Realise when your Asthma Condition is getting worse
and try to ignore the fact when it happens. This approach often does more harm than good, and can in fact be very dangerous because it may be that you need stronger medication in order to continue controlling your condition. Newly diagnosed asthmatics are advised to keep an asthma journal that details where they are and what they are doing when they first begin to feel the symptoms of an attack so connections can be made between causative agents and effects. If you have never done this then it is advisable you start now. In addition to helping you find out exactly what triggers your asthma, it will also help you to notice when your condition is getting worse, or when new allergens or irritants start to affect your breathing. Over time it is possible that additional irritants will begin to affect you. With each asthmatic episode, the airways that lead to the lungs become progressively more damaged (only very slightly each time). This damage means that you become more susceptible to airborne allergens and irritants and your asthma becomes more severe. Even if you think a change in your condition is too small to mention, you must report it to your doctor anyway, as he or she will be monitoring your progress over the long term and will want to know when you first become aware that your asthma is getting worse. You won’t be able to hide deterioration in your condition forever, and trying to cope with it by yourself could lead to a severe asthma attack that puts you in the hospital. It is much safer to simply tell your doctor and change your prescribed medication, even if this means a higher dosage or a stronger inhaler. |
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