Bee BUZZZY
with Asthma Care!
Then you can you
Bee BUZZZY
with things you enjoy doing…
like running and playing!
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Action #1: Know Asthma
While asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled. Understanding
asthma is the first step to increasing control and having a safe and
active life.
Action #2: Emergency Care
It is important to recognize asthma symptoms early before they become an emergency. Know what to do in an
asthma emergency to treat a life threatening asthma attack.
Action #3: Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) Twice Daily
Regular use of ICS twice daily helps the airways return to normal (airways become less ‘twitchy’
and sensitive) and protects against fatal asthma attacks.
Action #4: Inhalation Technique
All inhaled medications, ICS and quick relief, require the use of correct inhalation technique to deliver these
medications to the lungs for the best medication response and optimal asthma health.
Action #5: Avoid Asthma Triggers (including smoke!)
In addition to taking twice daily ICS (to prevent an asthma episode) it is important to avoid your
asthma triggers.
Action #6: Nose Care (and other health topics)
Taking proper care of the nose is important to keep the nose open and clear. Keeping the nose healthy (and the
rest of the body too) can help reduce asthma symptoms and problems in the lungs.
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Action #7: Recognizing and Checking Breathing
Paying attention to breathing patterns will help you recognize when asthma is changing. Recognizing
breathing patterns will help you and your healthcare provider know how to adjust the treatment plan to achieve
and maintain well controlled asthma.
When you breathe air moves in and out of your
lungs. Asthma can make airways swell and
restrict airflow in and out of the lungs,
making it hard to breathe.
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People with asthma have
sensitive or “twitchy” airways.
When exposed to certain
“triggers” (e.g. cigarette
smoke or cold air), your
airways narrow making it hard
for you to breathe (cough,
wheeze, feel short of breath,
or chest feels tight).
If not wellcontrolled,
asthma can
become very
serious and
even lifethreatening!
You must
have a plan
for your
asthma care!
Do you know what an asthma emergency looks like? What would
you do if one happens to you or a friend? Are you coughing and
wheezing? Are you having trouble talking? Are you starting to
turn blue or gray around your lips or fingertips?
Safety tip!
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If you are experiencing an asthma
emergency you should take 6 puffs of
your quick relief inhaler (albuterol)
with your spacer. Then call 911 or head
to the emergency room. If you are not
receiving emergency care in 20
minutes, take 6 more puffs of your
albuterol with a spacer (valved holding
chamber). Always make sure to stay
with an adult who can help you! You
never want to be alone when you are
having trouble breathing!
Remember!
In an emergency take 6
puffs of your albuterol with
your spacer. Then call 911
or go to the ER!
Why ICS?!?!
You should be taking an asthma control medicine if you have
asthma symptoms more than 2 days a week or 2 nights a month,
or flare-ups of coughing, wheezing, or hard breathing that
required sick visits to the clinic or hospital. Control medicines
protect you from having asthma problems in the future. The best
asthma control medicine to use is inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the only
type of asthma medication shown to lower
the risk of life-threatening asthma attacks.
Taking ICS twice daily is important for
avoiding worsening symptoms.
Do not stop taking your ICS without talking
to your doctor, even if you feel better!
People do NOT usually “grow out of” asthma, so most
people will need to take an ICS for months or years to
control and prevent asthma symptoms. You will want to
see your doctor regularly to find out exactly what your
asthma needs are. Your medicine can be changed from
month to month by your doctor so your asthma will be
well-controlled.
CRUSH asthma by taking your ICS twice everyday! 5
ICS treat airway swelling and sensitivity, making breathing problems better so you don’t have to use your quick relief
medicines as often. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) will not provide quick relief for asthma symptoms. The benefit of
ICS comes gradually, usually after about 1 to 2 weeks, although sometimes longer. In order for this medicine to work
it must be taken two times everyday—even when you feel great! If you miss doses your ICS will not work as well and
your asthma will probably get worse. After breathing an ICS into your lungs everyday for 3-4 weeks you should
notice your breathing is much easier. Keep taking it so you can keep breathing easier! If you get a cold or illness, you
may need more ICS until you are better—your parents should talk to your doctor about this.
Breathing in your medicine the right way every
time is very important. If you breathe in your
medicine the wrong way then the medicine will be
wasted and can’t help your asthma much. The key
to breathing in your medicine the right way every
time is your target time. Your target time is
unique to you—it is how long it will take you to fill
up your lungs completely.
Breathing in your medicine for exactly
YOUR TARGET TIME
is the WINNING TIME!
