Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, the passageways that allow air to enter and leave your lungs.
There are two types of asthma:
Allergic. This type is triggered by exposure to an allergen, such as mold or pet dander.
Non-allergic. This is brought on by factors such as stress, exercise, illness, extreme weather, irritants in the air and certain medications.
As a chronic condition, asthma is something you’ll have to manage regularly. With the help of a physician, many people with asthma manage the condition well and live healthy and productive lives.
New Jersey Law requires students with asthma to have an Asthma Treatment Plan on file with the School Nurse
The Asthma Action Plan that our district uses has recently changed. Please click on the images to the left to access the new plan, from the American Lung Association, in English or Spanish
Your Asthma Treatment Plan tells you:
What medicine to take
How much medicine to take
When to take your medicine
What to do in an emergency
In order for students to carry their own inhalers in school, your Health Care Provider must check off approval towards the bottom of the Asthma Treatment Plan under Red Zone
Use a QR reader to scan the code below to access How-To Videos regarding proper techniques when using Asthma medications
A trigger is something that provokes a response from your body. In the case of asthma, your body sees these triggers as a threat and releases chemicals to combat them – and these chemicals, in turn, can cause an asthma attack.
Different things can act as triggers for different people, but common asthma triggers include:
The best way to handle an asthma attack is to be prepared. Your physician can help you create an asthma action plan (see above), which can include specific steps to prevent and manage an asthma attack.
If an attack does occur, stay calm and use the medications your physician has prescribed. These are typically administered with an inhaler.
Seek medical treatment if your coughing or shortness of breath persists or seems to get worse.