Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is a long-term problem in the tubes that carry air into your lungs which can make it hard for you to breathe. The airways get so narrow that air can’t move freely. It can cause serious wheezing and breathlessness, known as asthma attacks. For some people, asthma can be a minor inconvenience; for others, it can be a serious, even life-threatening condition. There’s no cure, but most people can control their symptoms. Here are things you should do to manage your condition:
Identify Triggers
Health experts do not know exactly what causes asthma but have told us that genetic, environmental and occupational factors can cause a person to develop the condition. Asthma attacks take place when you are exposed to asthma triggers. Every person with asthma doesn’t have the same triggers. Know your triggers and learn how to avoid them. Watch out for an attack when you can’t avoid the triggers. Some of the most common triggers are Tobacco smoke, dust mites, pests, pets, mould, cleaning and disinfection, cold, some physical exercises, fragrances, and even food. Also, strong emotions can lead to very fast breathing, called hyperventilation, which can also cause an asthma attack.
Asthma-Proof your Home
Keep your house clean and dust-free. If possible, do not use fans, it stirs up dust. Do not use carpets too, they trap dust. Cover mattresses, box springs, and pillows with plastic cases or special allergen-proof fabric covers. Replace dust-collecting blinds and long drapes with window shades or washable curtains. Control cockroaches. Cockroach droppings contain a protein that is a primary asthma trigger. Cockroaches are less likely to be a problem in a clean, dry house. Don’t leave out dirty dishes, clean the kitchen thoroughly after meals, including under appliances, and take out the garbage regularly. Also block any openings through which cockroaches could enter from outside, including windows, wall cracks.
Take your Medication
Everyone with asthma does not take the same medicine. Do not buy medicine without consulting a doctor. Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you There are two types of asthma medicines: Quick relief medication (reliever) and long-term medication (controller). If you take inhaled medicines, you should practice using your inhaler at your health care provider’s office. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they don’t help you while you are having an asthma attack. Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor about the side effects of your medicines.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Research has shown that excess weight increases asthma risk. Too much weight can make breathing more difficult by compressing your lungs, potentially making existing asthma worse and symptoms harder to cope with and manage. If you are of higher weight, you need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. However, understand your physical limitations. Before you start working out, understand what movements might lead to your asthma attacks. While it is possible to exercise with asthma, you still need to be careful to choose activities that don’t make it difficult for you to breathe. Always have your inhaler handy!
Allow Family and Friends Assist
A disease like asthma does not need the patient to stay on his own or isolate themselves. You will always need help. Even though you feel fine sometimes, be aware that asthma may go into remission but may recur again after years or even decades. Work together to support one another as a family. Having a family member with asthma will undoubtedly cut into time spent both at work and on other family activities. Don’t feel guilty about it. Just do what you can. Accept help. Allow others to help you.
Have an Action Plan
Work with your doctor to come up with a treatment strategy, called an asthma action plan. It should identify your triggers, list your daily medications, and outline what to do when you have a flare-up. You can revisit your plan and adjust it when you need to. Allow people around you to know what to do in case of an emergency. Never get too carried away. Always be conscious of your condition. Managing asthma successfully takes time and effort. You can do it!
