Welcome my asthma people! You made it to the best asthma blog entry ever. Well, to start off, let me explain what asthma is. Asthma is the swelling, tightening, and mucus production of your lung’s airways, known as bronchioles. These airways are sensitive to allergens and irritants which trigger them to become inflamed (swollen), constricted (tightened), and mucus-filled. The swelling, tightening, and mucus production make it very difficult for air to move through your airways to your lungs, and then to the rest of your body.

You know that you have asthma when your chest feels tight and you feel like you can’t breathe. NO, you’re not dying when this happens, you just need to find your handy dandy inhaler and take two puffs for quick relief.

I was told I had asthma from the time I popped out of my mother’s womb, and I’ve been hospitalized for my asthma. To prevent hospitalization, you need to make sure that you take your daily medicine (also known as your controller inhaler). The hospital is not a place you want to be. In the hospital you have no privacy – you share a room with a stranger and you can’t even take a real shower. So, to make sure I never have to go back to the hospital, I take my medicine morning and night, exercise, eat right, and make sure I am dressed properly for the weather (when the air is cold and the temperature is 60º or lower, I wear a jacket).

Another important thing is that asthma is one tricky pain in the butt. You may feel fine for a week or two and think “Oh man my asthma is cured”. Well, wrong! Asthma is like a “pop quiz”, it’s not there but you know it’s coming, and when it does you get really scared. So, in order for this not to happen to you, you must be prepared by having your inhaler and spacer with you at all times. In addition, don’t use asthma as a crutch. Don’t be afraid to get out there and be active – play basketball, tennis, softball, soccer, or even run track. Just try one of them! It won’t kill you, it will make you stronger. I hope you find my advice helpful. Please be sure to post your comments and questions.

-Mina