy triggers in spring. Common allergy symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, and itchy watery eyes.

For people with asthma, allergies can also cause their asthma to flare up. It is important to talk with your Health Care Provider about how to treat allergy symptoms when they happen and how to prevent them from coming back.

Non-prescription allergy medications like, Claritin®, Zyrtec®, and Allegra®, are known as “antihistamines”. They are often the first choice to relieve annoying allergy symptoms. You can save money by purchasing the generic forms of these brands.

If antihistamines don’t work, steroid nasal sprays like Flonase®, Nasacort® and Rhinocort® can be effective. A few steroid nasal sprays are now available without a prescription.

As with any medication, always ask your Health Care Provider if allergy medications are safe for you to take.

Here are 10 tips to keep your allergies in check:

1. Keep your windows closed, especially at night. This will keep outside pollen, dust, and other things in the air form entering your house.

2. Check the furnace filter once a month and change it when it looks dirty.

3. If you own a pet with hair or fur and have pet allergies, keep your pet out of the bedroom. Pet dander on bed sheets and pillows can cause allergy symptoms like nighttime coughing, stuffy nose and congestion.

4. Check the pollen forecast. Go to www.pollen.com. Just like a weather forecast tells you how to prepare for the weather, a pollen count forecast can help you decide if you should limit outdoor activity if the pollen count is expected to be high.

5. If you have a dust allergy, damp dust and use a vacuum with HEPA filter once a week to prevent dust build up on carpets and fabric covered furniture.

6. Keep bathrooms and basements dry to prevent mold. Mold is a potent allergy and asthma trigger.

7. Potted live plants have mold in the dirt. Spread aquarium gravel over the top of the dirt to contain mold.

8. Remove clutter, tabletop ornaments, collectibles, books and magazines that are “dust catchers” and store toys and games in plastic bins.

9. Control cockroaches and mice with cheap traps from the store. Wash and put away all dishes and do not leave food out in bedrooms, living rooms or the kitchen for pests to get to.

10. If your allergies happen all year long and affect your asthma a lot, ask your Health Care Provider about going to an allergy specialist.

By managing your allergies properly, you can keep your asthma in good control and enjoy the nice weather too.

Post by Dan Wilson, RRT, CPFT, AE-C

To find a HealthNet location near you, please click here.

]]> http://blog.indyhealthnet.org/controlling-allergies-asthma/feed 0 http://blog.indyhealthnet.org/fall-asthma-triggers?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fall-asthma-triggers http://blog.indyhealthnet.org/fall-asthma-triggers#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:42:00 +0000 giveacareindy http://blog.indyhealthnet.org/?p=4830 There is a chill in the air and the colors of autumn along with falling leaves that signal a change in season. Hospital Emergency Departments see an increase in children with asthma beginning in fall and through the early part of winter. During the fall season, asthma triggers can change.

Common fall season triggers include mold and ragweed. Dead, wet tree leaves that have fallen to the ground grow mold spores. As the leaves are raked and discarded, the mold spores are released into the air causing asthma and allergy symptoms. Ragweed is present in the fall producing ragweed pollen in the air causing allergy symptoms that can trigger asthma.

As the weather cools and we stay indoors more, things like pet dander, tobacco smoke, and dust are more likely to trigger asthma. As we turn on home heating sources, indoor fireplaces, kerosene and gas heaters can be potential safety hazards by emitting fumes into the air you breathe causing severe breathing problems. And we can’t forget about hayrides, roasting marshmallows and making Smores. Campfire smoke and dust-like fragments that come from straw and hay can be asthma triggers.

Now that school has started, kids are at risk for catching colds and other respiratory viruses. October signaled the start of the flu season. The flu is a respiratory virus and the most common asthma trigger in the fall and winter.

How to Reduce Fall Season Asthma Triggers

1. Wear a mask or scarf to cover your mouth and nose if you rake the leaves. Wear long sleeves and long pants and remove and wash them as soon as you enter your house to prevent taking mold spores into your home. Better yet, have someone else do the raking for you if you have severe allergies.
2. If you are a smoker speak with your health care provider about how you can quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home or car. Keep pets out of the bedroom and off your bed and vacuum weekly to remove dust and pet dander from your carpet. Keep your windows closed to prevent ragweed pollen from entering your home.
3. You should enjoy the fall activities and glow of a bonfire, however; you must keep your distance and avoid inhaling the smoke. Have a friend roast the marshmallows or make you a s’more to enjoy so you don’t have to get close to the fire. Stand away from the direction of the smoke blowing in the wind.

4. The best way to avoid the flu is to get the flu vaccine. It is highly recommended the every patient with asthma get the flu vaccine. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about the flu vaccine. Also, wash your hands often and keep your hands away from your face.

