An asthma attack is the worsening of symptoms which happens very suddenly and results in extreme shortness of breath. It occurs when the airways become inflamed and swollen. This in turn causes the muscles surrounding the airways to contract, the airways to produce extra mucus and the breathing tubes narrow. An asthma attack can be prevented by adopting the following practices:

• Avoiding triggers
• Following the treatment plan laid out by a doctor
• Closely monitoring your condition and knowing the warning signs

Yes, the risk is higher for the following individuals:

• Those with a family history of asthma, especially if their mother has it
• People of African American or Puerto Rican descent
• Young boys
• Teen or adult women
• Those who are obese or suffer with lung infections
• People who have allergies
• Those who work in industries with air pollutants, such as farmers or hairdressers

Asthma triggers are irritants or substances that an individual can be exposed to that cause them to experience asthma symptoms. These include:

• Airborne allergens, such as dust, pet hair, mold spores or pollen
• Physical activity
• Cold air
• Smoke and other air pollutants
• Medications, such as aspirin, beta blockers, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Yes, severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Additionally, severe persistent asthma can be disruptive to an individual’s life with symptoms that limit possible activities they are able to do. The classifications of asthma are:

1. Mild intermittent asthma. This is the mildest kind, characterized by experiencing symptoms less than two times per week with minimal asthma attacks.
2. Mild persistent asthma. This is slightly worse with more frequent symptoms occurring between three and six times per week. Night-time symptoms and asthma attacks are more common but are not impacting activities.
3. Moderate persistent asthma. Similar to mild persistent but asthma attacks do impact activities.
4. Severe persistent asthma. An individual suffers with ongoing symptoms 24 hours a day.

Adopting the following habits can help:

• Avoiding asthma triggers
• Consistently exercising and maintaining a healthy weight
• Engaging in regular breathing exercises and practices such as yoga or acupuncture

Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma and is caused by breathing in allergens. When the airways are sensitive to a specific allergen, it results in the tightening of the muscles around the airways which then become inflamed and filled with thick mucus. Some preventative measures include:

• Avoiding dust mites
• Remaining indoors if high pollen counts are reported
• Keeping indoor humidity under control

The side effects of asthma can have a negative impact on daily live through causing fatigue, weight gain, or mental health issues. It can also lead to time off work or school, hospital visits or even more serious medical conditions, including pneumonia, or respiratory failure.

According to the Government of Canada, “asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Canada” and impacts approximately 3.8 million Canadians.

Seek guidance from a doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed for asthma, especially if you suffer the below:

• Blue or pale face, lips, or fingernails
• Fast or difficult breathing, particularly when talking or walking

There are several lung tests that can be conducted to measure how well your lungs are functioning, these include:

• Exhaled nitric oxide test: designed to measure how much nitric oxide is present in the body as high levels indicate inflammation in the airways
• Methacholine challenge: this involves inhaling the chemical methacholine to see if this narrows the airways
• Peak flow: created to measure how effectively the lungs dispel air.
• Spirometry: the most common test which indicates how much air you can push out and how quickly

After the initial diagnosis, a doctor can help with controlling the impact of asthma, easing the symptoms, and preventing asthma attacks.

Treatments can include:

• Medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids which prevent and reduce swelling in the airways, leukotriene modifiers which block the substance which triggers an asthma attack in the body, long-acting beta-agonists which relax the muscles surrounding the airways, and more.
• Inhalers, such as the combination inhaler which eases the asthma, or rescue inhalers which loosen the muscles surrounding the airways.
• Biologics, this steroid may be provided if you have had a severe asthma attack or your asthma is not responding to medications.

To ensure the physician can provide an accurate asthma medication prescription during your appointment, you can help by noting down any concerns and answers in advance, along with any allergies they should be aware of.

Appointments usually take between five to thirty minutes depending on the individual need. The online doctor will ask for a description of your symptoms. This will allow them to determine the best course of treatment. If necessary, they may recommend a follow-up appointment or a visit to a physical clinic.