Asthma

An Unexplained Epidemic

For information about Hartford's asthma problem, click here.

How is asthma treated?

Although some people outgrow asthma, for most people, it is a lifelong disease, which cannot be cured. However, asthma can be controlled. If you have asthma, you can live a normal life and do the same things as people without asthma.

See your doctor

If you suspect that you or someone in your family may have asthma, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program  has issued guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. Your doctor should be familiar with these guidelines.

Talk to your doctor about ways to control your asthma.

Click here to see a video of Dr. Michelle Cloutier discussing the diagnosis of asthma.
Click here to see a video of Dr. Michelle Cloutier addressing possible symptoms..
This requires the Real Player Basic  which can be downloaded for free.

Take the medicines your doctor prescribes Your doctor will tell you which medications you should use and how you should use them. Always follow the doctor's directions carefully. Anti-inflammatory asthma medicines prevent inflammation in the airways. Some are inhaled, while others are taken by mouth. They help to prevent an asthma attack from starting. Bronchodilators relax and open the airways during an asthma attack. Some bronchodilators are inhaled, while others are taken by mouth in pill or syrup form. The doctor may tell asthma patients to take bronchodilators when they start to have an asthma attack or before they exercise. You may have to take medicine with an inhaler in order to control your asthma. An inhaler is a small plastic device that allows medicine to reach the airways directly. Click here to see a video of Dr. Michelle Cloutier discussing asthma therapy. Click here to see a video of Dr. Michelle Cloutier addressing the importance of a treatment plan. This requires the Real Player Basic  which can be downloaded for free.

• Your doctor may suggest keeping an asthma diary in order to look for patterns in your asthma attacks, such as environmental or other factors that trigger an attack.
• Sometimes skin testing and special diets help to identify asthma triggers.

Eliminate as many environmental asthma triggers as possible

Click here to see a video of Dr. Michelle Cloutier addressing possible asthma triggers. This requires the Real Player Basic  which can be downloaded for free.

Monitor your asthma

• Ask your doctor how to use a peak flow meter, a small, portable device that measures your airflow.
• Keep a record of your peak flow measurements so that you will know if there are any changes in your airflow.