Your Guide to Allergies, Asthma, COPD: Breathing Survival

1. Your Guide to ALLERGIES ASTHMA COPD

2. Breathing is something we all need to do in order to survive - and thrive. • ALLERGIES • ASTHMA • COPD - • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease …can make something as basic as breathing, a challenge.

3. Allergies Blame Your Immune System It is overreacting to an allergen which the body views as a foreign invader that must be stopped. To fight the invader, the body produces Immunoglobulin E antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing an allergic reaction.

4. Pollen counts are highest in the morning.

5. Seasonal Allergies Spring Summer Fall Grass Weeds Trees

6. HOW TO PREVENT/DIMINISH ALLERGY SYMPTOMS Know before you go! Dust mask & goggles can help Shoes & coats off at the door No clothes-lines

7. Allergens in the home 1. Kick Dust Mites Out of Bed 2. Vacuum Regularly 3. Use Light Window Treatments 4. De-clutter Your Home 5. Protect Your Air

8. Make your bedroom a PET FREE ZONE Fido and Fluffy can make bad allergies worse Give pets their own space in another room

9. Cold or Allergies?

10. ASTHMA Asthma is a chronic (long term) lung disease that causes inflammation and narrows the airways making it difficult to breathe.

11. Asthma affects people of all ages and most often starts in childhood.We don’t know the exact cause of asthma, but research shows it is a combination of genetics and exposure to certain environmental triggers.

13. ASTHMA SYMPTOMS - symptoms are mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with asthma medicine. • Wheezing • Tightness in your chest • Shortness of Breath • Coughing • ASTHMA ATTACK - very serious (can be fatal) and may require emergency care. Treat asthma symptomsto prevent them from getting worse and causing a life threatening asthma attack.

14. Have an Asthma Action plan • KNOW WHEN TO SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE • USE MEDICATIONS CORRECTLY • TRACK SYMPTOMS • REGULAR CHECK UPS

18. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is a lung disease that, over time, makes it hard to breathe. COPD means that the flow of air in and out of the lungs is less than it should be. When that happens less oxygen gets into the body tissues and it becomes harder to get rid of carbon dioxide. As the disease gets worse, it is harder to remain active due to shortness of breath. • Most importantly, COPD can be prevented and • can be treated.

19. COPD – 3rd Leading Cause of Death in the US • Constant cough or “smoker’s cough” • Shortness of breath while doing activities that used to be easy • Excess sputum production • Feeling like you can’t take a deep breath • Wheezing Most COPD patients were smokers at some point in their lives and the toxins from tobacco smoke directly resulted in the development of lung disease. Other things that put you at risk include second-hand smoke, breathing in chemical fumes, dust or, air pollution over a long period of time.

20. Are your lungs trying to tell you something? Only a doctor can diagnose COPD Report to your doctor • Ongoing cough • Shortness of breath • Fatigue • Wheezing

21. Treatment O2 Therapy Take your medicine as prescribed

22. QUIT SMOKING

24. Resources • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1-800-822-2762 www.aaaai.org • American Lung Association 1-800-586-4872 www.lung.org • Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America 1-800-878-4403 www.aafa.org • National Asthma Education & Prevention Program 1-301-592-8573 www/nhlbi.nih.gov/about/naepp • COPD screening tool http://www.drive4copd.org/WhatisDRIVE4COPD.aspx • Virginia Asthma Coalition - http://www.virginiaasthmacoalition.org

25. Questions?

26. Thank you! • Go to www.commonhealth.virginia.gov for more information. • Like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/commonhealthva • Visit DHRM’s website: www.dhrm.virginia.gov to become more familiar with health benefits.