4 - Kuwait Oil Company

childhood. Young children whooften wheeze and have respiratoryinfections - as well as certain otherrisk factors - are at highest risk ofdeveloping asthma that continuesbeyond 6 years of age. The otherrisk factors include having allergies,eczema, or parents who haveasthma.Among children, more boys haveasthma than girls. But amongadults, the disease affects menand women equally. It's not clearwhether or how sex and sexhormones play a role in causingasthma. Most, but not all, peoplewho have asthma have allergies.Some people develop asthmabecause of contact with certainchemical irritants or industrialdusts in the workplace. This typeof asthma is called occupationalasthma.What Are the Signs andSymptoms of Asthma?Common signs and symptoms ofasthma include:• Coughing. Coughing from asthmaoften is worse at night or early inthe morning, making it hard tosleep.• Wheezing. Wheezing is awhistling or squeaky sound thatoccurs when you breathe.• Chest tightness. This may feel likesomething is squeezing or sittingon your chest.• Shortness of breath. Some peoplewho have asthma say they can'tcatch their breath or they feel outof breath. You may feel like youcan't get air out of your lungs.Not all people who have asthmahave these symptoms. Likewise,having these symptoms doesn'talways mean that you have asthma.The best way doctors have todiagnose asthma is to use a lungfunction test, ask about medicalhistory (including type andfrequency of symptoms), and do aphysical exam.How Is Asthma Treatedand Controlled?Asthma is a long-term disease thathas no cure. The goal of asthmatreatment is to control the disease.Good asthma control will:• Prevent chronic and troublesomesymptoms, such as coughing andshortness of breath• Reduce your need for quick-reliefmedicines• Help you maintain good lungfunction• Let you maintain your normalactivity level and sleep throughthe night• Prevent asthma attacks that couldresult in an emergency room visitor hospital stayAsthma is treated with two typesof medicines: long-term controland quick-relief medicines. Longtermcontrol medicines help reduceairway inflammation and preventasthma symptoms. Quick-relief, or"rescue," medicines relieve asthmasymptoms that may flare up.Your level of asthma control canvary over time and with changesin your home, school, or workenvironments. These changes canalter how often you're exposed tothe factors that can worsen yourasthma.Your doctor may need to increaseyour medicine if your asthmadoesn't stay under control. Onthe other hand, if your asthma iswell controlled for several months,your doctor may decrease yourmedicine. These adjustmentsto your medicine will help youmaintain the best control possiblewith the least amount of medicinenecessary.Asthma treatment for certain groupsof people—such as children,pregnant women, or those forwhom exercise brings on asthmasymptoms—will be adjusted tomeet their special needs.October - December 2012 45