Are You Newly Diagnosed With Asthma As An Adult? 3 Tips To Create An Effective Asthma Care Plan
Posted on: 26 April 2019
People sometimes think of asthma as being something that occurs during childhood. However, you can develop asthma symptoms at any point in your life, especially when they are related to allergies. Moving to a new location, aging, and engaging in new work activities are all potential times when you may develop new allergies. Now that you've got your diagnosis, you can use these tips to begin to put together a plan that helps you get the most out of your asthma care services.
Start Tracking Your Symptoms
You are your biggest advocate when it comes to your health. When you first begin to receive asthma care services, you may need to tweak your health plan as you find out what works. But first, you must know what helps and what doesn't. Grab a notebook or use a smartphone app to begin tracking your symptoms. For instance, you may notice that your asthma symptoms are worse in the morning or at night. You may also notice certain side effects from your medications that should be mentioned to your physician. Once you have a log of your health symptoms, you can share them with the specialist when you go for allergy services so that they can use the information to help identify what triggers your asthma.
Keep All of Your Health Care Providers Up-to-Date
With asthma services, you may have a team of health care providers that all assist with your care. For instance, you may have a pulmonologist who helps you get the worst of your asthma symptoms under control. You will also likely work with an allergist that can perform tests and prescribe medications to help reduce your symptoms. They may also recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your exposure to allergens. Your general health practitioner also needs to know about your asthma diagnosis. Be sure to let each member of your team know about changes to your health or the plan so that they can adjust their recommendations accordingly.
Follow Up as Your Needs Change
With a new asthma diagnosis, you can expect your symptoms to change over time. Sometimes, these changes are related to seasonal weather. For instance, you may notice your symptoms get worse in the spring if pollen is an allergen that triggers your symptoms. Make sure to keep your asthma treatment plan dynamic so that you can continue to improve how you feel.
With every new health diagnosis, it is important to remember that following your treatment plan is the key to success. Remember to use your maintenance medications as they are prescribed, and make sure the that you know how to use your rescue inhaler. Then, continue to manage your allergy symptoms so that you can get the most from your asthma treatments.
Share