SleepandLungCare – Page 2 – Sleep and Lung Care

Asbestos exposure

What is asbestos?

— “Asbestos” is the name of a group of minerals that are shaped like long, thin fibers. For many years, asbestos was commonly used in insulation, car brakes, ships, ceiling tiles, fabrics, fireproofing, and many other materials. But since the 1970s, people have mostly stopped using asbestos. That’s because scientists learned that being around asbestos (“asbestos exposure”) can cause serious health problems.

How do people get exposed to asbestos?

— When people are exposed to asbestos, it’s usually because of the type of work they do. Asbestos was used in many types of construction materials. People who worked with these materials in the past might have been exposed to it. This includes plumbers, pipefitters, electricians, insulation workers, construction workers, roofers, welders, and many other types of workers. Also, even though asbestos is no longer used in construction, demolition workers can be exposed when they knock down old buildings.

People can also be exposed to asbestos through the work clothes of someone they live with. This can happen when the person who works with asbestos brings their work clothes home. Plus, people are exposed to low levels of asbestos in nature.

What health problems does asbestos exposure cause?

— Asbestos fibers are very small. When these fibers get loose in the air, people can breathe them into the lungs, where they get trapped. The trapped asbestos fibers can cause problems such as:

Asbestosis – This is scarring of the lungs, which makes it hard to breathe.
Cancer – This includes lung cancer and “mesothelioma,” a rare cancer that happens in the lining around the lungs or in the belly.
Pleural problems – These are problems in the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs (called the “pleura”). Asbestos can cause a build-up of fluid in the pleura or scarring. Usually scarring in the pleura does not cause symptoms.

It usually takes being exposed to asbestos at high levels or for a long time for the asbestos to cause illness. Many people who are exposed to asbestos never get sick from it, especially if they don’t smoke.

What are the symptoms of asbestos exposure?

— Many people have no symptoms at all for up to 15 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos.

The first symptom is usually trouble breathing, which is also called “shortness of breath” or “dyspnea.” At first, the trouble breathing only happens when you are active and goes away when you rest. But as time goes on, it lasts longer, and it gets hard to breathe even when you are resting.

Other symptoms can include chest pain, a cough, and coughing up blood.

Should I see a doctor or nurse?

— Yes. If you have shortness of breath, you should see your doctor or nurse. Tell him or her if you worked in a job that might have exposed you to asbestos. If you have severe shortness of breath with chest pain or nausea or if you cough up blood, you need to go to the hospital. Having those symptoms could mean that your condition is serious.

Will I need tests?

— Yes. First, your doctor or nurse will ask you a lot of questions, especially about the types of work you have done. It is important to find out how long you were around asbestos and how much you were exposed to it. The doctor will also order tests to find out what kind of health problems you might have because of asbestos. These tests could include:

Chest X-ray – A chest X-ray can show if the lungs are inflating all the way or if there is scarring or an abnormal growth on the lung. It can also show if there is fluid or calcium between the lungs and the ribcage.
CT scan – A CT scan is like an X-ray but shows a more detailed picture.
Breathing tests – These tests measure how well your lungs are working. During these tests, you take a deep breath and then blow out as fast and hard as you can into a tube. A machine connected to the tube measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast you can blow.
Thoracentesis – If you have fluid around your lung, your doctor might need to take some of the fluid out for testing. This is called a thoracentesis. During this procedure, the doctor uses a needle to take some fluid from around the lungs.

How is asbestos exposure treated?

— Treatment depends on what problems you have from the asbestos exposure:

Asbestosis – There is no specific treatment for asbestosis. People who have asbestosis might feel better if they do pulmonary rehab. In pulmonary rehab, people learn exercises and ways to breathe that can help ease symptoms. Some people with severe asbestosis need oxygen.
Cancers – People with lung cancer or mesothelioma might have surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Pleural problems – The treatment depends on what type of pleural problem you have. For example, if you have fluid around your lungs, your doctor might put in a tube to drain the fluid. If you have inflammation of the pleura but no cancer, you might be treated with an NSAID such as Ibuprofen.

