Asthma Treatment and Prevention

There are many triggers which can start an asthmatic attack. The triggers may be different for every individual. These may be substances, environmental conditions, even physical activities.

Common Asthma Triggers

Infections of the airway

viral or bacteria infections are amongst the top causes of asthma attacks

Allergens 

Pet furs, cigarette smoke, dusts in the air, pests like cockroaches and dust mites

Pollens

Food and additives

Peanuts, eggs, seafood, dairy products, wheat and additives like MSG and food dyes.

Medications

NSAID ( non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs ) such as aspirin, ibuprofen

Cold weather

Aerosol 

Like perfumes and cologne, fumigation chemicals, paints

Exercise

can trigger some asthma attacks

Asthma Control Test

A good asthma treatment plan is by grading the severity of the condition via scoring system known as Asthma Control Test (ACT) – go to asthmasingapore.com > resources

If you score is 20 or above - your asthma is well controlled

If your score is 19 or less , that means that we can do more to improve your condition.

These are simple questionnaires that you may even do at home!

Asthma Classification

Intermittent Asthma

Symptoms occur less than twice a week & wakes you up less than two nights a month

Mild persistent Asthma

Symptoms occurring two more days a week & waking you up 3-4 nights a month

Moderate persistent Asthma

Symptoms occurring daily and waking you up one or more nights a week

Severe Persistent Asthma

Symptoms occurs daily, and wake you up every night due

In principle, the more severe your asthma, the higher the dose of medications to try to control your symptoms.

Asthma Medication

Mainly inhalers that works directly on the respiratory system.

Relievers

Ventolin inhalers, salbutamol inhalers. Typically blue or dark blue in colour. They help to reverse the tightening of the airway during an asthma attack.

These inhalers should be used only on when required and not on a daily basis. In fact, there are studies that suggests that prolonged indiscriminate usage of relievers may actually worsen your asthma.

Preventers

Inhalers that actually stabilises the airway and reduces the inflammation and hyperactivity. Examples are steroid inhalers and long acting airway muscle relaxers. These canisters are usually not blue in colour  - they may be purple, brown, white and red.

These are medications that we use on a daily basis over a long period of time to reduce the number of asthma attacks and also to reduce or minimise the need for you to use the blue Ventolin inhalers.

Oral steroid

In sudden asthmatic attacks , physicians may also use oral steroids to suppress the inflammatory state in the airway to reduce the severity of the attacks.

Top 8 tips to prevent asthma attacks

1. Take your preventer inhalers regularly as instructed by your doctor
2. See a doctor when you are starting to have flu symptoms
3. Keep your environment clean and dust free
4. Sun your mattress and pillow and blanket regularly to prevent mites growing
5. Avoid fragrances
6. Avoid smoking or second hand cigarette smoke
7. Identify your asthma triggers and avoiding them
8. Go for your annual flu vaccination