GP advice for living with asthma in Sotogrande

Living with asthma can be very challenging. Maybe some days it's difficult to keep it under control, but generally you should be able to sleep through the night, exercise or complete your daily routines without using a quick-relief medication or using it on a minimal basis. Take a look over the following GP advice for living with asthma in Sotogrande.

What are the triggers for asthma?

The two main types of asthma triggers are irritants and allergens. Irritants affects the airways, while allergens cause reactions such as sneezing, watery eyes, sneezing or a runny nose.

Asthma triggers differ from person to person, and each individual shold know what triggers their own asthma so that they can avoid them. Some common triggers include:

Irritants: air pollution,strong odors, smoke, extremely hot or cold weather
Allergens: dust, pollen, animals with fur or feathers, mold, rodents and cockroaches
Additional triggers: respiratory infections, stress, exercise, strong emotions that cause changes in breathing patterns

It is important to learn which irritants and allergens trigger your asthma so that you can avoid those triggers and manage your asthma. If you still don't know what triggers your asthma, you should not hesitate to contact us for our GP advice for living with asthma in Sotogrande.

What is an asthma action plan?

Having an asthma action plan is imperative for anyone with asthma. This is a written document you complete with your healthcare provider where you outline the steps to prevent or manage an asthma episode. It should include:

which drugs to use
what actions to take when you or your child is having asthma symptoms or a low peak flow reading
how to spot an asthma attack quick
when to seek emergency care
emergency contact information

In order to get a proper action plan for your asthma, do not hesitate to contact us for our GP advice for living with asthma in Sotogrande.

What is an asthma episode?

Even with proper asthma management, your asthma may still flare up from time to time. When asthma flares up it is called an asthma episode or sometimes an asthma attack.

An episode can occur when a person with asthma is exposed to a trigger and shows one of the flare-up warning signs. These can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Follow your asthma action plan to relieve your symptoms. If they have not improved in 10-15 minutes, pay close attention for signs of an asthma emergency.