Your doctor will help you decide the best treatment for the type of health problem you have.

Is there anything I can do on my own?

— Yes. If you smoke, the most important thing you can do is STOP SMOKING! It does not matter how long you have smoked or how much you smoke. The problems caused by asbestos exposure get much worse with smoking. Quitting can slow your disease and help you feel better.

It is also important to keep from having any more asbestos exposure. This might mean wearing a mask and special clothing at work or maybe even changing jobs. Talk to your doctor about this to see if your current job might be a source of asbestos.

Get the flu shot every fall, and the pneumonia vaccine at least once. Infections like the flu and pneumonia can be very hard on your lungs. It’s important to try to prevent them.

A cold or the flu can make it harder to breathe. If your shortness of breath or cough gets worse, call your doctor right away.

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Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

Dust mite allergy

DUST MITES are small insect that colonize bedding, sofas, carpets, or any woven material. Dust mites do not bite, and aside from causing allergic disease, they are not known to pose other harm to humans. Neither dust mites, nor their debris, can be seen under normal circumstances. Dust mites absorb humidity from the atmosphere and feed on organic matter (including shed human and animal skin particles). They require nests to live in, a source of food and sufficient humidity. Air filtration plays a very little role in controlling exposure to dust mite. Instead, exposure is believed to occur primarily by close proximity to dust mite debris during time spent in bed, on the floor, or on upholstered furniture. Dust mite avoidance has been shown both to decrease symptoms and to decrease acute episodes of asthma that require treatment in a hospital in people who are allergic to dust mites.

Tips for avoiding dust mites in your home

First: Bedroom

Cover your pillows and mattresses with special zippered covers that keep dust mites away from you.
Every week, wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water with detergent or dry them in an electric dryer on the hot setting. If possible, do not use a comforter. Instead, use a blanket that can be washed.
Use washable, vinyl, or roll-type window covers.
Remove clutter, stuffed animals and other soft toys, and fabric-covered furniture. If you cannot take the stuffed animals out of the bedroom, wash them every week.
If possible, remove carpets. Instead, use area rugs that can be cleaned or washed.

Second: Rest of the house

Try to reduce the amount of fabric-covered furniture you have, especially old sofas.
If possible, replace carpets with (noncarpet) flooring. This includes carpets on concrete slabs or over poorly ventilated crawl spaces.
Every week, vacuum the house with a vacuum that has a “HEPA filter.” For cleaning floors, use a mop rather than a broom.
Use washable, vinyl, or roll-type window covers.
Make sure that the humidity in the home is less than 50%. Do not use a humidifier.

Third: Changing houses:

People with allergies and asthma do not usually need to move, except if they live in a basement or in a home that is very damp and wet.
If you are allergic to dust mites or mold, you might have fewer symptoms if you move to:
- An apartment on or above the second floor.
- A home with wooden floors and bedrooms on the second floor.

Insecticides and allergen-denaturing agents

The use of chemicals to kill dust mites or denature allergens was shown not to be extremely effective. Prolonged eradication of dust mites is not possible with commercially available chemicals.

Dust mite desinsitisation:

The house dust mite tablet contains 12 standardized-quality house dust mite and is indicated for the treatment of dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis in people 18 to 65 years of age. It is also indicated in people with difficult to control asthma and severe allergy to dust mites. Allergy to house dust mite should be confirmed by positive skin test or a blood test The tablet is administered under the tongue and held there until fully dissolved, after which the person should not swallow for at least one minute and not ingest food or beverage for five minutes. The first dose should be administered at the doctors’s office under medical supervision, and patients should be observed for at least 30 minutes for signs of allergic reactions. The house dust mite tablet is contraindicated in patients with severe, unstable, or uncontrolled asthma; a history of any severe systemic reaction or severe local reaction after taking sublingual imuuno-therapy; a history of eosinophilic esophagitis; or hypersensitivity to any of the inactive ingredients. The most common adverse effects were oral irritation, ear irritation, and throat irritation. Find out more

Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

Exercise-induced asthma

What is exercise-induced asthma?

