May is asthma and allergy awareness month and millions of people in the United States have asthma, a chronic lifelong disease that affects the lungs. Asthma can cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage it to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes.
Tips to Guide Asthma Sufferers
The Clinical Research Center, located on the campus of Barnes Jewish West County Hospital, has five tips to guide asthma sufferers to successful asthma management:
- Know the warning signs of an attack – excessive coughing at night, trouble sleeping and chest tightness.
- Avoid things that may trigger an attack – this includes tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach allergen, pets, mold, and smoke from burning wood or grass.
- Follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
- Create a personal asthma management plan with your doctor.
- Use your asthma medicine as prescribed.
Using what you know about managing your asthma can give you control over this chronic disease. When you control your asthma, you will breathe easier, be more active, sleep well, stay out of the hospital, and be free from coughing and wheezing.
Help for Asthma and Allergy Symptoms
If you or a loved one are experiencing asthma symptoms or suffering seasonal allergies, contact the Clinical Research Center for a pulmonary function test or allergy testing. Call 314-514-8509 to schedule an appointment.
The Clinical Research Center Location
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Medical Office Building 1
1040 North Mason Road, Suite 112
St. Louis, MO 63141
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