Target time only works if you gently and
completely empty your lungs of old air before
each dose. Ask your parent or nurse to help you
breathe in your medicine correctly by coaching you.
Check yourself to be sure you reach your target
time for breathing in your medicine.
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Volatile organic
compounds are organic
chemicals that have a high
vapor pressure at room
temperature. They can
cause SEVERE AND LIFE
THREATENING ASTHMA
ATTACKS. Avoid inhaling
these fumes into your
lungs!
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Pollen can be from trees,
Sign up for allergy
grasses, and weeds. This is
email updates in your
a fairly common allergen
area at aaaai.org.
and can bother a lot of
This will help you take
people. Pollen levels are
action early to help
different for the different
prevent symptoms.
plants depending on the
time of year. Your health
care provider may be able to
help you find out what type of
pollen bothers you the most.
When pollen levels are high,
try to use the air conditioning
instead of opening the
windows because you don't
want all the pollen to come
inside your house! Do you
know when pollen levels are
lowest? Right after a rain!
Pollen can start being a
problem way before you think.
Did you know tree pollen can
be high at the end of February!
Dust mites are little bugs living in your
carpets, bedding, curtains, and in indoor
dust. They are so TINY you can only see
them with a microscope! A lot of
people are allergic to dust mites! If you
are allergic you may have more problems
with your lungs or nose at night!
To help prevent dust mites you should:
• Wash your sheets in HOT water at least
once a week.
• Use dust mite protectors on your pillows and mattress (see picture below).
• Wash your curtains or clean your blinds
so they don't get too dusty!
• Do not use a humidifier in your
bedroom. If your air is too dry place
the humidifier in the middle of the
house or by the heat source.
•
•
•
•
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Mold and mildew grow in
damp places, including
bathrooms and basements.
If you see mold or mildew you
should clean it up with soap
and water as soon as possible.
To prevent mold
and mildew in the
bathroom, you
should run the
exhaust fan while
you are in the
shower or bath.
You can also open
a window in the
bathroom. This allows the
moist air to get out of the
bathroom.
Try not to use humidifiers or
vaporizers. These put
too much moisture into
the air and promote
mold, mildew, and
dust mite growth.
If you are around an animal with
fur or feathers you want to make
sure to wash your hands and not
get the fur in your face! Also,
make sure you take a bath or
shower before you go to bed after
being around animals!
Animals that cause allergies usually have fur or feathers. If
you have allergies and want a pet, think about getting a fish!
If you have cats or
dogs at home you
want to make sure
they have their own
bed to sleep in-your
lungs and nose will
not be happy if you
share a bed with a
furry critter!
These animals can have dander that floats in the air and
sticks to the carpet, bedding, and furniture. The dander
can make it hard for you to breathe, make your nose
stuffy or runny, or make you have itchy watery eyes!
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Cockroaches are a common
household pest, usually found in
the kitchen or areas where you like
to snack! To prevent cockroaches,
you want to make sure to take your
kitchen trash out at least once a
week. Make sure you don’t leave
crumbs or tasty snacks around for
critters! They love to
eat your leftovers!
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If you see cockroaches in your
house you should use baits to
catch them and get rid of the little
guys! You want to make sure you
never use bug sprays because the
fumes can make it hard for you to
breathe!
Smoke , especially tobacco smoke can
bother your lungs and make it hard for
you to breathe! If you are around smoke
you might start having problems
breathing right away! You could also
have a reaction several hours later. You
should NEVER be around smoke! If you
have family or friends who smoke you
should make sure they never smoke in
your house or in the car!
Why Quit Smoking?
For your health! Smoking is the most common cause of preventable
death and disease.
• After you stop smoking your body will begin to heal itself. Your
blood pressure will decrease and your sense of taste will return!
For your kids! ALL parents can protect their children from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Second
hand smoke can cause your child to be at a greater risk for asthma, pneumonia, ear infections, and
sinus infections. Pregnant women who smoke are at a higher risk for having their baby early and with
a low birth weight. This puts the baby at risk for many complications.
PROTECT your child from tobacco smoke. Make your home and car smoke-free. Until you can quit,
choose to smoke outside.
•
•
•
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Tips on quitting!
•
•
•
Be prepared! What day are you
going to go smoke free? What are
you going to do to avoid cigarettes?
Who is going to support you?
Gain Support! Tell your family and
friends you are going to quit
smoking. Having support from others
can make the process a little easier!
Establish new behaviors! When you have a craving for a
cigarette try something new! Try to exercise, chew gum,
drink more water, or play a game with your kids!