— Exercise-induced asthma is when a person with asthma has breathing problems during or after exercise. Doctors often call it “exercise-induced bronchoconstriction” instead. That’s because exercise does not actually cause asthma. But it can trigger symptoms in some people who already have asthma.

What are the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma?

— Symptoms can include:

Coughing
A tight feeling in the chest
Shortness of breath
Wheezing (hearing a whistling sound when you breathe)

Symptoms happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed. In people with exercise-induced asthma, this usually happens about 10 to 15 minutes after starting to exercise. In most cases, the symptoms go away after about 1 hour.

These symptoms are different from shortness of breath that happens during an asthma “attack” or flare-up. A person having an asthma flare-up might have more trouble breathing if he or she tries to exercise. That’s because the airways are already narrowed.

Is there a test for exercise-induced asthma?

— Yes. But if you already know you have asthma, you might not need testing. Your doctor might be able to tell that you have exercise-induced asthma based on your symptoms. Or, your doctor might have you do a breathing test, such as:

An “exercise challenge test” – This involves using a treadmill or exercise bike for several minutes, then doing a breathing test. The test shows your doctor how your lungs are working. A similar test involves inhaling a special mixture of dry air while breathing fast, like you would if you were exercising.
A test that involves breathing in a special medicine – For this, you do a breathing test before and after inhaling the medicine. If you have asthma, the medicine will cause your airways to narrow.

Your doctor might also check for other problems that can cause similar symptoms. For example, people with vocal cord narrowing, lung disease, and some heart problems can have trouble breathing after exercising.

How is exercise-induced asthma treated?

— If you get exercise-induced asthma, you can treat it with a “quick-relief” medicine. The medicines used for this are short-acting beta agonists (called “SABAs” or “short-acting bronchodilators”). Examples of SABAs are Salbutamol (Ventolin) and Terbutaline (Brincanyl).

Your doctor or nurse will tell you how and when to use your inhaler. Most people need 2 puffs to relieve symptoms. If you keep having symptoms, you can take 2 puffs again after 20 minutes. If you get exercise-induced asthma, make sure you have your “quick-relief” inhaler with you anytime you plan to exercise.

Some people feel shaky after taking a SABA. If this happens, talk to your doctor or nurse. He or she might switch you to a different medicine or lower your dose.

Can exercise-induced asthma be prevented?

— Yes. First, it’s important to take all your asthma medicines the way your doctor or nurse tells you to. Keeping your asthma controlled can lower the chances of having symptoms when you exercise.

You can also:

Take medicine before you exercise – This usually involves using your “quick-relief” inhaler 5 to 15 minutes before exercising, to help prevent symptoms. SABAs are the medicines most often used to prevent exercise-induced asthma. But some people, such as children who are physically active many times a day, get another type of asthma medicine instead.

If you exercise most days of the week and need your “quick-relief” medicine each time, your doctor might suggest an asthma controller medicine if you don’t already take one. This is a medicine you take every day, even when you are not having symptoms. This way you won’t need the “quick-relief” medicine as often.

Avoid exercising in certain conditions – Very cold, dry air can make symptoms worse. If you do exercise outside on a very cold day, it might help to wear a loose scarf or mask over your nose and mouth. It can also help to avoid exercising in polluted air, or around pollen or mold if you are allergic.
Warm up before you exercise – Some people find that a warm-up period helps prevent exercise-induced asthma. But this isn’t true for everyone.

