How to Live With Your Asthma
If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your
life. Controlling your asthma symptoms means staying away from
things that bother your airways and taking medicines as directed
by your doctor. If you have asthma, it is important to learn how
to take care of yourself and learn what natural remedies can
help you and what diet will reduce your asthma symptoms.
It is important that you work with your doctor to make an action
plan that you are both happy with. As part of this, you will
need to:
* Tell your doctor about all other medications, drugs, and
natural remedies you are taking, in case one of them affects
your asthma. * Follow your asthma action plan and have regular
checkups. * Learn to use your medication correctly. Ask your
doctor to teach you how to use your inhaler. This is very
important. If inhalers are not used correctly, less medication
gets into the airways.
You also need to learn to identify and avoid the things that
can worsen or trigger your asthma symptoms. These include:
* If animal dander is a problem for you, keep your pet out of
the house and/or at least out of your bedroom and wash your pet
often, or find it a new home. * Do not smoke or allow smoking in
your home. * If pollen is a problem for you, stay indoors with
the air conditioner on when the pollen count is high. * To
control dust mites, wash your sheets, blankets, pillows, and
stuffed toys once a week in hot water. You can get special dust
proof covers for your mattress and pillows. * To prevent colds
and flu keep your immune system up and strong by taking natural
remedies. * If you get asthma when you exercise or do routine
physical activities like climbing stairs, work with your doctor
to find ways to be active without having asthma symptoms.
Physical activity is important. * Try to keep humidity levels in
the home between 30 and 50 percent. High humidity can promote
growth of biological agents that may trigger asthma episodes.
Use exhaust fans or open windows in the kitchen or bathroom
areas when cooking, using the dishwasher, or taking showers.
Make sure clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors, and use a
dehumidifier in the basement if necessary. * Avoid using
humidifiers * Minimize exposure to combustion particles and
gases that can cause breathing difficulties for people with
asthma. Have combustion-powered furnaces, stoves, or heaters
checked yearly to make sure they are operating properly. Change
furnace filters according to the manufacturer's instructions, or
every month or two during periods of use. * Avoid sprays like
deodorants, perfumes, or air fresheners, odours from paint *
Keep the house clean to reduce allergens like microscopic dust
mites, pollen, and animal dander. Use an allergen-proof
comforter and encase mattresses and box springs in vinyl covers.
Wash bedding frequently in hot (130