8 tips to keep your asthma under control

Asthma is a common respiratory disease that causes wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. It can be controlled with medication or by changing your environment to reduce triggers for an asthma attack and with severe cases of asthma they should consider the best portable oxygen concentrators.

This article lists 8 tips for controlling your asthmatic condition.

1) Recognize potential triggers

Being aware of what might trigger an asthma attack is the first step in avoiding them. Avoiding these triggers will help you better control your breathing and prevent attacks from happening.

2) Avoid Dust and Dust Mites

Avoid the use of down comforters and pillows, as they attract dust mites. Change your bedding often. Use mattress covers to prevent perspiration from getting into your mattress, which will keep dust away. Clean up areas where you store shoes or clothes, which also tend to trap dust mites. Dust mites are one of the leading causes of airway allergies, so keeping your home as dust-free as possible will help keep asthma under control

3) Avoid Pets

If you have pets, try to minimize any contact with them. If it is not possible for you to give up having a pet, be sure to vacuum often and ask your doctor or pharmacist for medication that can help reduce symptoms in people who are allergic to pets. 

4) Keep the House Clean

Dust and mold also cause asthmatic symptoms, so make sure your home is clean. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), about 80% of homes in developed countries contain dust mites and other allergens, including cockroaches and animal dander. They recommend that you vacuum or dust daily to keep the air clean and wash sheets weekly in hot water.

5) Make Your Bedroom an Asthma-Free Zone

Try to make your bedroom as asthma free as possible. Keep your windows closed, use a humidifier during winter months and run an air purifier, which will filter allergens and irritants from the air. The AAFA also recommends that you remove carpets, especially wall-to-wall carpeting, because they collect allergens.

6) Avoid Chemical Air Fresheners

Chemical air fresheners contain chemicals that can cause respiratory problems for some people. If possible, avoid using them and opt for using natural products instead.

7) Keep Your Home’s Humidity Level Low

You should also try to keep your home’s humidity level low, as high levels of moisture in the air encourage mold growth and dust mites. Use a dehumidifier to control dryness if necessary. If you’re not sure how dry your home is, use a hygrometer to measure humidity levels.

8) If You Smoke, Quit

Smoking is one of the leading causes of asthma attacks. Quitting smoking will help reduce your risk and keep you healthier overall.  Smoking increases your risk of infections and decreases how well your medications work, and it also makes asthma attacks more likely.

What to do if you have frequent Asthma attacks?

You need to see a doctor immediately. Find a Pulmonologist in Lahore or a Pulmonologist in Islamabad here.

Asthma can kill! People who have asthma need to monitor themselves closely, be aware of the early warning signs that an attack may be coming on, and know what they can do to try to prevent an attack from happening if possible.

Asthma is most often caused by allergies and can be controlled with medication or by dealing with the triggers that cause attacks. Identify common triggers such as dust, mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and other irritants to minimize exposure to them. And if symptoms are severe, ask your physician about additional medications you may need.