You should not avoid exercise completely in order to prevent exercise-induced asthma. Exercise is important for staying healthy. Plus, regular exercise and better fitness can actually help reduce asthma symptoms. Your doctor and nurse can help you figure out what kind of exercise is best for you, and how to prevent and treat symptoms.

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Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

Asthma during pregnancy

What is asthma?

— Asthma is a lung condition that can make it hard to breathe. It can also cause wheezing (noisy breathing), coughing, or a tight feeling in the chest.

Do asthma symptoms change during pregnancy?

— Sometimes. During pregnancy, a woman’s asthma symptoms can get better, worse, or stay the same.

How is asthma treated?

— Asthma is treated with different types of medicines. These can be inhalers, liquids, or pills. Asthma medicines work in different ways. They can:

Stop symptoms quickly
Control symptoms over time and prevent future symptoms

Your doctor will work with you to make an asthma action plan. This is a list of instructions that tells you which medicines to take and when to take them. It also tells you when to get help or call for an ambulance for your asthma.

Are asthma medicines safe to take during pregnancy?

— Yes. Many asthma medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. If your asthma medicines are not safe to take during pregnancy, your doctor will change them.

It’s important to take all the asthma medicines your doctor prescribes so that your asthma is well-controlled. Having asthma that is not well-controlled can lead to serious health problems for you and your baby.

Which doctors and nurses will take care of me during pregnancy?

— You might need a few different doctors and nurses to take care of you during pregnancy. Usually, 1 doctor will take care of your pregnancy. He or she might also be able to take care of your asthma. If not, you will see another doctor who can take care of your asthma.

Will I have tests during pregnancy?

— Yes. Your doctor or nurse will probably do a breathing test to check how your lungs are working. He or she might also recommend that you use a “peak flow meter” at home. A peak flow meter is a device that you breathe into that can show how well your lungs are working.

Your doctor will also do different tests to check your baby’s health. These include blood tests and an imaging test called an ultrasound. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

What else can I do to prevent asthma symptoms during pregnancy?

— To help prevent asthma symptoms, you can:

Avoid your asthma triggers – Triggers are things that cause asthma symptoms or make symptoms worse. Common triggers are dust, mold, dogs, cats, pollen, plants, and cigarette smoke.
Stop smoking, and avoid being near people who smoke
Get a flu shot – A flu shot can help keep you from getting the flu. Getting the flu can cause asthma symptoms to get worse.

Will my baby be healthy?

— If your asthma is well-controlled during pregnancy, chances are good that it will not hurt your baby.

Can I breastfeed if I have asthma?

— If you have asthma, it can be especially healthy to breastfeed your baby. That’s because babies who breastfeed have a lower chance of having episodes of wheezing during their first 2 years.

If you plan to breastfeed your baby, let your doctor or nurse know. He or she will make sure that your asthma medicines are safe to take if you breastfeed.

Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

Avoiding asthma triggers

What are asthma triggers?

— An asthma trigger is anything that causes asthma symptoms or makes asthma symptoms worse. It’s important to know what your asthma triggers are. That way, you can avoid them so that your symptoms don’t get worse.

What are some common asthma triggers?

— Common asthma triggers are:

Cigarette smoke
Stress
Getting sick with a cold, the flu, or a lung, ear, or sinus infection
Strong cleaning products, such as bleach
Strong perfumes or scents
Air pollution
Certain medicines, such as Aspirin and other medicines for pain or fever
Exercise
Very cold and dry air

People can have other triggers, too. These include things in the environment that they are allergic to. These are called “allergic triggers.” Examples of allergic triggers are:

Dust mites – These are tiny bugs that are too small for you to see. They live in beds, couches, carpets, and other places in your home.
Mold – Mold can grow in basements, showers, and other damp and wet places.
Dogs and cats – People can be allergic to animal saliva, urine, or dander (flakes of dead skin).
Pollen from trees, grass, and weeds
Cockroach droppings
Mice

How do I know what my asthma triggers are?

