Asthma (Adult)

Asthma is a disease in which the medium and small air passages in the lungs go into spasm. This limits air flow. Inflammation and swelling of the airways cause more blockage. During an acute asthma attack, these things cause wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing, and chest tightness.

An asthma attack can be set off by many things. Common triggers include infections, such as the common cold, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Irritants, such as smoke or pollutants in the air, very cold air, strong emotions, and exercise, can also set off an attack. In many adults with asthma, allergies to dust, mold, pollen, and animal dander can cause an asthma attack. Skipping doses of daily asthma medicine can also bring on an asthma attack.

Asthma can be controlled using the correct medicines prescribed by your doctor. You can also control it by staying away from known triggers including allergens and irritants.

• Take prescribed medicine exactly as advised. Ask your health care team for help if you have questions about how to use your inhaler or nebulizer.
• Call your doctor or get medical care right away if you need quick-relief medicine, such as from an inhaler or aerosol breathing machine (nebulizer), more often than prescribed.
• If you are prescribed an antibiotic or the steroid prednisone, take all of the medicine as prescribed. Keep taking it even if you are feeling better after a few days.
• Don’t smoke or vape. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about quit programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good. And don't let anyone smoke or vape in your home, in your car, or around you.
• Some people with asthma find their symptoms get worse when they take aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or fever-reducing medicines, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Talk with your doctor if you think this may apply to you.
• Stay away from your asthma triggers.

Follow up with your doctor, or as advised. Always bring all of your current medicines to any appointments with your doctor. Also bring a complete list of medicines, even those you take for other conditions.

Bring your Asthma Action Plan to all appointments. If you don't have one, talk with your doctor about making your own Asthma Action Plan.

Stay up-to-date on vaccines, including the COVID-19, pertussis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and pneumonia vaccines. Ask your doctor about this.

Contact your doctor right away if:

• You have more wheezing or shortness of breath.
• Your asthma symptoms are waking you up at night.
• You need to use your quick-relief inhaler more often than normal without relief.
• You have a fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.
• You cough up lots of dark-colored or bloody sputum (mucus).
• You have chest pain with each breath.
• You use a peak flow meter as part of an Asthma Action Plan, and you are still in the yellow zone (50% to 79% of personal best) 15 minutes after using quick-relief inhaler medicine.

Call 911 right away if:

• You have trouble walking or talking because you're short of breath.
• You use a peak flow meter as part of an Asthma Action Plan, and you are still in the red zone (less than 50% of personal best) 15 minutes after using quick-relief inhaler medicine.
• Your lips or fingernails turn gray, purple, or blue.
• You feel faint or lose consciousness.