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Being the one responsible for getting your asthma symptoms under control can feel overwhelming.
Being the one responsible for getting your asthma symptoms under control can feel overwhelming.But you’re not alone; there are many people available to support you.As a patient, you should expect to receive support from all members of your healthcare team. This may include: your primary care doctor, nurse, respiratory therapist, allergist, or pulmonologist.If you have an urgent question, call them. If your questions can safely wait until your next appointment, be sure to write them down so you don’t forget to ask them.Or, if you have a question about your medications, your pharmacist might be able to help you.“You need to be comfortable and you need to say, hey, this is what's going on and I don't understand. You can't ignore it because if you ignore it, it flares up and really nails you. So I've always had a good communication with my doctors, and I think that has helped me a lot, kept me out of the emergency room a lot.”Your friends and family can help, too. They love you and want to make sure you stay healthy.Let them know what triggers your asthma symptoms, and what they can do to help you avoid them.For example: ask them to avoid using tobacco around you so you aren’t bothered by secondhand smoke.You can also ask to re-schedule outdoor activities on days that aren’t good days for you to be outdoors, such as high-pollen days.And if pets are a trigger, plan activities without the company of furry friends.Look in your community for asthma support groups. Often these groups provide updates on the latest medications and asthma treatments that can benefit you.You can also find support on the Internet.Two reliable sites are the American Lung Association at lung.org and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America at aafa.org.Learning how to manage your asthma and getting it under control can be overwhelming.But through regular communication with members of your healthcare team, and by reaching out for support from your friends and family, you don’t have to do it alone.“Keep going until you find somebody that you have a really good rapport with, because that is going to be-- that is key to you having a good treatment plan is that is also part of the treatment plan. It isn’t just the pills. It isn’t just the inhalers. It isn’t just any of those things. It is having a good rapport with the doctor, as well as everything else after that.”
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