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Updated April 03, 2015.
Getting a new asthma diagnosis can sometimes make you feel like a three headed monster. Everything is new. You are not sure if you are doing what you need to be doing correctly. You are likely pretty scared.
Combined all of these things can be daunting and make you feel overwhelmed.
There are many moving parts with your new diagnosis. You need to:
There is no doubt that a new asthma diagnosis can be overwhelming for a patient or a parent, but these tips will help you adjust and overcome the three headed dragon.
You are still the same person you were before your asthma diagnosis. While it is overwhelming and it may seem that this new asthma diagnosis is going to control your life, it will not be that way forever. Many patients and parents eventually know more about their asthma than their doctors. Parents of asthmatics often develop a keen and practical sense of identifying and avoiding asthma triggers that their doctors cannot help them with.
Most people successfully manage asthma and fit it into their lifestyle. Eventually, having asthma just becomes part of your lifestyle. People with asthma live long, healthy, productive lives with, hopefully, as little impairment as possible.
If you are going to successfully deal with your new asthma diagnosis, you need to assemble a team.
One of the keys to getting your asthma under control is making sure you understand what you need to do. If you have ever left a doctor’s office confused about what you should be doing, you are not alone. Asthma can be particularly frightening because of the sheer number of instructions you will receive and the different medications you will take.
The Partnership for Clear Health Communication recommends that you ask your healthcare provider these 3 questions about your asthma and make sure you understand your provider’s response:
Asking your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist the right questions will better help you understand what you need to know, and what you need to do to get control of your asthma. A detailed look at implementing these questions at your next office visit can be found in the article “Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Asthma.”
You will also need to consider if you want a primary care physician to be responsible for your asthma or if you think you need to see a specialist.
Finally, an asthma educator is your expert in health education. While your doctor can provide you with needed clinical info and advice, they are not always the best person to help you implement. Your asthma educator in knowledgeable and will help you understand and comply with your treatment plan.
Surprisingly, large numbers of asthma patients fail to take medications or do not take them appropriately. Asthma regimens can be super complicated and this is certainly one reason why medications are not taken as directed. Additionally there can be side effects or the fear of side effects that lead to poor compliance with medication. Finally, costs can also lead to some patients not getting prescriptions filled or cause patients to ration their doses, leading to suboptimal therapy.
In business it is often said that you cannot change what you do not measure. In many ways asthma is very similar. Without monitoring of your symptoms it can be difficult day to day knowing how well your asthma is controlled. There are a number of different things you can do to see how your asthma is measuring up:
In asthma avoiding things that make your asthma worse is a major factor in improving your asthma symptoms.
It is important to not only understand symptoms, but also what is triggering them.
Finally, asthma attacks are probably the scariest part of asthma. You have tried to do everything your doctor asks, but your symptoms are getting worse. You need to have a plan.
Following your asthma action plan will make sure that you are doing what your doctor thinks best and also gives you direction about when you need to call or seek care.
In this case knowledge is power. A clear understanding of the plan and the ability to implement the plan will give you piece of mind when things are not going as you would like.
Source
Updated April 03, 2015.
Getting a new asthma diagnosis can sometimes make you feel like a three headed monster. Everything is new. You are not sure if you are doing what you need to be doing correctly. You are likely pretty scared.
Combined all of these things can be daunting and make you feel overwhelmed.
There are many moving parts with your new diagnosis. You need to:
- Understand the difference between rescue inhalers, inhalers for long term control, and other medications.
- Understand asthma monitoring
- Understand your asthma control
- Know about asthma triggers and how to prevent them.
- Know what to do in an asthma attack
There is no doubt that a new asthma diagnosis can be overwhelming for a patient or a parent, but these tips will help you adjust and overcome the three headed dragon.
