Asthma is a disease of the lung which causes the airways to be inflamed and narrow making breathing difficult. Situations that trigger asthma vary for each person.
Symptoms of Asthma include wheezing, coughing, rapid breathing, tight neck and chest muscles, difficulty talking, blue lips or fingernails for light skinned people and grayish or whitish lips, fingernails and gums for darker skinned people.
See a doctor immediately for fast breathing, blue or grayish lips, fingernails and gums, rapid breathing, difficulty walking or talking, drowsiness, unable to wheeze, chest pain, persistent coughing or if your symptoms don't get better after using medication.
Doctors use a spirometer test which measures airflow through the lungs, X-rays, blood tests and skin tests to diagnose asthma. It is important to manage asthma because it can lead to serious medical conditions such as pneumonia, early delivery or miscarriage, and lung collapse.
Some situations that can trigger asthma are:
Illness
Allergy to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites
Odors from perfumes and detergents
Tobacco smoke
Exercise
Changes in weather
Emotions such as anxiety, sadness, stress and laughter
Food allergies
Taking care of your self
Know what triggers your asthma and avoid those situations
Take your medications as prescribed and let your doctor know if medication is not working
Let your doctor know if you are using your inhaler more often than usual
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