Coping with asthma can be very challenging not only for the sufferer but for his close ones as well. The sad thing about asthma is that there is no cure for it. You just have to find ways to manage the disease and prevent it from occurring too often. You also need to be aware of the things that you should do when you go through an asthma attack. In short, treatment is centered on control and management. If you or someone you know have asthma, here are some tips that can help you cope with it.
1) Always keep necessary medications at hand. An asthma attack can happen anytime and anywhere. Always carry your prescribed medications with you. And of course, make sure that you have your albuterol inhaler. This is the essential medication that can offer instant relief for asthmatics. It’s cheap, it’s handy, and it’s small enough that you can stick it in your pockets.
2) Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of a coming asthma attack. In spotting these symptoms, you will be able to take action before a full-blown asthma attack. In most cases, you will feel something before you are inundated with the full brunt of the attack. Taking your medications or prepping your inhaler will do wonders in lessening the pain that you will go through.
3) Identify what triggers the attacks. The factors that cause people to have asthma attacks differ from person to person. With that said, you need to keep records of your own condition to ensure that you will accurately identify such factors. The most common triggers include pet hair, dust, tobacco smoke, pollution and airborne mold. This is why it’s paramount that you stay away from places that have these contaminants.
4) Stay active. Many people have the wrong impression that asthma sufferers should not exercise because they might trigger an attack. This is not true at all. In fact, exercising will help you cope with asthma because it strengthens your lungs. Just make sure that the exercises you do are not too strenuous.
Examples of good exercises for asthmatics include yoga, brisk walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, and biking. The trick is to keep your pace slow and steady so as not to put too much pressure on your lungs.
If you follow the tips discussed above, you will definitely have fewer attacks and in case of an attack, you will know exactly what to do to relieve yourself of the pain.