She owns Corpus Christi Allergy Associates in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Millions of people in America live with asthma, which can impact their participation in daily life.
Verywell Health: How can asthma impact daily activities?
Zoe Hansen / Verywell
Verywell Health: How can daily living situations impact asthma risk?
Kids who inhale secondhand smoke from parents who are smokers can also be at increased risk for developing asthma.
Verywell Health: How can asthma treatment impact daily life?
Dr. Molina: Treatment of asthma needs a high level of engagement and self-management.
Once you identify those triggers, then your providers can advise you how to avoid or minimize those triggers.
you’ve got the option to also make changes in your daily life to reduce risk.
For parents with children who have asthma, consider your childs daycare setting.
Or if a parent smokes and that smoke triggers their childs asthma, then maybe do something about it.
Verywell Health: How can a persons finances impact access to asthma treatment?
Dr. Molina: Asthma medications are expensiveeach inhaler could cost you a couple of hundred dollars.
As providers, sometimes we have a patient that we think this is the best medicine for you.
On the provider side, you have to be sensitive ofand listen topatients concerns as well.
What is their priority?
Is the cost the priority?
Is it the frequency they have to use?
Verywell Health: How has COVID-19 impacted the cost of asthma treatment?
Dr. Molina: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people lost their jobs and lost their insurance.
And for that reason, they were not able to afford regular, preventative asthma medication.
Now, there are people I have not seen for two years, and they just showed up!
Its like, What happened?
And it was because they ran out of asthma medication.
Some elderly patients said that their kids wouldnt allow them to leave the house.
Verywell Health: Can COVID-19 Impact Asthma Risk?
Dr. Molina: Viral or bacterial infections can increase asthma symptoms, or trigger asthma exacerbation.
COVID-19 is a respiratory tract virus.
So if you get COVID, then your asthma gets worse or triggered.
You could end up with pneumonia or respiratory failure if admitted to the hospital ICU.
Dr. Molina: Seeking out asthma treatment can be overwhelming.
You dont know where to start.
Start from there, and take a stab at ask questions and share your concerns.
Sometimes just doing that can be enough to get you started.
American Lung Association.Asthma trends brief.
2022;176(3):316-318. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5171
