Preparing for Disaster: UNM Hospital Participates in Region-Wide Emergency Training
By Elizabeth Dwyer Sandlin
Asthma Awareness Month: Insights from UNM's Pulmonary Specialists
Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition, affects both children and adults, leading to symptoms that can significantly impact daily life. Haley Israel, MD, MHS, an assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at The University of New Mexico, and Michelle Harkins, MD, division chief of critical care medicine at UNM, offer valuable insights on recognizing and managing this condition.
Asthma is a respiratory disease that can be present in adults and in children. There are common symptoms that a person might have related to their breathing, such as shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing that's present outside of a respiratory illness.
Recognizing Asthma Symptoms
Israel explains, “Asthma is a respiratory disease that can be present in adults and in children. There are common symptoms that a person might have related to their breathing, such as shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing that's present outside of a respiratory illness.”
These symptoms can often be triggered by specific factors. Israel elaborates, “Exercise, for example, might make someone wheeze or cough. Similarly, encountering environmental factors like pets or pollen can trigger symptoms.”
She advises that if you notice these symptoms persistently or in response to certain triggers, it is important to seek medical evaluation.
“The most common symptoms for someone who has asthma are cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. These would exist outside of the time when someone is sick with an active infection,” Israel notes.
Awareness of these symptoms and their triggers can be crucial in diagnosing and managing asthma effectively.
Managing Asthma: A Personal Approach
Harkins shares her approach to managing asthma, providing practical advice that can help others.
A solid partnership with a health care provider enables the creation of a written action plan, outlining what medicines to take and identifying specific asthma triggers to avoid.
“The first thing you want to do is have a good working relationship with your primary care provider,” Harkins emphasizes. “A solid partnership with a health care provider enables the creation of a written action plan, outlining what medicines to take and identifying specific asthma triggers to avoid.”
Proper use of inhalers is a cornerstone of asthma management. Harkins highlights the importance of using a holding chamber with an inhaler.
“If you just use the inhaler by itself, most of the medicine hits the back of your throat and then you digest it. But if you use a holding chamber, the medicine is actually directed into your lungs, so it's much more effective,” Harkins explains.
Dr. Harkins goes on to provide a step-by-step guide for using an inhaler: “Shake the inhaler, place it in the holding chamber, depress it, take a breath in, and hold it for 10 seconds. If it whistles, slow down your breath in. Hold it for 10 seconds, and then you can take your next puff.”
Variety of Inhalers
There is a wide variety of inhalers available, each with different mechanisms and formulations. Understanding the options and finding the right inhaler with your health care provider is essential for effective asthma management.
Harkins notes, “There are many different kinds of inhalers on the market these days. There are dozens of different inhalers that you could be prescribed and that may be covered by your insurance.”
Both Israel and Harkins want to assure patients that asthma is a common and manageable condition. Recognizing the symptoms, understanding the triggers, and working closely with a health care provider can support effective management of asthma. As Israel and Harkins highlight, education and proper technique in using inhalers are crucial steps in controlling asthma and improving the quality of life for those affected.
If you experience symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing, consider seeking medical advice to explore the possibility of asthma and develop a management plan tailored to your needs.