Advances in medicines mean people suffering from asthma can lead a pretty normal life with minimal health issues.
Taking your medication properly and regularly is vital. Using your preventative inhaler every day, even if you feel well, can stop symptoms from flaring up.
But relying purely on drugs to keep you healthy may not be the best way to live your life.
Taking a few simple steps to change your lifestyle can help reduce your symptoms and the chance of you suffering an asthma attack.
With no cure for asthma, avoiding things that can trigger your symptoms is a must.
While not everyone’s triggers are the same, there are many common factors that can set off an attack. Pet hair, dust, pollens and even perfumes can leave you short of breath and wheezing. Make a note of factors that appear to be making your symptoms worse and avoid them as much as possible.
Smoking is harmful to your health whether you suffer from asthma or not, but for people living with the condition cigarette smoke could be making things a whole lot worse for you.
As well as being an irritant which can trigger a severe attack, smoking makes your medication less effective. If you continue to smoke, you may find you have to take bigger doses of inhaled steroid medication.
If you don’t stop smoking you could develop bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
It is not just smokers at risk of increased symptoms; passive smoking is just as dangerous to an asthmatic.
While exercise can contribute to an attack, using your inhaler should enable you to work out without too much of a risk.
Walking, swimming and cycling are good exercises for people with asthma.
If you struggle with your symptoms while you exercise you may need to increase your preventive medication or use you reliever inhaler shortly before beginning your workout.
A healthy diet may help with asthma. Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables can give you many of the nutrients and vitamins you need to stay healthy but also stay in shape. Being overweight can exacerbate your condition.
Winter time can be full of problems if you suffer from asthma, from the cold air to the risk of catching a cold or the flu.
Make sure you wrap up warm in the cold weather and take your medication regularly. People with asthma should be invited for a free flu jab by their doctor. Make sure you take advantage of this as the illness could lead to serious respiratory problems.
Finally, taking aspirin and some painkillers could cause a reaction with your medication. Check with your doctor before taking over the counter medication.
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