Living with Asthma
If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your
life. Controlling your asthma 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.
MAKE AN ACTION PLAN WITH YOUR DOCTOR
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 and drugs 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.
* If you are having problems taking your asthma medicine, seek
your doctor's advice immediately.
IDENTIFY YOUR ASTHMA TRIGGERS
You also need to learn to identify and avoid the things that can
worsen or trigger your asthma symptoms.
* 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 even 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, wash your hands often and get a flu
shot every year. Children with asthma should get flu shots, too.
* If cold air bothers you, wear a scarf over your mouth and nose
in the winter.
* 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.
* If you are allergic to sulphites, avoid foods (like dried
fruit) or beverages (like wine) that contain them. For example,
sodium metabisulphite (E220-227) may also trigger asthma, but
not via an allergic reaction. It can be found in wine,
home-brewed beer, fizzy drinks, prepared meats and prepared
salads.
* Do not allow smoking indoors unless there is a room reserved
for smokers and which has a separate ventilation system to
exhaust smoke outside. Never allow smoking around anyone with
asthma.
* 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. If it cannot be avoided, clean it
according to the manufacturer's instructions. Refill it daily
with fresh water to prevent the growth of harmful microbes.
* 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. Consider installing higher efficiency
filters to reduce the number of particles in the air. Never use
a gas stove to heat the home, and always use the exhaust fan
when cooking on a gas stove.
* Avoid sprays like deodorants, perfumes, or air fresheners,
odours from paint, and strong smelling cleaners may start a
child's asthma attack.
* 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