Winning Health | Gold Coast Health Plan | Issue 3 | Spring 2019

member services: 1-888-301-1228/TTY 1-888-310-7347 3 Asthma is a lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways and makes it hard to breathe. If you have asthma, it’s important to know how to control it to help prevent asthma attacks. Now is a good time to review the common asthma triggers to see what may be affecting your asthma. The main symptoms of asthma are: ❱  ❱ Coughing. ❱  ❱ Wheezing. ❱  ❱ Tight chest. ❱  ❱ Shortness of breath. Some asthma triggers are: ❱  ❱ Breathing cold air. ❱  ❱ Changes in the weather. What can I do to help prevent diabetes? There are several steps you can take: REDUCE PORTIONS. ❱  ❱ Keep meat portions to about three ounces. ❱  ❱ Drink a glass of water 10 minutes before your meal. ❱  ❱ Eat slowly. MOVE MORE EACH DAY. ❱  ❱ Turn up the music and dance. ❱  ❱ Take the stairs when possible. ❱  ❱ Catch up with friends on a walk instead of by phone. MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES. ❱  ❱ Buy a variety of fruits and vegetables. ❱  ❱ Choose veggies like spinach or peppers for your pizza. ❱  ❱ Buy frozen and low-sodium canned vegetables. They may cost less and keep longer. TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL. ❱  ❱ Take time to change the way you eat and get active. Try one new food or activity a week. ❱  ❱ Find ways to relax. Try deep breathing, taking a walk or listening to your favorite music. ❱  ❱ Pamper yourself. Read a book, take a long bath or meditate. ❱  ❱ Get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Are you a new member of Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP)? If so, you should visit your (or your child’s) assigned doctor, or Primary Care Provider (PCP), within the first 120 days of being a member. This visit is called an Initial Health Assessment (IHA) . For this visit, you or your child do not have to be sick. This visit is important. It is a time for you to talk to your doctor about things you feel they should know. Your doctor will help you understand your medical needs and advise you about the types of health services you may need. Your doctor will also ask you to complete a Staying Healthy Assessment (SHA) form during your first visit. This form can come directly from the doctor’s office. Ask the office staff for a copy of the SHA. You can also visit the GCHP website, goldcoast healthplan.org , to download the age-appropriate form. The SHA form will ask you questions about your (or your child’s) life. The questions will vary depending on your age. There are different forms for different age groups, from infant to adult. The form also comes in different languages. The questions range from asking about how much you exercise to the types of foods you eat. Some questions may seem personal. You may choose not to answer all of them. It is best to answer all of the questions and be honest. It will help your doctor understand your health needs better. To learn more, call GCHP’s Health Education Department at 1-805-437-5607 . ❱  ❱ Colds, and other respiratory infections. ❱  ❱ Dust or dust mites. If you have asthma, you should have an asthma action plan. It can help control your asthma by tracking your treatment plan and the medication you need to take. Talk to your doctor about your action plan. If you do not have an action plan, call your doctor and schedule an appointment. For free health education materials on how to control your asthma, call the GCHP Health Education Department at 1-805-437-5607 . Important assessments for your health Doing Well No cough,wheeze, chest tightness, or shortness of breath during the day or night Can do usual activities And, if a peak flowmeter is used, Peak flow: more than (80 percent ormore ofmy best peak flow) My best peak flow is: Before exercise Take these long-term controlmedicines each day (include an anti-inflammatory). Medicine Howmuch to take When to take it 2 or 4puffs, every 20minutes for up to 1 hour Nebulizer, once Medical Alert! Very short of breath, or Quick-reliefmedicines have not helped, or Cannot do usual activities, or Symptoms are the same or getworse after 24 hours in Yellow Zone -Or- Peak flow: less than (50 percent ofmy best peak flow) Take thismedicine: 4 or 6puffs or Nebulizer (short-acting beta 2 -agonist) mg (oral steroid) Then call your doctorNOW. Go to the hospital or call an ambulance if: You are still in the red zone after 15minutes AND You have not reached your doctor. For: Doctor: Date: Doctor’sPhoneNumber: Hospital/EmergencyDepartmentPhoneNumber: Add: quick-reliefmedicine—and keep taking yourGREENZONEmedicine. If your symptoms (and peak flow, if used) return toGREENZONE after 1 hour of above treatment: Continuemonitoring to be sure you stay in the green zone. -Or- If your symptoms (andpeak flow, ifused)donot return toGREENZONE after 1hourof above treatment: Take: 2 or 4puffs or Nebulizer (short-acting beta 2 -agonist) Add: mg per day For (3–10) days (oral steroid) Call the doctor before/ within hours after taking the oral steroid. Asthma Is Getting Worse Cough,wheeze, chest tightness, or shortness of breath, or Waking at night due to asthma, or Can do some, but not all, usual activities -Or- Peak flow: to (50 to 79 percent ofmy best peak flow) (short-acting beta 2 -agonist) GREENZONE REDZONE YELLOWZONE See the reverse side for things you can do to avoid your asthma triggers. First Second 2 or 4puffs 5minutes before exercise Troublewalking and talking due to shortness of breath Take 4or 6puffs of your quick-reliefmedicineAND Lips or fingernails are blue Go to the hospital or call for an ambulance NOW! (phone) DANGER SIGNS AsthmaAction Plan How to manage asthma