— You might already know what makes your asthma symptoms worse. But if you don’t, talk with your doctor or nurse. He or she can help you figure it out by talking with you and asking you questions. Your doctor might do allergy tests to see if you have allergic triggers. Allergy tests include blood tests or skin tests. During a skin test, a doctor puts a drop of a substance that you might be allergic to on your skin, and makes a tiny needle prick in the skin. Then, he or she watches your skin to see if it turns red and bumpy.

What should I do when I find out what my triggers are?

— The best thing to do is to stay away from your triggers. For example, if cigarette smoke makes your asthma symptoms worse, avoid people who are smoking. Here are other things that you can do:

To avoid getting sick with an infection, wash your hands often. You can also get a flu shot every year so you don’t get the flu.
To avoid air pollution, stay indoors when air pollution levels are high, and don’t exercise near a busy road.
On winter days when the air is cold and dry, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf.
Avoid using bleach and other strong cleaners.

If you have allergic triggers, try to avoid the things you are allergic to:

To avoid dust mites, cover your pillows and mattresses with special covers that keep dust mites away, and remove carpets from the bedroom.
To avoid mold, regularly clean any areas that tend to grow mold, such as sinks and tiles. To keep more mold from growing, use a dehumidifier, fix leaky plumbing, and remove carpets that were damaged by water. You can also remove any indoor plants, as well as other items that might have gotten damp and grown mold, such as old books or bedding.
To avoid animal saliva, urine, or dander, you can remove the pet from your home and clean your home after the animal has gone.
To avoid pollen, you can stay inside more during the times of year when your asthma symptoms are worse. Keep windows closed to prevent pollen from getting inside your house. When you do go outside, shower or bathe after you come back in. This can help remove any pollen from your body and clothing.
To keep cockroaches away, don’t let garbage or dirty dishes pile up. Fix leaky plumbing so there are no puddles of water. If you have cockroaches, use traps to kill them, or call an exterminator.
To get rid of mice, set traps or call an exterminator.

What if I can’t avoid my triggers?

— If you can’t avoid your triggers, talk with your doctor or nurse about what you can do. Exercise is an example of a trigger that you should not avoid, because exercise keeps you healthy. To prevent asthma symptoms when you exercise:

Take an extra dose of your quick-relief inhaler medicine before you exercise
Warm up slowly before each exercise session
Avoid exercising outdoors if it is very cold out

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Sleep DisordersSleepandLungCare

Sleep Apnea

What is sleep apnea?

— Sleep apnea is a condition that makes you stop breathing for short periods while you are asleep. There are 2 types of sleep apnea. One is called “obstructive sleep apnea,” and the other is called “central sleep apnea.” In obstructive sleep apnea, you stop breathing because your throat narrows or closes. In central sleep apnea, you stop breathing because your brain does not send the right signals to your muscles to make you breathe. When people talk about sleep apnea, they are usually referring to obstructive sleep apnea, which is what this article is about. People with sleep apnea do not know that they stop breathing when they are asleep. But they do sometimes wake up startled or gasping for breath. They also often hear from loved ones that they snore.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

— The main symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring, tiredness, and daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms can include:

Restless sleep
Waking up choking or gasping
Morning headaches, dry mouth, or a sore throat
Waking up often to urinate
Waking up feeling unrested or groggy
Trouble thinking clearly or remembering things

Some people with sleep apnea don’t have symptoms, or they don’t know they have them. They might figure that it’s normal to be tired or to snore a lot.

Should I see a doctor or nurse?

— Yes. If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor.

Is there a test for sleep apnea?

— Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects you have sleep apnea, he or she might send you for a “sleep study.” Sleep studies can sometimes be done at home, but they are usually done in a sleep lab. For the study, you spend the night in the lab, and you are hooked up to different machines that monitor your heart rate, breathing, and other body functions. The results of the test will tell your doctor or nurse if you have the disorder.

Is there anything I can do on my own to help my sleep apnea?

