Asthma is nothing to wheeze at. Every year more than 4,000 people die from it. In fact, in the past few years, the death rate from asthma has gone up 23 percent. “The mortality rate increases every year,” says William Ziering, M.D., “which is sad because asthma is a reversible condition. Nobody should die from asthma.” But they do. Why is this phenomenon taking place? “One, patients don’t realize the severity of the condition,” he says. “Other times they let themselves run out of medicine, or they try riding out the serious attack and don’t seek medical attention before it’s too late.”
How do you know when you need help? “Typically, if you realize your asthma is increasing and you begin to use your medicines more frequently than normal,” says Peter Creticos, MD. “For instance, if you were normally taking one or two puffs of your inhaler a week but are now taking three or four or more puffs a day, that’s a good sign that you should see your doctor. Frequency of use of medications is what to watch for,” he says. Also, the experts warn that you should seek immediate medical attention anytime you’re having difficulty breathing.
Use nonaspirin pain relievers.
In medical terms, it’s known as the” aspirin triad,” and it consists of sinusi tis! nasal polyps, asthma, and a sensitivity to aspirin. For some asthmatics, taking aspirin could have life-threatening consequences. “If you have sinusitis and nasal polyps and asthma, I wouldn’t recommend any nonsteroidal antiinflammatory like aspirin or ibuprofen because it could make your asthma worse or even kill you,” says allergist Richard Lockey; M.D., director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, who studied the link. This aspirin sensitivity could just suddenly develop, so it’s best to stay clear of aspirin products altogether, says Dr. Friedlaender. “The problem doesn’t happen when you use acetaminophen,” he says.