Can asthma or the medications to treat it harm a pregnant woman or her fetus? This might be just one of the many questions going through your head now that you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Dr. Schatz, an asthma and allergy specialist with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, explains what doctors know about asthma and pregnancy. He also tells you what researchers are still trying to find out.
Asthma refers to inflammation (swelling and tightening) in the airways of the lungs. When an asthma attack occurs, it is more difficult for air to pass through the lungs which leads to trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing. Triggers that can cause an asthma attack vary from person to person. Trying to avoid these triggers can reduce the number of asthma attacks. Common triggers include breathing in cold air, cold viruses, allergies to dust, animals, or pollen, strenuous exercise, chemicals, mold, and cigarette smoke. Asthma is often treated with a combination of short acting inhalers for immediate symptom relief and daily medicines to reduce inflammation.
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Kwon HL, Triche EW, Belanger K, Bracken NB (2006) The epidemiology of asthma during pregnancy: prevalence, diagnosis, and symptoms. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 26(1):29-62.
Murphy VE, Gibson PG, Smith R, CliftonVL (2005) Asthma during pregnancy:mechanisms and treatment implications. Eur Respir 25:731-750.
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