Your doctor has just informed you that you have asthma, and you feel very worried about what to do next. It is a severe chronic condition, and that means it lasts a lifetime. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. Here you will see some simple methods to manage your asthma to keep you safe and healthy.
You may want to avoid getting pets, especially those with longer fur, if you have asthma. For many people, pet dander and fur is one of the major triggers of asthma attacks. If you really want to get a pet, try to get one with short fur or get an aquatic animal, like a fish.
Asthma can be triggered by cigarette smoke. People that have asthma are most often times very sensitive to it. You should take great steps to make sure no one smokes in your car, in your home, or around you anywhere. This will help you immensely when you are trying to avoid asthma attacks, and stay healthy in general!
If you suffer asthma and you are overweight or obese, you may want to consider losing weight. Being overweight decreases lung function and increases the chance of you developing asthma symptoms. Also, be sure that you drink plenty of water, since keeping hydrated is very important for controlling asthma symptoms and attacks.
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. By bringing down the humidity level, it will reduce dust mites and reduce asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
Avoid bringing plants into your home. Unfortunately, this includes decorative bouquets and similar gifts. The pollen and scents produced by these plants can trigger asthma symptoms, or they can trigger the environmental allergies that go along with asthma for many sufferers. If someone does bring flowers into your home, thank them politely but remove the flowers at the first sign of symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, you should be aware that animals can be a trigger for asthma attacks. While you might not have any specific animal related allergies, animals do accumulate dirt and other harmful substances that can trigger an attack when you go near them. In particular, you should be careful around common pets like dogs and cats.
Asthma is known to intensify the effects of the common cold and the flu, particularly the associated sinus and respiratory infections. It is therefore suggested to stay on top of flu shots during the winter if you have asthma. You should also take care to dress warmly and stay dry to reduce the chances of catching a cold.
Engage your support network to help you manage your asthma. Talk to your friends and family about items that trigger attacks and enroll them in helping you make environmental or lifestyle changes to help you manage your asthma. The more knowledgeable your network is about your condition, the more easily they can support you.
As seen here, it is important that you are prepared in order to manage asthma. If you know about what kind of arthritis you have, you can find ways to manage it. You may just find the contents of this article makes a useful contribution to your fund of asthma knowledge.