SCRIPT NUMBER 129
ASTHMA - 2
(TWO SPEAKERS)
PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS
PROGRAM TITLE: ASTHMA - 2
PROGRAM NUMBER: 129
SUBJECT: RISK FACTORS, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, LONG-TERM
CONTROL OF ASTHMA
KEY WORDS: ASTHMA ATTACK, QUICK-ACTING RELIEF INHALER,
THEOPHYLLINE, STEROIDS, AIRBORNE POLLEN
DATE OF SCRIPT: SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS
SPEAKER 1:
Have you developed medical symptoms like those that
Carlos experienced? He began coughing during the night and in the early
mornings, making his sleep difficult. He developed a whistling or squeaky sound
as well as a feeling of tightness in his chest when he breathed rapidly. He felt as
though his lungs were overfilled and that he couldn’t get the air out of his lungs.
SPEAKER 2:
Carlos had developed the symptoms of asthma. Today, we
want to talk about asthma, a chronic disease that affects the breathing tubes
leading to our lungs.
SPEAKER 1:
What function do our breathing tubes serve?
SPEAKER 2:
Our breathing tubes were created to serve several functions.
They warm air as it is brought into our lungs. Additionally, small hairs in the tubes
move in a coordinated, wave-like motion to help remove airborne debris. The
hairs can also stimulate coughing to more effectively remove the debris.
Specialized cells in the breathing tubes secrete mucus to form a sticky, protective
coating on the inside surfaces of the tubes that traps harmful organisms and
dust. In asthma, the lining cells of the breathing tubes become overly sensitive,
reacting strongly to any irritating substance. The tubes become swollen and
narrowed, significantly limiting the amount of air that can enter the lungs.
SPEAKER 1:
What causes this super sensitivity?
SPEAKER 2:
It is a combination of genetic and other factors. Risk factors
that will increase your chances of developing asthma include having another
member of your family with asthma, smoking or being heavily exposed to
someone who smokes, having allergies such as hay fever, having a mother who
smoked while pregnant and obesity.
SPEAKER 1:
What are asthma’s symptoms?
SPEAKER 2:
Symptoms come in episodes called asthma attacks, and
they are just as Carlos experienced - coughing, especially at night and in the
early morning hours, wheezing and shortness of breath. For some people, these
symptoms are only a minor nuisance, but for others they become a major and
even life-threatening health problem.
SPEAKER 1:
What triggers an asthma attack?
SPEAKER 2:
Attacks can be triggered by vigorous, sustained exercise,
especially if you exercise in cold weather, by exposure to irritating gases or
chemical fumes, by dust, or by allergens such as pollen or pet hair. Strong
emotions and stress can also trigger an attack in some people.
SPEAKER 1:
How can my asthma be cured?
SPEAKER 2:
Asthma cannot be cured, but proper treatment can
effectively control its symptoms. Treatment requires learning to recognize and to
avoid the triggers to which you react. Medicines can help reduce the swelling that
leads to attacks, and quick-acting relief inhalers can rapidly open swollen
breathing tubes during an attack. They act within minutes of being inhaled, and
their effect lasts for several hours. Long-term control, however, is the key to
successful management.
SPEAKER 1:
What must I do to get long-term control?
SPEAKER 2:
In most cases, achieving long-term control will require that
you take some medicines every day - medicines such as steroids that you inhale.
They are prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may also prescribe pills called
theophyllines. You take these theophylline pills by mouth every day, and they
relax the muscles surrounding your breathing tubes, making your breathing
easier. The symptoms Carlos experienced cleared completely once he learned to
wear a mask to avoid breathing in heavy dust at work, and his doctor started him
on theophyllines.
SPEAKER 1:
Are there other things I must do?
SPEAKER 2:
Many people rely on medicines alone to prevent and relieve
their symptoms, but you can also make lifestyle changes to further lessen the
likelihood of suffering attacks. Like Carlos, you can reduce your exposure to the
things that trigger your attacks. You might use an air conditioner to reduce the
amount of airborne pollens from trees, grasses and weeds that come into your
home. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can keep your windows closed
during pollen season. Cover your pillows and mattress with dust-proof covers,
and clean your home at least once a week to minimize the dust. You can also
install washable curtains and blinds, and if possible, remove the carpeting,
installing hardwood or linoleum flooring.
Being overweight worsens asthma symptoms, so get back to your ideal weight.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as these foods are rich in antioxidants, which
boost your immune system and reduce asthma symptoms. Lessen your anxiety
and the feelings of helplessness about your situation by focusing on the things
you can do, not the things you can’t do. Finally, getting regular exercise helps.
Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, and that will help relieve asthma
symptoms. Exercise involving long periods of exertion such as long distance
running or basketball is poorly tolerated by asthmatics, but exercise that involves
short, intermittent periods of exertion such as volleyball or baseball is generally
well tolerated.
SPEAKER 1:
You’ve mentioned a lot of things. Summarize them for us.
SPEAKER 2:
To summarize, long-term control is the key to managing
asthma. Medicines are essential for long-term control, so, like Carlos, take your
medicines exactly as your doctor prescribed them. Identify the things that trigger
your attacks, and avoid those situations. Learn to recognize the signs that you
are developing an attack, and act quickly to treat it. Write down a detailed plan
for managing an attack. Develop an understanding of the plan and act quickly to
treat the attack. If you act quickly, you will lessen the likelihood that it will be
severe. If you find yourself relying on your quick-relief inhaler more frequently
with time, your disease isn’t under control, so see your doctor about adjusting
your medicines or treatment plan.
SPEAKER 1:
Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical
doctor working in the United States. The medical views expressed in this
program are his and may differ for your particular health needs. If you need
medical advice, please consult a medical professional in your area.