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Asthma

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Bronchial asthma; Exercise-induced asthma

Prevention:

Asthma symptoms can be substantially reduced by avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants. If someone with asthma is sensitive to dust mites, exposure can be reduced by encasing mattresses and pillows in allergen-impermeable covers, removing carpets from bedrooms, and by vacuuming regularly. Exposure to dust mites and mold can be reduced by lowering indoor humidity.

If a person is allergic to an animal that cannot be removed from the home, the animal should be kept out of the patient's bedroom. Filtering material can be placed over the heating outlets to trap animal dander. Exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution, industrial dusts, and irritating fumes should also be avoided.

Allergy desensitization may be helpful in reducing asthma symptoms and medication use, but the size of the benefit compared with other treatments is not known.

References:

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma -- Update on Selected Topics 2002 . Bethesda, MD. 2003 June. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. NIH publications 02-5074.

• Review Date: 10/30/2006
• Reviewed By: Donald Accetta, MD, MPH, President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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