Be Aware of The Feeling: Asthma Awareness 2017
For 24 million people in the USA, Florida’s spring blossoms, cool grasses and spring breezes hold no magic. These people suffer with asthma. The most beautiful time of the year brings them the ugliest time with their illness. And, we are sad to say, “6 million of them are children.”
Have you heard that May means it’s time to celebrate, advocate and donate hearts, hands and minds to the American Lung Society’s Campaign for asthma awareness?
In honor of this cause, Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists invite you to take the world’s quickest asthma quiz—Answer “yes or no” to just three questions:
1. Do you need to use a quick relief inhaler more often than twice a week?
2. Do you awaken during the night with asthma symptoms more than twice a month? Waking at night with asthma symptoms more than two times per month.
3. Are you getting refill prescriptions for a quick relief inhaler more often than twice a year?
These questions were summarized from the American Lung Society’s Asthma Awareness Campaign. Shockingly, you do not have to have said “yes” to all three of them to be considered a less-than-controlled asthmatic.
The American Lung Association says, “If you answered yes to any of those questions, see your health care provider to learn the steps to better asthma management, including reducing exposure to asthma triggers.”
Asthma Awareness: Be Aware, Repair and Don’t Despair!
At FLASS, doctors and staff see patients every day who are learning to lead active, invigorating and healthy lifestyles in spite of their asthma. Not just in May, but every day management and care means
Asthma Awareness: Control Your Disease
A. They have learned the conditions that trigger attacks. They are aware.
B. They have repaired, changed, quit any habits that put them in harm’s way of triggers and an asthma attack. They Repair.
C. And they participate in their treatment plans which lead to fewer attacks, a higher quality of life, and an optimistic outlook. They don’t despair.
May Asthma Awareness: A Quick Asthma Trigger Review For You
If you or someone you love is suffering with asthma, you will find detailed information about asthma triggers, in one of our own articles concerning their details.
In brief, we want you to become aware of or reacquainted with some of the most Common asthma triggers:
1. The month of May and the rest of the Spring and Summer months bring out the allergies to pollens, grasses and molds.
2. Bunnies, puppies and kittens abound, but so does fur and dander. Be aware that household pets can trigger reactions.
3. Especially busy streets in towns and cities can increase air pollution from high traffic conditions, and cause an abrupt attack. Locally, you will find this especially true in Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and all of Florida’s gleaming metropolitan vacation escapes.
4. Spring can bring high ozone levels. Year round conditions involving tobacco smoke can instigate an attack.
5. Sudden wafts of cold air from air conditioners as well as nature can be triggers.
6. As the spring and summer draw us all into outdoor activities, the very act of exercise can stimulate an asthma attack in you or your child.
More than Aware: Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists Are Taking A.I.M. Against Asthma!
You might not be aware of some of the online resources that can help you learn about better managing the disease, its symptoms and its triggers.
You won’t be sorry if you check out the study tool at the online resource of the American Lung Association.
Do You Understand your Asthma Medicine?
Meanwhile, Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists are taking “A.I.M.” against asthma not only in May, but every day. These are the three simple rules of taking aim against the chaos of asthma attacks.
“A” is for Avoiding Your Asthma Triggers. Know what makes you sick, and stay away from it. That might sound simple, but here at FLASS, we know it isn’t.
“I” is for Initiate your Action Plan from your asthma care providers at FLASS. For example, learn about the steps you need to take when an attack happens. You can check out a generalized American Lung Society example of an asthma action plan at this convenient online resource.
“M” is for your medicines. Daily doses or emergency rescuers: you must understand how your medicines work. For example, do you know if you are using your inhaler correctly? Are you getting the optimum dose of medicine with every puff? (There is bound to be a FLASS blog on this topic in the near future!)
The 2016 theme for Asthma awareness is “You Can Control Your Asthma.” We teach our patients how to A.I.M. for exactly that ability. We work with the goals of both the American Lung Association and the European Lung Foundation to make the world aware of the dangers of asthma–in May and every day.
