Amit’s Story: Finding a Deeper Meaning with Severe Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

August 2020

UNDERSTANDING SEVERE ASTHMA

Personal Stories

Severe asthma has had a big impact on Amit’s life. Now that she has found a better level of control, its inspired a new career path.

Amit has always enjoyed being active. From a young age she took part in gymnastics, and as a teenager enjoyed swimming and running.

At age 18, Amit noticed that she was starting to cough after going running, so she visited her doctor who confirmed she had mild asthma. A year later, having just joined the Israeli army, Amit experienced her first severe asthma attack.

“An asthma attack feels like you have no air,” shared Amit. “It’s very scary and the most stressful situation that I’ve ever been in. You are just helpless.”

She finally understood how debilitating shortness of breath could be.

Over the next two weeks, Amit faced four trips to the hospital, which ultimately resulted in her being released from the army. On a personal level, she found it hard to adapt to life with more frequent and severe symptoms; she was young and wanted to go out with her friends and keep up her running. But that just wasn’t possible anymore.

The next few months for Amit were admittedly tough. It felt like she had no option other than to stay at home and avoid anything that could trigger another severe asthma attack. But with time, Amit started to change her perspective.

She began to be really careful about taking her medications and avoiding her known asthma triggers. Amit shared,

“Asthma is a disease that can be difficult and dangerous, so it is important for every person to know his or her limitations. By really focusing on taking care of asthma, it is possible to find control. You can manage the disease rather than having the disease manage you.”

Image shows young lady sat at a computer and revising Image shows young lady sat at a computer and revising

Amit, who lives with severe asthma, is studying to become a nurse in her native Israel.

Having learned how to better control her disease and inspired by the care she received as a patient, Amit is now studying to be a nurse. She shared, “Nurses have the ability and desire to help from a real and pure place. The many hospitalizations I've had in the past allowed me to get to know the nursing profession relatively closely.”

Amit also explained how her own experience of severe asthma offers her a deeper understanding of what patients may be going through, especially those who suffer from shortness of breath. She explained, “It gives me the ability to really help them from a place of empathy and a true, deep understanding of what they are going through.”

What does the future hold for Amit? She told us, “In 10 years, I hope I can run a half marathon. I hope that in 10 years, my asthma will be fully controlled and I will be able to live without any limitations at all.”

Watch Amit’s story in her own words and learn more about steps you can take by reading Planning for Asthma Control.

Date of Approval: July 2020 | MAT-GLB-2000970

SUPPORTING TEENS WITH ASTHMA: AN INTERVIEW WITH PEDIATRIC ALLERGIST, DR. AUTUMN BURNETTE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

12/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

12/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

Allergist and immunologist Dr. Autumn Burnette shares her advice for teens with asthma and their caregivers.

JOIN THE NEXT BREATH CHALLENGE: IT’S TIME TO PRIORITIZE ASTHMA CONTROL & DEMAND ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED CARE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

5/2/2021 12:00:00 AM

5/2/2021 12:00:00 AM

The Next Breath Challenge encourages you to gently blow out a digital candle, creating a powerful symbol for prioritizing better asthma control. Take action now.

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FREQUENT ORAL CORTICOSTEROID USE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

3/2/2021 12:00:00 AM

3/2/2021 12:00:00 AM

Learn more about oral corticosteroids, including their use as an asthma medicine and when to talk with a doctor about ways to achieve better asthma control.

Amit’s Story: Finding a Deeper Meaning with Severe Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

8/4/2020 12:00:00 AM

8/4/2020 12:00:00 AM

Severe asthma has had a big impact on Amit’s life. Now that she has found a better level of control, its inspired a new career path.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD? EXPLORING BARRIERS TO ASTHMA DIAGNOSIS AND CARE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

7/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

7/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

Unpacking EFA’s Active Patients ACCESS Care Report to discover how diagnosis and care can be improved for people living with asthma.

Harnessing the Power Of The Asthma Experience

The Next Breath Editorial Team

6/3/2020 12:00:00 AM

6/3/2020 12:00:00 AM

Learn how the research community taps into the asthma experience of those who know it best – people with asthma – and how these insights help advance care.

What’s Your Asthma Personality? Take This Quiz to Find Out!

The Next Breath Editorial Team

4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

Everyone’s asthma is unique, but people can have similar experiences. Take this 5-question quiz to find out your “asthma personality” and resources to explore today.

LET’S TALK ABOUT ASTHMA: TIPS FOR STARTING A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

The Next Breath Editorial Team

3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM

3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM

Life with uncontrolled persistent asthma can be tough, but so can talking about it! That’s why we’ve gathered these tips to help you start a meaningful conversation with family and friends.

A Checklist to Help You Better Understand Your Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

2/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

2/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

Meet Dr. Maureen George, the behavioral scientist who helped develop a simple, but powerful description of severe asthma and checklist that are helping people understand and talk about their disease.

YOU MAY NOT BE “SICK,” BUT TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT BETTER ASTHMA CONTROL

The Next Breath Editorial Team

1/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

1/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

Better asthma control is possible. Use these tips to jump-start a conversation with your doctor about addressing your symptoms.