— Yes. Here are some things that might help:

Stay off your back when sleeping. (This is not always practical, because people cannot control their position while asleep. Plus, it only helps some people.)
Lose weight, if you are overweight
Avoid alcohol, because it can make sleep apnea worse

How is sleep apnea treated?

— As mentioned above, weight loss can help if you are overweight or obese. But losing weight can be challenging, and it takes time to lose enough weight to help with your sleep apnea. Most people need other treatment while they work on losing weight. The most effective treatment for sleep apnea is a device that keeps your airway open while you sleep. Treatment with this device is called “continuous positive airway pressure,” or CPAP. People getting CPAP wear a face mask at night that keeps them breathing. If your doctor or nurse recommends a CPAP machine, try to be patient about using it. The mask might seem uncomfortable to wear at first, and the machine might seem noisy, but using the machine can really pay off. People with sleep apnea who use a CPAP machine feel more rested and generally feel better. There is also another device that you wear in your mouth called an “oral appliance” or “mandibular advancement device.” It also helps keep your airway open while you sleep. But devices do not work as well as CPAP for treating sleep apnea. In rare cases, when nothing else helps, doctors recommend surgery to keep the airway open. Surgery to do this is not always effective, and even when it is, the problem can come back.

Is sleep apnea dangerous?

— It can be. People with sleep apnea do not get good-quality sleep, so they are often tired and not alert. This puts them at risk for car accidents and other types of accidents. Plus, studies show that people with sleep apnea are more likely than others to have high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other serious heart problems. In people with severe sleep apnea, getting treated (for example, with a CPAP machine) can help prevent some of these problems.

Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

Cough in adults

What is a cough?

— A cough is an important reflex that helps clear out the body’s airways (the trachea and bronchi, which are the tubes that carry air within the lungs). Coughing helps keep people from breathing things into the airways and lungs that could cause problems. It is normal for people to cough once in a while. But sometimes, a cough is a symptom of an illness or condition. Some coughs are called “dry” coughs because they don’t bring up mucus (phlegm). Other coughs are called “wet” or “productive” coughs because they do bring up mucus. Some coughs are mild and don’t cause serious problems. Other coughs are severe and can cause trouble breathing.

What causes a cough?

— In adults, common causes of a cough include:

An infection of the airways or lungs (such as the common cold)
Postnasal drip – Postnasal drip is when mucus from the nose drips down or flows along the back of the throat. Postnasal drip can happen when people have:
- A cold
- Allergies
- A sinus infection – The sinuses are hollow areas in the bones of the face that open into the nose.
Lung conditions, like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – Both of these conditions can make it hard to breathe. COPD is usually caused by smoking.
Acid reflux – Acid reflux is when the acid that is normally in your stomach backs up into your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach).
A side effect of blood pressure medicines called “ACE inhibitors”
Smoking cigarettes

Should I call my doctor or nurse?

— Call your doctor or nurse right away if:

You have trouble breathing or noisy breathing (wheezing).
You have a fever or chest pain.
You cough up blood or yellow or green mucus.
You cough so hard that it makes you vomit.
Your cough gets worse or lasts longer than 10 days.
You have a cough and have lost weight without trying.

Will I need tests?

— Maybe. To figure out the cause of your cough, your doctor or nurse will talk with you and do an exam. Based on your symptoms and other factors, he or she might decide that you need tests. These might include:

A chest X-ray
Breathing tests – Breathing tests involve breathing hard into a tube. These tests show how the lungs are working.
Allergy skin tests to find out what you’re allergic to – For a skin test, the doctor puts a drop of the substance you might be allergic to on your skin and makes a tiny prick in the skin. Then he or she will watch your skin to see if it gets red and bumpy.
A CT scan of your chest or sinuses – A CT scan is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of the body.
Lab tests on a sample of the mucus you cough up
Using a “scope” to look inside your nose, sinuses, airway, or lungs
Tests to check for acid reflux – These usually involve having a thin tube put in your mouth and down into your esophagus.

