Managing Moderate Asthma in Teenagers and Adults
This article discusses the management of moderate asthma in adolescents and adults, highlighting diagnosis methods, assessment procedures, and treatment strategies. It emphasizes medication use, trigger avoidance, and personalized action plans to control symptoms and prevent attacks effectively.
Management of Moderate Asthma in Teenagers and Adults
Moderate asthma in teens and adults is characterized by daily symptoms that impact daily life. Frequent inhaler use is necessary to mitigate shortness of breath, with symptoms such as chest tightness and wheezing persisting. These ongoing issues can lead to frequent flare-ups, often disrupting sleep if they occur at night.
Healthcare providers diagnose moderate asthma by reviewing medical history, allergies, symptom frequency, and impact on daily activities, along with lung auscultation.
Additional assessments include:
A chest X-ray to identify infections and assess lung health.
Spirometry to evaluate lung function capacity.
Allergy testing to identify triggers like pollen, dust mites, or mold.
Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and preventing attacks. Key approaches involve:
Medications: Taken via inhalers, pills, or injections to reduce lung inflammation, clear airway obstructions, and improve breathing.
Medications aim to alleviate symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
Allergy management: Medications or immunizations are prescribed to control allergen exposure, which often triggers attacks.
Personalized action plan: Developed with healthcare providers, detailing medication schedules, dosage adjustments, symptom monitoring, and use of devices like peak flow meters to track airflow.
Trigger avoidance: Minimizing exposure to dust, molds, and other irritants.
Overall health management: Monitoring conditions like sinus infections or sleep disorders that may worsen asthma.
Patients should avoid chemical environments and passive smoke, with smoking cessation strongly advised.