Type 2 Inflammation: An Often Overlooked Contributor to Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

12/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

12/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

Dr. Lawrence Sher, Medical Director at Palos Verdes Medical Group and a physician at Peninsula Research Associates, discusses type 2 inflammation, an underlying cause of a certain type of asthma,1 and what true asthma “control” could look like.

How One Woman Refused to Let Asthma Control Her Life

The Next Breath Editorial Team

12/1/2019 12:00:00 AM

12/1/2019 12:00:00 AM

Tammy was diagnosed with asthma as an infant. Throughout her childhood, her asthma was severe but under control with help from her doctor, who prescribed an inhaler and other medicines.

THE A-HA ASTHMA MOMENT THAT HELPED LYNN TAKE BACK CONTROL

The Next Breath Editorial Team

11/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

11/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

Lynn talks about the moment when she realized her asthma was uncontrolled and she needed to make a change.

ARE THESE 5 MYTHS PREVENTING YOU FROM ASTHMA CONTROL?

The Next Breath Editorial Team

10/2/2019 12:00:00 AM

10/2/2019 12:00:00 AM

People living with asthma often overestimate their level of control. That’s why we’ve looked at five common myths about asthma and unpacked the facts.

SUPPORTING TEENS WITH ASTHMA: AN INTERVIEW WITH PEDIATRIC ALLERGIST, DR. AUTUMN BURNETTE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

12/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

12/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

Allergist and immunologist Dr. Autumn Burnette shares her advice for teens with asthma and their caregivers.

JOIN THE NEXT BREATH CHALLENGE: IT’S TIME TO PRIORITIZE ASTHMA CONTROL & DEMAND ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED CARE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

10/2/2020 12:00:00 AM

10/2/2020 12:00:00 AM

An asthma diagnosis is the first step to receiving appropriate care. We discuss the process and why the journey doesn’t stop there.

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FREQUENT ORAL CORTICOSTEROID USE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

9/2/2020 12:00:00 AM

9/2/2020 12:00:00 AM

Learn more about oral corticosteroids, including their use as an asthma medicine and when to talk with a doctor about ways to achieve better asthma control.

Amit’s Story: Finding a Deeper Meaning with Severe Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

8/4/2020 12:00:00 AM

8/4/2020 12:00:00 AM

Severe asthma has had a big impact on Amit’s life. Now that she has found a better level of control, its inspired a new career path.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD? EXPLORING BARRIERS TO ASTHMA DIAGNOSIS AND CARE

The Next Breath Editorial Team

7/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

7/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

Unpacking EFA’s Active Patients ACCESS Care Report to discover how diagnosis and care can be improved for people living with asthma.

Harnessing the Power Of The Asthma Experience

The Next Breath Editorial Team

6/3/2020 12:00:00 AM

6/3/2020 12:00:00 AM

Learn how the research community taps into the asthma experience of those who know it best – people with asthma – and how these insights help advance care.

What’s Your Asthma Personality? Take This Quiz to Find Out!

The Next Breath Editorial Team

4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

Everyone’s asthma is unique, but people can have similar experiences. Take this 5-question quiz to find out your “asthma personality” and resources to explore today.

LET’S TALK ABOUT ASTHMA: TIPS FOR STARTING A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

The Next Breath Editorial Team

3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM

3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM

Life with uncontrolled persistent asthma can be tough, but so can talking about it! That’s why we’ve gathered these tips to help you start a meaningful conversation with family and friends.

A Checklist to Help You Better Understand Your Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

2/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

2/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

Meet Dr. Maureen George, the behavioral scientist who helped develop a simple, but powerful description of severe asthma and checklist that are helping people understand and talk about their disease.

YOU MAY NOT BE “SICK,” BUT TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT BETTER ASTHMA CONTROL

The Next Breath Editorial Team

1/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

1/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

Better asthma control is possible. Use these tips to jump-start a conversation with your doctor about addressing your symptoms.

Type 2 Inflammation: An Often Overlooked Contributor to Asthma

The Next Breath Editorial Team

12/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

12/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

Dr. Lawrence Sher, Medical Director at Palos Verdes Medical Group and a physician at Peninsula Research Associates, discusses type 2 inflammation, an underlying cause of a certain type of asthma,1 and what true asthma “control” could look like.

How One Woman Refused to Let Asthma Control Her Life

The Next Breath Editorial Team

12/1/2019 12:00:00 AM

12/1/2019 12:00:00 AM

Tammy was diagnosed with asthma as an infant. Throughout her childhood, her asthma was severe but under control with help from her doctor, who prescribed an inhaler and other medicines.

THE A-HA ASTHMA MOMENT THAT HELPED LYNN TAKE BACK CONTROL

The Next Breath Editorial Team

11/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

11/5/2019 12:00:00 AM

Lynn talks about the moment when she realized her asthma was uncontrolled and she needed to make a change.

ARE THESE 5 MYTHS PREVENTING YOU FROM ASTHMA CONTROL?

The Next Breath Editorial Team

10/2/2019 12:00:00 AM

10/2/2019 12:00:00 AM

People living with asthma often overestimate their level of control. That’s why we’ve looked at five common myths about asthma and unpacked the facts.

Moving the future of asthma forward, together

Working together, we can bring more awareness to severe asthma,
illuminate the latest science and empower people to take action
to strive for better asthma control.

Start using your next breath today to inspire others to get informed and
check back soon to find more ways to get involved.

#TheNextBreath