Asthma Prevention
There is no cure for asthma, and no way to prevent it from starting. It can be controlled with the help of consistent medical planning with your WellStar physician. Steps include:
- Create a written asthma action plan (the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers an Asthma Action Plan for a sample)
- Use the medicines that your WellStar physician prescribes
- Identify the things that make your asthma worse
- Have regular checkups for your asthma
Allergies and Asthma
Allergy testing may be helpful in identifying allergens in people with persistent asthma. Common allergens include pet dander, dust mites, cockroach allergens, molds, and pollens. Common respiratory irritants include tobacco smoke, pollution, and fumes from burning wood or gas.
Tests and Screenings for Asthma
When asthma is suspected, your WellStar physician may order a variety of tests:
- Blood tests to measure eosinophil count (a type of white blood cell), IgE (a type of immune system protein called an immunoglobulin) and RAST (a radioimmunoassay test to detect certain types of allergens)
- Spirometry, the most common of the Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), that measures the amount and flow of the air that can be inhaled and exhaled
- A peak flow meter, an inexpensive, portable, handheld device that measures how well the air is moving out of your lungs
- A chest X-ray, to rule out other diseases