Who can help?
•
•
•
•
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Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW
Contact your local public
health department to check
for available programs
Contact your health care
provider for assistance
Visit www.smokefree.gov
Keeping the nose open and clear is an important part of taking care your asthma. The nose is the filter to the lungs
and helps to trap or filter out infections, smoke, mold spores, animal dander and other stuff carried in the air we
breathe. If your nose is stuffy, you will likely breathe in through your mouth and not filter or humidify your air,
making your asthma worse. Breathing in the triggers can make the lining of the nose become swollen and make you
feel like you have a stuffy nose. This can make you cough more, especially when you lay down. People with asthma
often have trouble with nasal congestion and sinus infections. To help with this you should rinse your nose with
hypertonic salt water (this solution is salty like the ocean)!
Hypertonic Solution
Options (choose one):
1) Use premixed saline
1) Cleans junk out of your nose. When you rinse
packets—be sure to read
with hypertonic salt water, you wash crusts,
package instructions to
thick mucus, and other stuff from the nose
make hypertonic solution
and sinus openings.
2) Make your own: Mix 2-3
2) Make your stuffy nose better. Salty water
heaping teaspoons of
pulls fluids out of swollen areas and makes
pickling salt, canning salt,
your air flow better. This makes breathing
kosher salt or sea salt
easier because it helps open the sinus
(NOT table salt-too
passages.
many additives) with 1
3) Hypertonic saline helps the parts of the nose
teaspoon of baking soda
to move mucous out faster.
and 1 quart of clean
warm water. After one
It can be difficult getting used to flushing your
week, pour out any
nose with hypertonic saline and it takes practice. Before you know it you will be a pro
mixture that is left and
and feel a lot better because your nose will not be as stuffy! Just start slowly and
make a new batch.
stick with it every day—even when you don’t want to and try not to get frustrated.
Why use hypertonic salt water?
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Remember, practice makes perfect!
If you practice over and over and just can’t get it, you can try using a hypertonic nasal mist instead. However, hypertonic
nasal washes are the best way to clear your nose, so try to keep practicing so you can eventually use hypertonic nasal washes.
If you are using your hypertonic salt water and still having nose problems, your doctor may also want you to use
antihistamines for about one week. These are special medicines that help with a stuffy nose and make itching, sneezing, runny
noses and watery eyes better. If none of these things help, then your parents should make an appointment to see your doctor so
they can check for infections, allergy, or acid reflux.
The “Nose Blow Test” can help you know how your nose is doing: Hold one nostril closed and blow through the other. If it
is hard to breathe through that nostril it is not clear. Check both nostrils.
How to use your
hypertonic salt water:
1. Start with lukewarm
hypertonic saline in the
bottle.
2. Stand up and lean forward
over the bathroom sink
3. Blow out the nose before
squeezing the bottle.
4. Gently squeeze the bottle so
a stream goes in one nostril
and out the other.
5. Great job!
6. Now, repeat this for each
nostril.
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The recommended hypertonic saline solutions are below, available over-the-counter,
for children. Proper nose care leads to healthier kids!
Make sure the solution is hypertonic to be most effective.
Read the bottle for information on how to mix.
Make sure you are washing your hands before you
eat, after you use the bathroom, if you have been
around some one who is sick, and if you have been
running errands. Washing you hands is an important
step for staying healthy and keeping your
asthma in control!
Also, remember to eat lots of fruits and veggies!
Eating healthy can help you asthma stay in
control and help keep you from getting sick! Eating
fruits and vegetables will help reduce inflammation
and help you breathe easier!
Part of staying healthy means trying to prevent getting the influenza virus. Every
fall you should get the ’flu shot’ from your health care provider or school nurse.
Remember, you always need to get the shot NOT the mist! The mist could make
someone with asthma become sick!
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Paying attention and seeing that your asthma is
changing can help you take action quickly to stop
an asthma episode. Tell your parents if you notice
things just aren’t right with your breathing and
check your peak flow. Check your peak flow first
thing in the morning before you take your medicine
and at any other time when you think your breathing
is hard. Checking a peak flow when breathing isn’t
right is like checking a temperature when you are
sick—it’s very important! Doing this can help you
see if you need emergency care. Remember to
write your peak flow number and asthma
symptoms in your diary. If your peak flow
number begins to fall below where it usually is,
follow your asthma action plan.
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This certificate is awarded to
Patient Name
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU Have Now
BEEcome
Asthma Ready!
Health Care Provider Signature
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Date
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
CONTACT INFORMATION:
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