[By The SPHP Emergency Services Team]
Fall is on its way, with the kids back in school and cooler temperatures right around the corner. For many, this time of year also means sneezing and wheezing, as fall allergies appear.
Certainly, allergies can irritate all year long, with symptoms that include sneezing; coughing or wheezing; runny nose and watery eyes; congestion; itchy eyes, nose, throat or skin; and fatigue. But, fall brings out the worst symptoms in many, as weed pollens – like ragweed, goldenrod and pigweed – and the dropping temperatures can be an especially potent trigger for those with asthma.
Because an asthmatic’s lungs react to a trigger, the removal or avoidance of the trigger will limit the reaction or perhaps prevent it from happening. And, if a reaction does occur, certain medications can be taken to reverse the airway’s reaction.
The key is control. If an asthmatic can learn how to control his/her environment and avoid triggers, s/he can remain healthy and ideally out of the emergency department.
There are five lessons to keep in mind.
Lesson One
Understand that asthma is a chronic, reversible, inflammatory disease. An attack causes airways to swell, muscles in the airways to shrink and tighten, and mucus to increase in the airways.
Lesson Two
Tracking your symptoms is critical. Are you coughing? Wheezing? Are you experiencing chest tightness and shortness of breath? By tracking your symptoms, you can identify what causes those reactions.
Lesson Three
What is in your environment when you experience these symptoms? Some common triggers beyond pollen and mold are dust, pets and exercise. Knowing your triggers and doing your best to minimize exposure or avoid them altogether is crucial.
Lesson Four
Once you know your triggers and reactions, you should work with your physician to learn what medications you may need and how to take them. Managing your asthma effectively means taking the right medication, at the right time, and in the right way.
Lesson Five
The last lesson is to develop an Asthma Action Plan with your physician. This document has the directions on what to do when your breathing changes after exposure to a trigger. It will tell you what to do to control your symptoms when they start, what medications to take and when to seek medical help. A good example can be found on the NYS Department of Health’s website at https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/4850.pdf.
When every second counts, St. Peter’s Health Partners has top-quality emergency departments and urgent care centers all across the Capital Region. Our emergency departments in Albany and Troy are open 24 hours, seven days a week, offering a wide range of services for emergency care with highly trained staff, diagnostic testing and access to specialists. For more information, visit us at sphp.com/for-patients/think-before-you-go.
