A survey of 253 Ontarians with asthma showed that respondents had difficulty making basic decisions about how to manage their asthma, according to researcher Lisa Cicutto, RN, PhD. Cicutto, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Toronto, presented the findings last week at Better Breathing, the Ontario Lung Association conference. Asthma is a chronic disease in which people have difficulty breathing because the lung's airways become narrowed due to inflammation. Signs of an asthma attack are shortness of breath, wheezing, and persistent coughing. Common causes of the underlying inflammation include infections, animal dander, and other allergens like pollen.
Some people find cold weather or exercise can worsen the condition.
In particular, knowing when to use their inhaled corticosteroids was a challenge, said Cicutto. These inhalers help reduce inflammation in the lungs. An inhaler should last longer than 24 weeks, but most used up their inhalers in a shorter time period, she said. Respondents also cited difficulty in knowing when to adjust the dose of inhaled corticosteroids, she said. For instance, they didn't know if they should decrease the dose if their asthma was in control, or increase the dose if they were in trouble, she says.