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Although at this stage there is no cure for asthma sufferers, there are a number of ways to avoid an attack and control the disease to a point where it is not debilitating. In fact many who have asthma still are active sports people, who play cricket, rugby, tennis, horse riding, and occasionally some dive though they need a medical certificate to do so. There are numerous ways to prevent an attack and I have used the following suggestions in my own home where three out of the four occupants are asthma sufferers.
If you have cats and dogs try to keep them out of the house. If you absolutely must have them in the house, ensure they are kept away from the asthmatics bedroom all of the time. The tiny skin flakes that a cat leaves can spark off an attack within minutes in a chronic sufferer.
Make sure that you take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. Many people fear that the medication is addictive or will weaken your lungs, thereby making your asthma worse. It doesn’t have any adverse effect on your lungs or breathing over the long term. Keep your asthma pumps with you, so that the moment you feel your chest tightening you can take your medication and stop an impending attack. Ensure your medication is with you when you are engaging in sport or gym of any sort, as a lot of attacks happen after sport and can be avoided by the correct administration of medication.
Try and avoid wooden floors as the dust mites tend to lift and ‘swirl’ on windy days making hay fever a given. Similarly avoid living in a thatched roof house.
Regular vacuuming will reduce the dust in the house, and limit hay fever. Also remember to vacuum the bedding as flakes of skin that we shed during the night will get into the mattress and can aid an asthma attack. Try and air the mattress once a week, to help get rid of bed mites.
Avoid using feather pillows or eiderdown duvets. The chances are you will be allergic to these substances and an attack will follow.
Try and keep a nebuliser or humidifier handy. These will prove to be useful when your chest is feeling tight or at night in cold weather when our chests tend to be at their weakest. If you do not have one of these at home and your chest is tight, try closing the bathroom door, and running a shower or bath with just hot water. The room will fill with steam and fifteen minutes in the humidity will also help open your chest.
Living with asthma can be tricky, especially in young children. But with the right attitude and a bit of common sense, the disease need not rule your life.
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