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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.
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