Patients with asthma should be able to enjoy their busy lives without constant, debilitating symptoms. If you or your child has chronic asthma, make sure you are in control of your asthma. Learn about the risk factors, symptoms, and best practices for controlling your asthma.
Identify And Avoid Asthma Triggers
Asthma doesn’t “flare-up.” Coughing and wheezing usually signal that you’ve been triggered by something.
Knowing what asthmatic triggers you and what environmental factors make it harder for you to breathe will help you avoid certain triggers and maintain your asthma maintenance. Recognizing how to avoid triggers can keep your asthma from getting worse.
If you are coughing or experiencing shortness of breath without other respiratory symptoms, take note of what’s around you. You will soon learn to identify the real triggers behind your symptoms.
10 Common Asthma Triggers (1)
- Smoke
- Perfumes and Scents
- Cold and Dry Air
- Rain and Adverse Weather Conditions
- Activity and Exercise
- Pet Dander
- Pollen
- Dust Mites
- Food Allergies
- Respiratory Illness
Over time, you’ll be able to identify patterns and triggers. Log the information in your asthma journal or asthma action plan. Your medical professional will want to know which triggers you’ve identified. By working with your doctor, you help them to know which asthma medications can give you better long-term control of your asthma.
Stay Active to Control Asthma
Practice deep abdominal breathing when you start to feel yourself getting anxious or anxious to prevent asthma from dominating your life. In turn, this will ease the tension of the muscles in your throat, which will reduce the process of narrowing your airway. Finally, maintain a healthy sleep schedule to help avoid asthma triggers. By controlling asthma, you’ll be able to have a healthy, active lifestyle.
Is It More Than Asthma?
While this seems counterintuitive, regular exercise can help control your asthma. Strengthening your lungs will help give you more control over your asthma. One study showed that 30 minutes of daily exercise meant participants were 2.5 times more likely to have control of their asthma.
Walking is a great choice for all fitness levels. This form of exercise is gentle on the body, which makes it easier to breathe. Walk outside on warm days. Dry cool air can trigger asthma. During winter, you can walk on a treadmill or indoor track.
A common mistake that people who live with asthma make is assuming that all lung issues are related to their asthma. It’s possible that your cough is a symptom of a respiratory illness or other condition.
- Colds & Flu
- COVID-19
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Sleep Apnea
- Sinus Infections
- Acid Reflux
Automatically assuming that all breathing issues are asthma-related can result in worsening conditions that could damage your lungs. It can also increase your use of asthma medicine or quick-relief inhalers unnecessarily. For out-of-the-ordinary or long-lasting symptoms, consult your healthcare professional immediately.
Clean the House
Many people suffering from asthma know the importance of controlling their disease to stay healthy. But often, the disease works against us and we don’t realize how much we’ve been suffering from what we assume is only the aftermath of the disease. If you suffer from asthma, do this: identify and avoid your triggers and stay active to control your asthma
The most common household triggers include mold, dust, and pets. Pets are great companions but they can trigger asthma symptoms. Make sure you take regular times throughout the week to dust and vacuum your home. This will help reduce your exposure to pet dander and other pet-related allergens.
Consider The Weather
The weather has an effect on those with asthma and can cause breathing issues. Be aware of the weather before leaving your home and prepare accordingly.
For instance, air quality during fire season or extremely humid weather can trigger asthma. So if the weather outside is less than ideal, people with asthma should grab a scarf or something to cover your face. During allergy season, keep track of pollen levels and avoid going outside when they’re really bad.
Spirometry Helps with Controlling Your Asthma
In this article, we talked about asthma triggers, how to identify them and avoid them, and why being active is critical to controlling the condition. We then talked about how keeping your home clean and choosing the right season can help with keeping your asthma under control.
However, the best way to control your asthma is to do spirometry daily. Apps like Aluna allow you to track your lung function over time and can even help predict an exacerbation before it occurs. This can reduce your need for control medications and aid in managing your asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, you CAN control your asthma. It doesn’t have to control you.
Sources:
(1) CDC: Common Asthma Triggers
