Living with Asthma

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offer the following helpful advice for living with asthma:
If you have asthma, it is important to learn how to take care of yourself. Work with your doctor to make an asthma action plan that you are both happy with.

• Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking, in case one of them affects your asthma.
• Follow your asthma action plan and have regular checkups.
• Learn to use your medication correctly. Ask your doctor to teach you how to use your inhaler. This is very important. If inhalers are not used correctly, less medication gets into the airways.
• If you are having problems taking your asthma medicine, let your doctor know right away.

You need to know what things worsen your asthma symptoms. Then do what you can to avoid or limit contact with these things.

If animal dander is a problem for you, keep your pet out of the house and/or at least out of your bedroom and wash your pet often, or find it a new home.

• Do not smoke or allow smoking in your home.
• If pollen is a problem for you, stay indoors with the air conditioner on when the pollen count is high.
• To control dust mites, wash your sheets, blankets, pillows and stuffed toys once a week in hot water. You can get special dust proof covers for your mattress and pillows.
• To prevent cold and flu, wash your hands often and get a flu shot every year. Children with asthma should get flu shots, too.
• If cold air bothers you wear a scarf over your mouth and nose in the winter.
• If you get asthma when you exercise or do routine physical activities like climbing stairs, work with your doctor to find ways to be active without having asthma symptoms. Physical activity is important.
• If you are allergic to sulfites, avoid foods (like dried fruit) or beverages (like wine) that contain them.

Be alert for warning signs of an asthma attack.

• Watch for symptoms (coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing) and use your medication as directed by your doctor.
• Use your peak flow meter as directed to monitor your asthma.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle. While a healthy lifestyle may not keep you from having problems with allergies and asthma, being healthier in general can't hurt! Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fats and sugars, get enough rest, exercise regularly, try to find ways to manage stress in your life and don't smoke.

If your asthma is not under control, there will be signs that you should not ignore. The following are some signs that your asthma is getting worse:

• Your asthma symptoms happen more often.
• Your asthma symptoms are worse than they used to be.
• Your asthma symptoms are bothering you a lot at night and making you lose sleep.
• You are missing school or work because of your asthma.
• Your peak flow number is low or varies a lot from morning to evening.
• Your asthma medications do not seem to be working very well anymore.
• You have to use your short-acting quick relief or rescue inhaler more often. (Using quick relief medicine every day or using more than one inhaler a month is too much.)
• You have to go to the emergency room or doctor because of an asthma attack.
• You end up in the hospital because of your asthma.

If your asthma seems to be getting worse, see your doctor. You may need to change your medication or do other things to get your asthma under control.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute