03.7.17: Research on Treatments and Services for Asthma
Through research we found that effective treatment of allergic asthma includes identifying and avoiding allergens that trigger symptoms, using drug therapies and developing an emergency action plan for severe attacks. Most people need two kinds of therapy: quick-relief medicines (like Short-acting inhaled beta2-agonists and Anticholinergics) and long-term control medicines (like Steroids).
Quick-relief medicines are mainly bronchodilators, allowing more air in and out and improving breathing. Long-term control medicines are taken every day to prevent symptoms and attacks.
There’re two types of immunotherapy are available: Allergy shots and sublingual (under the tongue) tablets.
To deal with Asthma, there are 3 essential points:
To identify and avoid allergens that trigger symptoms, the patient needs to be well-informed.
Ways of treatments depend on types of asthma. Patients shouldn’t share treatments without talking to allergists/doctors.
Successful self-care requires the patient to have a strong self-control and be persistent.
Service Dog for Asthma
“If I do get a service dog I would want it to be able to sense when my asthma kicks in and be there with an inhaler, also if when I have a night time asthma attack I want it to be able to wake me up, and if my asthma gets worse to where I’m not able to breath or talk to notify someone that is around me that I need help.”
- Trained service dog can go anywhere (excepting a very few places like sterile operating rooms etc.) no matter what their size.
- Dogs can be trained to react to many medical conditions with training. And do many things such as bring meds/inhaler, call for help with ‘dog phones’ Bring you a phone, water etc.
- The patient needs to decide if s/he is prepared for a service dog life style.
