Treating Asthma inPregnancy If you are
pregnant, it isvery important to both you and your baby to control your asthma. If
you are
pregnant orthinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about your asthma and howto have a healthy pregnancy. If exercise brings on your asthma
symptoms, talkto your doctor about the best ways to control your asthma when you are active. If you use your asthmamedicines as directed, you should be able to take part in any physical activityor sport you choose. Can Asthma BePrevented? We don't yet know how toprevent asthma, but there are some things that can lower yourTo prevent asthma symptoms: Learn about your asthma and how tocontrol it. Use medicines as directed by yourdoctor to prevent or stop attacks. Follow your asthma self-management plan.Scientists do not yet knowhow to prevent the inflammation of the airways that leads to asthma. LivingWith Asthma If you have asthma, it isimportant to learn how to take care of yourself. Learn to use your medicationcorrectly. Ask your doctor to teach you how to use your inhaler. You need to know whatthings bring on your asthma symptoms. Use your peak flow meter asdirected to monitor your asthma. The following are some signs that your asthma isgetting worse: You have asthma symptoms more oftenthan usual. Your asthma symptoms are worse thanthey used to be. Your asthma symptoms are botheringyou a lot at night and making you lose sleep. You are missing school or workbecause of your asthma. Your asthma medicines do not seem tobe working very well anymore. You have to go to the emergency roomor doctor because of an asthma attack. You end up in the hospital because ofyour asthma. If your asthma seems to begetting worse, see your doctor. You may need to change your medicines or doother things to get your asthma under control. You can help your child withasthma keep it under control. Make sure your child has an asthmaself-management plan and that you know how to follow it. Help your child learnabout asthma and how to control it. Help your child learn what things cause hisor her asthma symptoms and how to avoid them, if possible. In asthma, theinside walls of your airways are inflamed, or swollen. Controlling it meansworking closely with your doctor to learn how to manage your condition, stayingaway from things that bother your airways and bring on asthma symptoms, takingmedicines as directed by your doctor, and monitoring your asthma so you canrespond quickly to signs of an attack. Asthma is treated with two kinds ofmedicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term controlmedicines to prevent symptoms. Most asthma medicines are inhaled. It isimportant to learn how to use your inhalers correctly. It is especiallyimportant for pregnant women with asthma to control their asthma. Uncontrolledasthma can limit the supply of oxygen to the fetus. If exercise brings on yourasthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about the best ways to control your asthmawhen you are active