One of the most important things to do when you have a disability or chronic illness is to learn as much as you can about it.  The more you know the easier it should be to get a handle on those days when you feel like it is a constant battle and you are not sure you are winning.

Knowing the language or words of COPD/Asthma is a great way to start or to continue to refresh a person’s knowledge of the ins and outs of the lifelong health companion we are dealing with.

Always remember, the more you know the better it will be in dealing with all that is involved with a chronic illness.

We kick these postings discussing the word ‘Acute’.

‘Acute’ is medical terminology for a sudden and normally short-term health condition such as a brief illness or attack.

Those of us who may battle COPD/Asthma, we are already familiar with this word as we most likely have several of what some would call ‘acute’ moments where our breathing was a problem.

‘Acute’ exacerbations are those moments when we develop a worsening of our COPD/Asthma symptoms.  Being ‘acute’ means the coughing, tightness in breathing or SoB (short of breath) will most likely be short lived and will subtly go away within an hour.

If you go searching for the terminology ‘acute exacerbation’ through a medical resource, you most likely will get the definition of ‘a sustained worsening of a patient’s condition, from the stable state and beyond normal day-to-day variations, that is acute in onset and necessitates a change in regular medication for that patient who may be diagnosed with COPD/Asthma’.

Because the symptoms of COPD/Asthma may vary so much from day to day, or maybe even from hour to hour – the definition of ‘acute’ is difficult to pinpoint as we are each different and may have our own concept of what constitutes a worsening of their symptoms.

With COPD/Asthma the word ‘acute’ can become more difficult to define because you add to the mix of symptoms the point that individuals vary from one to another and what may be ‘acute’ for one, may to another be seen as more of a mild or moderate exacerbation.  Remember each of us is different and that means our levels of exacerbations can and will vary.

What we do know is that most ‘acute’ exacerbations or SoB periods are caused by whatever the triggers may be for that individual.  Each of us have different triggers, whether it may be pollen, mold, pet dander, smoke, hair sprays, colognes/perfumes or even the changes in the weather.

Those of us battling COPD/Asthma know that even an ‘acute’ bout with SoB can be scary and stressful which is why it is important to quickly figure out the trigger and deal with it.  This will keep the situation as an ‘acute’ situation and not a more serious, longer term issue requiring health care.

As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out by a reliable physician or pulmonologist.

With that, we bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer)

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

(Information used was gathered from various books and internet sources discussing COPD, Asthma and other lung issues.  Images used, are done so by permission from yahoo.com and/or google.images.com.)