An Asthma Diagnosis Does Not Change You As a Person
You are still the same person you were before your asthma diagnosis. While it is overwhelming and it may seem that this new asthma diagnosis is going to control your life, it will not be that way forever. Many patients and parents eventually know more about their asthma than their doctors. Parents of asthmatics often develop a keen and practical sense of identifying and avoiding asthma triggers that their doctors cannot help them with.
Most people successfully manage asthma and fit it into their lifestyle. Eventually, having asthma just becomes part of your lifestyle. People with asthma live long, healthy, productive lives with, hopefully, as little impairment as possible.
- Teaching Your Child to Live with Asthma
- Living With Asthma – Tips and Advice for Asthma Management
- Does Stress Affect My Asthma?
- Coping With Asthma as a Chronic Illness
Dealing With The Three Headed Monster
If you are going to successfully deal with your new asthma diagnosis, you need to assemble a team.
One of the keys to getting your asthma under control is making sure you understand what you need to do. If you have ever left a doctor’s office confused about what you should be doing, you are not alone. Asthma can be particularly frightening because of the sheer number of instructions you will receive and the different medications you will take.
The Partnership for Clear Health Communication recommends that you ask your healthcare provider these 3 questions about your asthma and make sure you understand your provider’s response:
1. What is my main problem?2. What do I need to do?3. Why is it important for me to do this?Asking your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist the right questions will better help you understand what you need to know, and what you need to do to get control of your asthma. A detailed look at implementing these questions at your next office visit can be found in the article “Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Asthma.”
You will also need to consider if you want a primary care physician to be responsible for your asthma or if you think you need to see a specialist.
- Asthma Specialist Versus Primary Care: Do I Need to See an Asthma Specialist?
- Do Asthma Specialists Improve Quality Care in Asthma?
- Do I Need To See An Asthma Educator?
Finally, an asthma educator is your expert in health education. While your doctor can provide you with needed clinical info and advice, they are not always the best person to help you implement. Your asthma educator in knowledgeable and will help you understand and comply with your treatment plan.
Take Your Asthma Medication
Surprisingly, large numbers of asthma patients fail to take medications or do not take them appropriately. Asthma regimens can be super complicated and this is certainly one reason why medications are not taken as directed. Additionally there can be side effects or the fear of side effects that lead to poor compliance with medication. Finally, costs can also lead to some patients not getting prescriptions filled or cause patients to ration their doses, leading to suboptimal therapy.
Monitor Your Asthma
In business it is often said that you cannot change what you do not measure. In many ways asthma is very similar. Without monitoring of your symptoms it can be difficult day to day knowing how well your asthma is controlled. There are a number of different things you can do to see how your asthma is measuring up:
- What Are The Essential Steps In Monitoring Asthma?
- Why It Is Important To Monitor Asthma Symptoms
- Why Are Peak Flow and Peak Flow Meters Vital For My Asthma
- How Is Your Asthma Control?
Asthma Triggers
In asthma avoiding things that make your asthma worse is a major factor in improving your asthma symptoms.
It is important to not only understand symptoms, but also what is triggering them.
- Understanding Asthma Triggers Is A Key To Asthma Prevention
- Identifying and Avoiding Your Asthma Triggers
- Does Hay Fever Sneezing Lead to Wheezing?
- Common Asthma Triggers
Asthma Attack
Finally, asthma attacks are probably the scariest part of asthma. You have tried to do everything your doctor asks, but your symptoms are getting worse. You need to have a plan.
Following your asthma action plan will make sure that you are doing what your doctor thinks best and also gives you direction about when you need to call or seek care.
In this case knowledge is power. A clear understanding of the plan and the ability to implement the plan will give you piece of mind when things are not going as you would like.
- What Do I Do in an Asthma Attack?
- Understand Your Asthma Action Plan
- Know Your Symptoms
- Know Your Medications
Source
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed: December 30, 2013. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma
- Asthma. In Chest Medicine: Essentials Of Pulmonary And Critical Care Medicine. Editors: Ronald B. George, Richard W. Light, Richard A. Matthay, Michael A. Matthay. May 2005, 5th edition.