If you have asthma, you probably have medications from your doctor to treat and prevent attacks but there are some simple things you can do on your own to reduce the likelihood of an attack. Here are some helpful recommendations to help you make your home environment work with you, instead of against you, in your quest to cut down on asthma attacks.
If your children have asthma, let everyone know; from their school teacher to their babysitter. If you make an effort to educate people about how they can reduce the risks of your child having an asthma attack, your children will go through their day in a much better environment. Do not assume that everyone knows how to take care of asthmatic children.
It is important that you know what triggers your asthma symptoms. It may be wise to keep an asthma diary so you can see a pattern of when and where your asthma attacks happen. By knowing what triggers attacks, you will know what to avoid or stay away from as much as possible.
Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals if you are an asthma sufferer. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. When you are tidying your home consider using natural products that are effective for cleaning rather than traditional cleansers.
For help with asthma, maintain the humidity in your home. A great treatment for asthma is a clean, dry environment. Using a dehumidifier will reduce the amount of seasonal triggers that are present in your house.
Do not try to “tough it out” if you notice an oncoming asthma attack or a general worsening of your symptoms. Your doctor prescribed you a rescue inhaler for a reason; use it. If your symptoms seem to be getting worse overall, you should speak to your doctor about adjusting your medication plan.
Keep an asthma diary to help you identify substances that trigger attacks or worsen symptoms. In this diary, keep track of foods and activities to help you pinpoint those items that cause asthma attacks. Your asthma diary is also beneficial when working with your doctor on your long-term management plan.
Create and follow a written asthma action plan. This plan should include all of your asthma medications, including rescue inhalers, dosages and times to take them. Having a written plan makes it easier to follow your treatment plan, which will result in better control of your asthma.
When traveling by air, keep all of your asthma medications in your carry-on, and put this bag under the seat in front of you. This ensures that the staff will be unable to lose your medications. It also gives you access to your meds during times when you can’t get into the overhead bins, such as during take-off and landing.
With these tips, you can make your environment cleaner and safer, which can help prevent asthma attacks. Prevention is much easier than treatment, so implement these tips and reduce your exposure to common asthma triggers. These tips, used in conjunction with your doctor’s advice and medications, can reduce the length and severity of asthma attacks.