Self Care for Asthma

You are the important part of your asthma treatment team. You should learn how to manage and try to prevent the symptoms of the asthma. This can be done by avoid or control the effects of asthma by knowing the things that cause the asthma symptoms in your day to day life.

You can avoid the causes of the asthma in your day to day life by practicing several things on your own and maintaining the overall health and to lessen the possibility of asthma attacks.

These includes the following

• Exercise: Practicing regular exercise will strengthen the heart and the lungs so that you can minimize the work of these organs. Try to exercise 30 minutes a day. And try not to exercise in cold temperatures because this may trigger symptoms of the asthma.

• Use of Air conditioner: Being in the air conditioned room will help to lessen the amount of flying pollen from trees, grasses and weeds that finds its way indoors

• Clean up your décor: Try to avoid the items that may trigger the symptoms of asthma in your bedroom. This can be done by enclosing the pillows and mattresses in a dust proof covers. Instead of using carpets you can go for hardwood flooring.

• Maintain optimal humidity: Try to keep the humidity low in your home and in your working area. Because humidity also causes the triggers of asthma.

• Reduce pet dander: Try to avoid pets with fur or feathers

• Clean Regularly: Try to keep your home clean so that your place will be dust free thus you can reduce the triggers of asthma.

• Control heartburn and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Acid reflux may cause the heartburn which may inturn damage the lung airways and the cause the symptoms of asthma.

Prevention of Asthma

Try to avoid the things that cause the allergens and respiratory irritants. These allergens include house dust, feathers, mites, cockroaches etc., by reducing these allergens the attack of the asthma can be controlled to the large extent. Irritants such as cigarette smoke must be avoided. In some of the peoples, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may trigger the attacks. Try to avoid these drugs. Intake of low dietary antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, selenium etc., can increase the risk for lung damage. Adults may avoid asthma attack in the workplace by staying away from chemicals that irritate the lungs.

The Following points will help you prevent the Asthma Attacks

• Try to avoid the dust and stuffed animals.

• Try to control the cockroaches by using the insect sprays because the cockroach is the major allergy trigger in asthma attacks.

• Try to use airtight allergy proof plastic cover on mattresses and pillows.

• Stuffed animals must be washed using hot water.

• Try to keep your indoor humidity low because the dust mites and mold increase in high humidity.

• Try to avoid the smoky environment.

• Try to avoid the use of ceiling fans.

• Try to avoid strong odors and sprays in the home.

• Try not to go outside when pollution or ozone counts are high.