Is there anything I can do on my own to get rid of my cough?

— Yes. To help get rid of your cough, you can:

Use a humidifier in your bedroom
Use an over-the-counter cough medicine, or suck on cough drops or hard candy
Stop smoking, if you smoke
If you have allergies, avoid the things you are allergic to (like pollen, dust, animals, or mold)

If you have acid reflux, your doctor or nurse will tell you which lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms.

How is a cough treated?

— Treatment depends on the cause of your cough. For example:

Some infections are treated with antibiotic medicines. If an infection is caused by bacteria, doctors can treat it with antibiotics. If an infection is caused by the flu virus, a different medicine might help. If the infection is caused by another virus (such as the common cold), antibiotics will not help.
Postnasal drip is treated with different kinds of medicines that can come as a pill or nasal spray.
Asthma and COPD are usually treated with medicines that people breathe into their lungs (called “inhaler medicines”).
Acid reflux can be treated with medicine to reduce or block stomach acid.
If you have a cough as a side effect from an ACE inhibitor, your doctor can switch your medicine.

If the cause of your cough is not clear, your doctor might prescribe medicine to make your cough less severe. But these medicines have side effects, and doctors usually recommend them only if nothing else has worked.

Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

What is COPD?

COPD is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. In people with COPD, the airways (the branching tubes that carry air within the lungs) become narrow and damaged. This makes people feel out of breath and tired.

COPD can be a serious illness. It cannot be cured and it usually gets worse over time. But there are treatments that can help. You might have heard COPD referred to as “chronic bronchitis” or “emphysema.” These are types of COPD.

Why did I get COPD?

— The most common cause of COPD is smoking. Smoke can damage the lungs forever and cause COPD. People can also get COPD from breathing in toxic fumes or gases. In rare cases, COPD is caused by a genetic problem. A blood test can check for this.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

— At first, COPD often causes no symptoms. As it gets worse it can make you:

Feel short of breath, especially when you are moving around
Wheeze (make a whistling or squeaking noise as you breathe)
Cough and spit up phlegm (mucus)

People who have COPD are also at increased risk for:

Infections, such as pneumonia
Lung cancer
Heart problems

Is there a test for COPD?

— Yes. Your doctor or nurse can give you a test called “spirometry” to check for COPD. During spirometry, you take a deep breath and then blow out as fast and hard as you can into a tube. A machine connected to the tube measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast you can blow. If the results of your spirometry are not normal, you will get a medicine in an inhaler to see if your breathing gets better. Then after a few minutes, you will repeat the spirometry. This will help the doctor or nurse find out if your problem is caused by COPD or another lung problem, such as asthma. People with asthma usually get normal results after they use an inhaler. People with COPD do not.

Will I need other tests?

— Your doctor might order other tests, too. These can check to see if other problems besides COPD might be causing your symptoms. They can also look for some of the problems that COPD can lead to. Tests you might get include:

A blood test for a genetic problem called “antitrypsin deficiency” that can cause COPD.
A chest X-ray
An electrocardiogram (also called an “ECG”) – This test measures the electrical activity in your heart.
A low-dose CT scan – This is an imaging test used to screen for lung cancer. (Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.) Your doctor or nurse might suggest lung cancer screening depending on your age, how much you have smoked in the past, and whether you still smoke.

Is there anything I can do to feel better?

— Yes. Here are 2 important things you should do:

STOP SMOKING! If you smoke, the most important thing you can do for your COPD is to stop smoking. It does not matter how long you have smoked or how much you smoke. Quitting will slow your disease and help you feel better.
Get the flu shot every fall, and the pneumonia vaccine at least once. Infections like the flu and pneumonia can be very hard on your lungs. It’s important to try to prevent them.

How is COPD treated?

