If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with asthma, you’re far from alone. Approximately 22 million adults and children in the U.S. have asthma, a chronic disease that affects your airways, making breathing difficult. There’s no cure for asthma, but most asthma sufferers can lead normal, active lives with proper medical treatment and self-management. The Visiting Nurse Service of New York can help you manage your asthma at home and better control it, so you experience fewer symptoms and attacks.

Understanding Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways that can trigger attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. When an attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways tighten and the lining of the air passages becomes inflamed, which allows less air to flow through the lungs. Most people with asthma have flare-ups that are separated by symptom-free periods, though some have persistent shortness of breath with periods of worsening symptoms. Flare-ups can be triggered by a number of causes, including allergens (such as pollen, pet hair/dander, or molds), respiratory infections, exercise, cold air, exposure to tobacco smoke or other irritants, stress, and drug allergies.

While a family history of asthma or allergies can increase your risk, asthma can also occur on its own. Your doctor will suggest changes you can make where you live and work to help you avoid flare-ups and prescribe long-term medications to prevent asthma attacks and quick-acting drugs to relieve symptoms when they do occur. VNSNY can help you stick with your treatment plan so that you can breathe easier as you manage this condition.

How VNSNY Can Help

Our clinical professional staff can help you follow your doctor’s treatment plan and learn to manage asthma at home. Our services include:

• Modifying your home to eliminate possible triggers and prevent flare-ups
• Helping you make appropriate changes to your diet, exercise regularly, and employ stress-management habits
• Helping you to properly take medications, use an inhaler and a peak flow meter (a device that monitors air flow), teaching you helpful breathing techniques and monitoring the effects of these interventions
• Teaching you to recognize the signs and symptoms that should prompt you to seek emergency care