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Teen FAQs …about asthma in general
Q: Will I outgrow asthma? A: Some kids will stop having asthma symptoms as often, and it may seem like they have outgrown it. But it isn’t gone, it just isn’t active, and could come back at any time. Other kids will have to deal with asthma throughout their lives. The best thing to do is to get all the help you can. Have regular checkups with your doctor or asthma coordinator to make sure you are getting the right medicines. Keep a positive attitude… with the right treatment, asthma can be something that you rarely have to worry about! Q:
Asthma scares me. Do people really die from it? A:
It is true that people can die from asthma. You may have
heard or read about this in the news recently, but it is rare.
Asthma is a very serious disease, but there is absolutely no
reason for anyone to die from it.
Learning about what triggers your asthma, the early warning signs to look for and how to use your medicine the right way will
help you keep your asthma under control. Having an asthma attack
is a scary thing, but having asthma doesn’t have to be scary.
Talk to your doctor or asthma counselor if you are still
worried about a severe asthma attack. Q:
Is there a cure for asthma? I’ve heard or read about
people who were cured. A:
There is no cure for asthma, though there is a lot of
research being carried out now in the areas of indoor and outdoor
pollution, allergies, gene therapy, cell biology and chemistry,
just to name a few. The results of this work will help us
understand more about why this disease happens, and how we can
control it even better. The people who have claimed to be cured are probably in one of those “quiet times” common in asthma, when there is a lot of time between asthma attacks. They have really not been cured, and their asthma symptoms could come back at any time, especially if they are not taking their asthma medication as they should. If you would like to learn how to separate asthma fact and fiction, click here. Q: I've heard that being overweight can cause asthma. Is that true? A: There have been some studies that have shown a link between obesity and asthma, but there is not enough proof to say that being overweight definitely causes asthma. For more information on obesity and asthma, click here. Q:
Why do I have to take medicines every day? A:
Knowing what happens in your lungs when you have asthma may
help you to understand why you need to keep using medicines every
day, even when you aren’t having trouble with your asthma. The
lining of the airways gets inflamed, or swells, when you have
asthma. The swelling makes the airways smaller so that air
movement is harder. When inflammation happens, extra mucus is made
in the lining of the airways. This mucus can be very thick and
sticky, and may form into plugs. These plugs and narrowed airways
together make it hard to breathe.
Your long-term
controller medicine is the one that works over a long period of
time to help keep the inflammation in your airways down, and stop
them from being so twitchy. This means they’re less likely to
react when you have a cold or are around one of your triggers (but
you should still try to stay away from your triggers). You need to
take your controller every day for it to be effective, usually
first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
…about
steroids A: NOPE. The corticosteroids used in your controller
medicine are different than the anabolic steroids people use to
build large muscles, and work in a different way. The
corticosteroids in your inhaler are a lot like those made
naturally in your body. When you inhale them, they go down in your
airway to get rid of the inflammation that causes asthma symptoms.
You only need a small dose of them because they are working
directly on your lungs. Q: Will I
gain weight by taking inhaled steroids or steroid tablets? A: NOPE. Your
inhaler contains such a low dose of steroids that it will not make
you put on weight. Sometimes steroid tablets can make you feel
hungry, and eating more will make you start to gain weight. The
tablets themselves don’t make you gain, so eat your normal
amounts while you take them and you should be fine. Q: What about side-effects from inhaled steroids or steroid
tablets? A: Your controller inhaler might make you a little hoarse
every now and then, because some of the medicine can stay in your
mouth and throat if you don’t use a valved-holding chamber or
spacer. It’s also a good idea to rinse out your mouth with water
and spit it out after taking your controller inhaler. At the present time, there are many
studies being done on steroids; not only on how they work, but
also on the possible side effects from them.
Steroid tablets give you a higher dose of steroids than
your controller inhaler. You need this higher dose if your asthma
gets really bad. When you only need to take them for a week or so, there are
no serious side effects. You might get a little indigestion or
heartburn, and if you do, tell your doctor.
If your asthma is so serious that you need to be on steroid
tablets for months or years, there can be side effects like weight
gain, thinning of the bones and skin and increased blood pressure.
Before you start long-term treatment with steroid tablets you and
your doctor or asthma counselor should have a talk about the risks
and benefits of this kind of medicine. Q: Will inhaled steroids or steroid tablets stunt my growth? A: Most studies say kids grow normally when they take 400 to
800 mcg/day of Beclomethasone (an inhaled steroid) although higher
doses may cause some trouble. Long term steroid tablet use shows
the most risk for growth problems. Your doctor will keep track of
how you’re growing carefully while you are on these medications,
and may try to step-down this therapy when possible. On the other
hand, having your asthma out of control itself can lead to growth
problems. At the present time, there are many studies being done on
steroids; not only on how they work, but also on the possible
side-effects from them. Talk with your doctor
or asthma counselor about any concerns you have about steroids or
other medications. Q: Am I allowed to use my asthma medicines, including
inhaled steroids or steroid tablets, while participating in team
sports? A: Yes, you don’t need to worry about that. The tests that
are sometimes given to athletes to find out if they use
performance enhancing anabolic steroids do not look for
corticosteroids, the kind of steroids used to treat asthma. There
is no ban on inhaled corticosteroids by the NCAA (National
Collegiate Athletic Association) or the IOC (International Olympic
Committee). However, the IOC does require prior notification if
the athlete is taking steroids for asthma. …about sports A:
Sports and exercise are good for everyone, including people
with asthma. You need to feel confident and enjoy yourself. The
first thing you need to do is talk to your doctor about getting
your asthma under better control. Once you have a plan that keeps
you breathing easy while you play, you’ll feel that confidence
in your game. Remember, there are lots of successful professional
and Olympic athletes that have asthma. …about school Q:
I get teased by my friends at school because of my asthma.
I get embarrassed about having to use my inhaler.
Asthma is ruining my life! A: Those aren’t friends! Friends would not treat you like that. Try explaining to them that their comments and actions really hurt. If they don’t stop, tell a teacher you trust or guidance counselor what’s going on. Try to make new friends who will give you the support you need. Asthma is very common, so you’ll probably find that you are not the only one with asthma in your class. Right now you need to build up your confidence and accept yourself as you are, with or without asthma. |