By following these tips, eating a healthy diet and avoiding close contact with people who have symptoms of a cold or flu, you can have fun and enjoy the pleasures that come with autumn. For more information about HealthNet, visit us at www.indyhealthnet.org.

Post by Dan Wilson, RRT, CPFT, AE-C

Post by Dan Wilson, RRT, CPFT, AEC

School is back in session and parents are making sure their children are getting back into the swing of the school season.  In the rush to get school supplies together and checking the bus schedule, it’s easy to over look the, “Back to School Asthma Checklist”. The American Lung Association recommends the following five steps when it comes to asthma readiness and the school season.

Step 1. Learn About Asthma
Talk to your healthcare provider about how asthma affects the lungs and what can be done to keep asthma from becoming a problem. Visit the American Lung Association website at www.lung.org and search, “Asthma” for many free resources including online asthma educational tools for parents and educational asthma games for kids.

Step 2. Talk to the School Nurse
Visit or call the school nurse or staff member in charge of student health. Ask if there is a form that needs to be completed by your child’s healthcare provider authorizing the school nurse or staff member to give your child breathing medication if an asthma flare up happens at school. Ask about the school’s asthma emergency plan and if PE instructors, coaches and teachers are trained to recognize asthma symptoms and how to respond to an asthma emergency.

Step 3. Schedule an Asthma Check Up
Every school year should begin with a visit to your child’s healthcare provider for an asthma checkup. This checkup assures your child’s asthma is in control and that they are receiving the right amount of medicine for their asthma. It’s is also a good time to be sure your child has enough asthma medication refills for the school season.

Step 4. Develop an Asthma Action Plan
An Asthma Action Plan is a written worksheet created by your healthcare provider that helps you and the school nurse recognize if your childs asthma is OK or if it is becoming a problem. The Asthma Action Plan has written instructions about what “Action” to take if the asthma is becoming a problem. Ask your healthcare provider to give you an Asthma Action Plan during your asthma check up.

Step 5. Get a Flu Shot
The “flu” is a respiratory virus and a common asthma trigger. The best way to protect you and your child from the flu is by getting the flu shot. Also, teach your children the importance of hand washing to prevent respiratory infections.

For more information about HealthNet or to find a location near you, visit www.indyhealthnet.org.

Did you know that May is Asthma Awareness Month? HealthNet’s Pulmonary Disease Management Educator, Dan Wilson, helps patients make treatment plans to deal with their Asthma so they can live a normal life.

A few Asthma Factoids according to the Marion County Public Health Department:

• 9.5% of Indiana children age 0-10, and 11.8% of 11-17 year olds currently have asthma.
• Nearly 12% of adults living in Marion County have asthma.
• Asthma incidence has been increasing in the U.S. at more than 4% per year since the 1980’s.
• A family history of asthma or allergy increases asthma risk in childhood by 90%.
• Boys are at greater risk of asthma than girls.
• Maternal pre-natal smoking and a child’s exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are risk factors for asthma incidence in children.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a disease of the airway passages in the lungs. The airway passages become swollen and the muscles on the outside of the airways get tight and this makes it difficult to breathe. Common symptoms include coughing with mucus, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Someone with asthma may have “flare-ups” caused by triggers such as tobacco smoke, allergies or catching a cold. Asthma typically develops in early childhood however asthma can develop later in life too.

Are There Different Types and Levels of Asthma?

Yes, the most common type of asthma is Allergic Asthma. Someone who is allergic to furry pets or has seasonal allergies can have asthma symptoms when exposed to these things. Another type of asthma is Non-Allergic Asthma. This type of asthma is caused by inhaling irritants such as chemicals, fumes, or combustion of biofuels like wood or coal.

The mildest level of asthma is Intermittent Asthma which only appears occasionally. Then there are three persistent levels of asthma; Mild, Moderate, and Severe. These levels are more serious and require daily medication to control symptoms.

Is There a Cure For Asthma?

No, but asthma can be treated and controlled effectively by following a treatment plan using prescribed inhaled medications daily as directed by your health care provider.

Is Asthma Contagious?

No. Asthma is passed on through genes like if your parents or grandparents had asthma. However research also shows people can develop asthma if they live in an area of high air pollution, or work or live in an environment with poor air quality.  Mothers who smoke tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to have children who develop asthma.

Can Someone With Asthma Have a Normal and Active Life?

Yes. Many professional athletes have asthma and perform at a high level because they take asthma seriously and follow the recommendations of their health care provider. Talk with your health care provider about your asthma. Together you and your provider can design a treatment plan that can control your asthma from being a problem.

Need help dealing with your Asthma? Call a HealthNet location near you or visit www.indyhealthnet.org!