But just as important are the questions you have for her, says Lynda M. Cristiano, MD, a specialist in women’s lung health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and coauthor of The Harvard Medical School Guide to Taking Control of Asthma. “Appointment times are limited and asthma care is often about fine-tuning, so it’s crucial that you bring the right questions—and the appropriate information—to the exam table,” she says. Be sure to ask these questions at your next visit:
“Can you help me identify my asthma triggers?”
Asthma attacks can be sparked by secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, cockroaches, warm-blooded pets (such as dogs and cats), and the nitrogen dioxide emissions from gas and oil heaters and woodstoves. Your doctor will ask you questions that can help identify what sets off your asthma flare-ups. “But it’s much more efficient and effective for the patient to play detective—to keep a journal of symptoms and exposures, such as what you ate, weather conditions, whether you exercised—and then discuss your specific findings with your doctor,” says Cristiano. One often overlooked trigger: the menstrual cycle. “Up to 30% of women experience worsening of asthma symptoms around the time of their period,” says Cristiano. The phenomenon is called perimenstrual asthma and is thought to be associated with monthly shifts in hormone levels. “It’s unclear how hormones affect the airway, but they could be behind the fact that after puberty, more women than men are hospitalized for asthma, and that some hormonal states like pregnancy can affect asthma severity.” If you suspect you have perimenstrual asthma, talk with your doctor about altering your medical regimen during your cycle—for instance, stepping up your medication during the time in which you typically experience an uptick in symptoms.
“Am I taking my meds correctly?”
Sound like a stupid question? “It’s actually an incredibly smart one,” says Cristiano. Inhalers, for example, need to deliver medicine to the bronchial tubes to be effective. If you don’t know how to use one properly, the drugs may get no farther than your mouth. She recommends asking your doc to physically show you how to use an inhaler—even if you’ve had it for a long time.
“Is there a way to improve my treatment?”
Your current strategy may be working, but perhaps it could be better. “Attention to detail makes all the difference with asthma management,” says Cristiano. “You need to get the right diagnosis, follow the right regimen, avoid triggers, and—just as important as the previous three—work closely and consistently with your asthma care specialist to refine your therapies.” You should review your approach with your specialist at every visit. “We now have many medicines in our arsenal to treat this disease,” says Cristiano. “If your current regimen is cumbersome in any way, it deserves a once-over by your physician.” At your next checkup, for example, talk about a plan for winter weather, when cold outdoor air can dry out your airways, setting the stage for an asthma attack. Your doctor may suggest that you always wear a scarf over your mouth when outdoors (to keep the air you breathe warm and moist) and keep your inhaler handy if you’re in the elements for more than a few minutes. More from Prevention: 9 Tips For Exercising With Asthma
