Lung Health Part II Focus on Asthma

1. Kathy Riches, nurse Montreal Chest Institute McGill University Health Centre March 8, 2011 Lung Health Part IIFocus on Asthma

2. Outline • how we breathe • lung conditions • colds & flu • focus on asthma • living with chronic lung conditions • healthy lungs

3. How We Breathe • breathe in through nose and mouth • air travels in airway tubes (bronchi) • blood takes oxygen from the air • breathe air out through nose and mouth

4. What Can Happen in Lungs • swelling in breathing tubes • muscle around tubes tighten • tubes become narrow • damage to end of tubes where blood picks up oxygen from air

5. Lung Conditions Asthma Pneumonia Bronchitis COPD Emphysema Chronic bronchitis Colds & Flu

6. Smoking and Lung Health • 1 in 5 people in Quebec smoke • 2nd hand smoke is also dangerous • major trigger of asthma • main cause of COPD YOU CAN QUIT!

7. Flu sore throat cough fever over 38°C headache muscle aches and pains want to stay in bed feel very tired Colds vs. Flu Colds • sore throat • cough • no fever; normal 37°C • runny/blocked nose • able to go about your day

8. Lungs and the Flu • the flu can make people with lung conditions very sick • get your flu shot every November to prevent it • you can not get the flu from the shot

9. Asthma in Canada • over 2 million Canadians have asthma • 500 deaths each year… most could have been prevented • main reason kids miss school

10. Asthma Facts • starts at any age • may run in the family • not contagious • no cure but it can be controlled Many famous people and Olympic athletes have asthma!

11. What You Feel • cough • mucus • chest tightness • wheezing • hard to breathe These are “symptoms” of asthma

12. What Happens in Asthma • swelling inside breathing tubes • mucus inside tubes • muscles tighten around tubes • tubes narrowed Asthma “triggers” cause these reactions

13. Asthma Triggers pollution smoke allergies exercise weather odours irritants colds infections viruses emotions

14. When to see the Nurse or Doctor During normal activities • you feel out of breath • cough • wheeze • have tightness in chest

15. How Asthma is Diagnosed • breathing test • listening to your story • listening to your lungs • checking how you feel after taking asthma medication

16. Asthma Medication Controllers • bring down swelling and mucus • work only if taken regularly • do not act quickly anti-inflammatory medication

17. Asthma Medication Relievers • work quickly to relax tightening of tubes • take only as needed • always keep reliever with you! bronchodilator medication

18. Asthma Medication • ask your nurse, doctor or pharmacist to check how you take your inhalers • be honest about how often you take your medication

19. Asthma and Pregnancy • asthma can get worse, better or stay the same during pregnancy • woman breathes for the baby! • some asthma medication is safe to take

20. Working and Asthma cleaning products allergies dust chemicals smoke/odours stress travel flour dust

21. Asthma and Exercise family fun outside indoor activities exercise can be free! relaxing

22. Living with Asthma • avoid triggers • take medication as prescribed • see health care provider regularly • know what to do if your symptoms worsen

23. Healthy Lungs NO SMOKING help cut down on pollution open or close windows keep active! wash hands wear mask clean & tidy up

24. Lung Association 1-888-768-6669 www.pq.lung.ca J’ARRÊTE – Stop Smoking 1-866-527-7383 www.jarrete.qc.ca Asthma Society of Canada 1-866-787-4050 www.asthma.ca Info Santé 811 www.infogrippe.gouv.qc.ca More Information