Managing asthma is not something your doctor can do for you all
by himself. Asthma self help is an important part of treating
and managing your condition so that it doesn't take over your
entire life. Your doctor may prescribe both daily medication and
medication to take in case of an acute asthma episode, but the
task of minimizing risk of asthma attack and taking care of
yourself on a daily basis is largely up to you and your family.
Learning some key asthma self help tricks can help you keep your
asthma under control so that it doesn't interfere with your
daily life.
Because asthma can be caused, triggered or worsened by so many
things, there are many things that you can do to lessen the
frequency and severity of the symptoms. Your doctor will offer
important suggestions in addition to medication to help you
manage your asthma. Think of those suggestions as a personalized
asthma self help plan. A major part of asthma self help involves
avoiding asthma triggers. Some ways that you can help yourself
if you or someone in your family has asthma include:
1. The first and most important step in asthma self help is to
follow your doctor's orders. Don't stop taking daily medication
just because you feel better. If he's prescribed daily peak flow
measurements, be sure to follow instructions carefully and
measure daily to monitor your condition.
2. If you smoke, quit. Whether the asthma sufferer is you or a
child in your family, cigarette smoke is one of the most common
asthma triggers known.
3. Keep the house dust-free - or as close to dust-free as
possible. Dust is another common asthma trigger. Use a cylinder
vacuum instead of an upright - preferably one that encloses the
vacuum cleaner bag inside a solid canister to minimize pumping
dust back into the air.
4. If you can, remove carpets and heavy draperies. They're
dust-catchers that easily breed dust mites. If you can't remove
them, vacuum them frequently using a canister vacuum cleaner.
5. Avoid using down feather pillows and comforters, and use a
plastic cover on your mattress. Mattresses and pillows can
harbor dust mites. The same goes for stuffed animals and other
'soft' decorations.
6. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf in cold weather. Cold
air is another common asthma trigger.
7. If your asthma is triggered by allergens, monitor the outside
air quality daily. Avoid open fields and woodsy areas during
peak pollen seasons, and take extra care when air quality is in
danger ranges.
8. Mold is another common allergen that triggers asthma. Keeping
mold down is another important part of asthma self help care.
Dry wet laundry immediately, and wash and disinfect bathrooms
and showers regularly. Remove houseplants, as mold grows in
their soil.
9. Pet dander can also trigger asthma symptoms. If you can't
part with a pet because of emotional ties, at least keep it out
of the bedroom to minimize your exposure to dander.
10. Be aware of any food or ingested allergies, and avoid foods,
medications and drinks that cause allergic reactions.
About the author:
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