— There are 4 main types of treatment for COPD:

Medicines – There are a lot of medicines to treat COPD. Most people use inhalers that help open up their airways or decrease swelling in the airways. Often people need more than one inhaler at a time. You might need to take a steroid medicine in a pill for a flare of COPD. This steroid medicine is not the kind that athletes take to build up muscle.
Oxygen – If the disease gets worse, you might need to use oxygen. Your doctor or nurse can test your blood oxygen to see if you need this.
Pulmonary rehab – In pulmonary rehab, you learn to improve your symptoms in new ways. You learn exercises and ways to breathe that can help ease symptoms. Even if you don’t do a pulmonary rehab program, staying active can help your breathing.
Surgery – Rarely, people with severe COPD will have surgery to remove the most damaged parts of their lung. This surgery can reduce symptoms, but it does not always work.

Respiratory DisordersSleepandLungCare

Asthma in adults

What is asthma?

— Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe. And they can come and go. Sometimes asthma symptoms start all of a sudden. Asthma attacks happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed. Asthma can run in families.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

— Asthma symptoms can include:

- - Wheezing or noisy breathing
  - Coughing

A tight feeling in the chest
Shortness of breath

Symptoms can happen each day, each week, or less often. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Although it is rare, an episode of asthma can sometimes even lead to death.

Is there a test for asthma?

— Yes. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and have you do a breathing test to see how your lungs are working.

How is asthma treated?

— Asthma is treated with different types of medicines. The medicines can be inhalers, liquids, or pills. Your doctor will prescribe medicine based on how often you have symptoms and how serious your symptoms are. Asthma medicines work in 1 of 2 ways:

Quick-relief medicines stop symptoms quickly – in 5 to 15 minutes. Almost everyone with asthma has a quick-relief inhaler that they carry with them. People use these medicines whenever they have asthma symptoms. Most people need these medicines 1 or 2 times a week – or less often. But when asthma symptoms get worse, more doses might be needed. Some people can feel shaky after taking these medicines. A few people also need a machine called a “nebulizer” to breathe in their medicine.
Long-term controller medicines control asthma and prevent future symptoms. People who get asthma symptoms more than 2 times a week need to use a controller medicine 1 or 2 times each day.

It is very important that you take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, exactly how you are supposed to take them. You might have to take medicines a few times a day. You might not feel a medicine working, but that does not mean it is not helping you. Not taking your medicines correctly can cause symptoms to get worse. If your symptoms get much worse all of a sudden, you might even need to go to the hospital for treatment.

What is an asthma action plan?

— An asthma action plan is a list of instructions that tell you:

Which medicines to use each day at home
Which medicines to take if your symptoms get worse
When to get help or call for an ambulance

If you have frequent or severe asthma symptoms, your doctor might suggest that you have an asthma action plan. If so, you and your doctor will work together to make one. As part of your action plan, you might need to use something called a “peak flow meter.” Breathing into this device will show how your lungs are working. Your doctor will show you the right way to use your inhaler and peak flow meter.

Should I see a doctor or nurse?

— Yes. See your doctor or nurse if you have an asthma attack and the symptoms do not improve or get worse after using a quick-relief medicine. If the symptoms are severe, call for an ambulance. If you need asthma medicine every day, you should see your doctor or nurse every 6 months or more often.

Can asthma symptoms be prevented?

— Yes. You can help prevent your asthma symptoms. You can stay away from things that cause your symptoms or make them worse. Doctors call these “triggers.” If you know what your triggers are, avoid them as much as possible. Some common triggers include:

Dust
Mold
Animals, such as dogs and cats
Pollen and plants
Cigarette smoke
Getting sick with a cold or flu (that’s why it’s important to get a flu shot)
Stress

If you can’t avoid certain triggers, talk with your doctor about what you can do. For example, exercise can be good for people with asthma even if it is an asthma trigger. But you might need to take an extra dose of your quick-relief inhaler medicine before you exercise. Find out more

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