Dos & Don’t in Asthma: TIPS FOR ASTHMA

• If asthma is not controlled on the current treatment regimen, step up the treatment. Improvement should be seen usually within 1 month. But first review the patient’s medication technique, compliance, and avoidance of risk factors before stepping up the treatment.

• If asthma is partly controlled, consider stepping up treatment, depending on whether more effective options are available, safety and cost of possible treatment options, and the patient’s satisfaction with the level of control achieved.

• If control is maintained for at least 3 months, step down with a gradual, stepwise reduction in treatment. The goal is to decrease treatment to the least medication necessary to maintain control.

• Monitoring is still necessary even after control is achieved, as asthma is a variable disease.

           

“Red Flag” or Dangerous signs in a case of Severe Asthma

•         Cyanosis

•         Silent chest

•         Poor respiratory effort

•         Exhaustion/Fatigue

•         Altered sensorium

•         PEFR<30% of predicted

•         Oxygen saturation <90%

Dos & Don’t in Asthma:  TIPS FOR ASTHMA

Do’s

1. Do wet mopping / vacuum cleaning of home regularly (esp. play areas)
2. Choose unstuffy toys
3. Recommended humidity level should be 30% to 50%.
4. Use exhaust fan in bathroom and kitchen.
5. Improve ventilation when using products which emit volatile organic compounds
6. Close the doors / windows opening directly to main road / heavy traffic
7. Clean or replace filter on your Air conditioners regularly

9.      Encourage Yogas and exercise

Don’t

1. Dust homes / book racks
2. Sudden expose to the extreme climate
3. Exercise in cold/dry/air
4. Exposure to strong pungent odors
5. Expose to smoking / passive smoking
6. Use heavy tapestry, carpets, cushioned sofa and furniture
7. Use stuff toys
8. keep pets, birds at home and caressing animal pets
9. Use cough syrups