The best way to prevent asthma attacks is to keep your asthma under control. This can be achieved by following the prescribed treatment and with some hacks to help you being consistent.
About your asthma symptoms
Wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing out.
Shortness of breath: You feel like you are not getting sufficient oxygen and need to breathe harder, quicker and/or deeper.
Chest tightness: A feeling of pressure or heaviness on the chest.
Cough: Some people with asthma have a dry cough, namely one that does not produce mucous.
Make sure you are taking an inhaled corticosteroid-containing medication
Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing medications, even in low doses, improve asthma symptom control and greatly reduce the risk of having severe asthma attacks. They should be taken regularly every day. However, patients with mild asthma can take low-dose combination ICS-formoterol as-needed for symptom relief. Make sure you are taking the inhaler correctly – ask your doctor or nurse to check. See also About your treatments.
Avoid asthma risk factors
While you cannot change some risk factors, asthma often worsens because of risk factors that can be avoided. One important risk factor for worsening asthma is smoking and vaping, and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Quit smoking now!
- Ask your doctor how you can get help to quit smoking.
- Many national healthcare systems offer free programmes and resources to help stop smoking.
- Check the websites of patients’ associations that may offer support programmes.
Other risk factors that can be avoided or treated are:
- Over-use of SABA inhalers: talk to your doctor about reviewing your asthma treatment if you have more than two SABA inhalers dispensed in a year.
- Obesity: follow strategies for weight reduction and a healthy diet.
- Allergen exposure, if you are sensitised to allergens such as furry animals or cockroaches, try simple avoidance strategies if they are feasible for you.
- Confirmed food allergy: discuss with a dietician, have an anaphylaxis action plan, and carry an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector pen if available.
- Depression or anxiety: talk to your doctor or nurse about mental health support and treatment.
Have a written asthma action plan
The best way to be prepared to react to worsening asthma is to have a written asthma action plan.
An asthma action plan is a document prepared with your healthcare provider that describes your asthma treatment and includes information on how to adjust your treatment when your asthma gets worse, and when to seek medical help.
The information in an action plan is often divided into three areas, green, yellow and red, which correspond to the level of severity of your symptoms as they change from day-to-day. In each area you will find the actions to take, including medicines, instructions on when to take them, proper use and dosage, and information about your emergency contact.
Ask questions about your asthma treatment
Wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing out.
Shortness of breath: You feel like you are not getting sufficient oxygen and need to breathe harder, quicker and/or deeper.
Chest tightness: A feeling of pressure or heaviness on the chest.
Cough: Some people with asthma have a dry cough, namely one that does not produce mucous.
Have a regular asthma review
If you have asthma, you may probably schedule a check-up visit every six months.
Keep a daily or weekly asthma journal
Keeping track of the frequency and severity of your symptoms between visits can help you and your healthcare provider to learn how to better control your asthma. In your journal you can:
- Track your symptoms and when they appear
- Identify your asthma triggers
- Keep track of the medicines you use for sudden asthma attacks and how often you use them
- Record your peak flow measurements and the results of your lung function test (if used)
Keep a digital version of your journal on your mobile device calendar so that you will always have it with you!