Asthma - 1 - Condition & Symptoms

Possible Action Steps

Together, review key asthma words and terms (triggers, bronchi, mucus, wheezing, allergen, shortness of breath, allergy, airborne irritants, etc)
Discuss health problems and unpleasant asthma-related symptoms the individual is experiencing. Together, make a list of suspected causes/sources (triggers) that bring on wheezing and other breathing problems.
Discuss what it means when people talk about the common triggers for asthma symptoms.
Discuss genetic/family predispositions for asthma. Identify family members/other relatives that have or have had asthma or other lung diseases.
Discuss lifestyle/behavior/work-related risks for asthma.
Together review "What is Asthma?" and "What Causes Asthma" to find out what the individual already knows about asthma and triggers for asthma. Start to become familiar with the more familiar aspects of asthma by reviewing "How the Lungs Work".

Supporting Resources

Possible Action Steps

Work with the individual to be able to understand the basics of asthma so that the individual can explain what it is in one or two sentences.
Discuss the more common triggers for asthma symptoms: weather, exercise, airborne irritants (tobacco or wood smoke, smog/air pollution, insecticides), respiratory infections, emotional situations (stress, humor sadness, etc), allergens (mold, pollen, insect particles and droppings, food, etc).
Together, discuss what lifestyle/behavior risk factors are probably contributing to the individual's asthma and related symptoms. Focus on smoking and obesity.
Discuss whether asthma can be prevented or not.

Supporting Resources

Possible Action Steps

Discuss individual's behavior/lifestyle risk factors for asthma (obesity, tobacco use, exposure to irritants, etc).
Discuss why smoking and exposure to smoke and other airborne particles makes breathing difficult.
Discuss how being overweight or obese impacts lung function and asthma symptoms.
Discuss the tests a doctor can do to assess the individual's breathing, such as administering a spirometry test (measures the amount of air that moves out of the lungs).
Discuss whether the individual has noticed these symptoms of asthma: a cough that is worse at night, coughing up mucous after exercise, difficulty breathing during exercise, seasonal breathing problems, chest tightness, wheezing or having a hard time catching breath.
Discuss the importance of self-monitoring asthma symptoms on a daily basis.
Provide individual with the "Daily Asthma Symptom Diary" to review and start to use one or two days a week.

Supporting Resources