Beyond Your Medication: How To Avoid Asthma Attacks

asthma2Asthma is a condition that one in 12 of us has in the UK, with one in 11 children afflicted. This means lots of us across the country are affected and given treatments to try to reduce the severity of the condition, which may prove fatal. As well as taking our medication, there are other changes we can make to our lives that can control our asthmatic symptoms.

Take our meds

Asthma is caused by certain triggers that lead to swelling and tightening of our airways. Excess mucus may also be produced, with these symptoms sometimes leading to asthma attacks that might require hospitalisation. Medical experts stress that despite the fact we can help control our symptoms of the condition we should still take our prescribed medication, as this helps our airways function normally.

Avoid allergens

In addition to using inhalers and other kinds of treatments, we can also try and reduce the amount of allergens we come into target with. As we get used to living with the condition, we may become well-versed in what allergens cause us the most trouble, such as pollen. If this is the case, then we should stay inside when pollen counts are high. Dust mites are another common asthma trigger, so getting rid of carpets in favour of stripped flooring, using mattress protectors, washing bed linen frequently and replacing curtains with blinds could all limit the triggers in our homes. In addition, limiting contact with fur/feathers, and making sure air conditioning units and vacuums have special filters may also help symptoms.

Don’t forget monitoring

Living with asthma will become natural in time and we can quickly get used to new cleaning routines and other changes. Clinicians say it’s still important to regularly monitor our lung function to check it doesn’t deteriorate. Peak flow meters can help predict when we might experience an asthma attack, so making a regular note of values may help us to be more prepared.

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