Asthma Attacks on waking

Are there any strategies for preventing asthma attacks upon waking. At the moment I seem to be having what feel like panic attacks which quickly turn into asthma attacks.

Occupational Asthma, Worker, 2/20/2006, 2/20/2006,

Asthma is usually at its worst on waking. If you are bad then it means that you overally asthma control needs improving. The combination of a long-acting beta agonist and an inhaled steroid is usually the best place to start (in the Uk Symbicort or Seretide). There is a normal diurnal variation in asthma (an hence in peak flow), which takes its timing from sleep and waking. Some variation is found in most normal people, this is exadurated in asthmatics. It is partially related to our bodies making less natural steroids and adrenalin during sleep, but this is only part of the reason. Anything that makes asthma worse, such as a respiratory infection or exposure to something to which you are allergic, will often cause nighttime or early morning waking with asthma unless treatment is increased. Occupational asthma is also often worst during the night after work, rather than at work. This is why the best screening question for occupational asthma is improvement on days off work, rather than being worse at work.

2/20/2006