The relationship between asthma patient and health care provider should take the form of an active partnership, according to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (a project of the National Institutes of Health). But your role as a caregiver is not so easily labeled. Does that mean your support isn’t needed? Not at all.

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Ever watched a tight-rope walker? Providing support for a spouse with severe persistent asthma (or any chronic disease) can feel like tightrope walking. Acting on your concern about your loved one without taking over his or her health care unnecessarily is a balancing act of sorts. The good news is that you can keep your balance, especially with a safety net of knowledge to support you. Start by learning about your spouse’s asthma medication.

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It’s possible to prevent an asthma episode from becoming a medical emergency, simply by staying calm and knowing how to respond. Instructions for early intervention in a worsening asthma episode can usually be found in your spouse’s asthma action plan. It takes the guesswork out of the situation and provides direction during a potentially frightening time.

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Anaphylaxis is an immune system shutdown prompted by inhaling, eating, or touching an allergen. Initial symptoms may include tingling in the mouth and lips, flushing or blushing, a general feeling of warmth, itching, and the beginnings of a rash, welts, or hives. Symptoms then begin to build as the mouth, throat, gastrointestinal system, lungs, and other organs each encounter the allergen and react adversely.

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If you’ve ever seen a friend or loved one go through anaphylactic shock, you know how scary it can be. The good news is that you could save your loved one’s life by learning to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis, and knowing how to administer emergency medication.

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Perhaps a close family member or friend was one of the nearly two million Americans who sought emergency medical help for asthma in 1995. If so, he or she may have been diagnosed with status asthmaticus, described by the Journal of the American Medical Association as a severe, life-threatening asthma episode.

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