| Asthma is the seventh-ranked chronic health condition | | | | time for a different medication. In fact, if you have to |
| in the United States and the leading chronic illness of | | | | refill your inhaler more than two times a year or are |
| children. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that | | | | awakened by asthma symptoms two nights or more |
| makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive | | | | per week, you also probably need a change. |
| to irritants. | | | | Correct Inhaler Use |
| During an asthma attack, tightening of the smooth | | | | If you use an inhaler to treat your asthma, remember |
| muscles around the bronchial tubes causes them to | | | | that it's not a breath freshener. You must deeply inhale |
| become inflamed, narrow inside, and produce excess | | | | the medication into your lungs and hold it for three to |
| mucus. This makes it difficult for air to pass in and out | | | | five seconds before exhaling slowly. |
| of the lungs and decreases the oxygen levels in the | | | | Dust mites |
| blood. A person suffering from an asthma attack has | | | | Dust mites can be especially troubling when traveling |
| a sensation similar to drowning. | | | | away from home, take your own pillow with an |
| It is currently estimated that as many as 300 million | | | | allergen-proof cover and request down-free pillows if |
| people world wide suffer from asthma, and that | | | | staying in a hotel. |
| number continues to rise | | | | Homemade food |
| Here are a few symptoms of asthma: | | | | Carry self-injectable epinephrine in case you |
| ?Cough | | | | accidentally eat a food to which you are allergic. |
| ?Chest tightness | | | | Homemade items do not have ingredient lists and can |
| ?Shortness of breath | | | | be contaminated with trace amounts of allergenic |
| ?Wheezing | | | | foods through contact with storage containers, baking |
| ?Triggers of asthma | | | | sheets and utensils. |
| And some triggers: | | | | Exercising with Asthma |
| ?Allergens | | | | If your asthma is bothered by air pollution, cold or damp |
| ?Irritants such as tobacco smoke, strong odors | | | | air, exercise indoors. A stationary bicycle is a good |
| ?Weather changes | | | | example of indoor activities. Cover your mouth and |
| ?Viral or sinus infections | | | | nose with a scarf when exercising outdoors in cold |
| ?Exercise | | | | weather. |
| People have their own triggers. If you have asthma, | | | | Loving your pet |
| you can minimize your symptoms by avoiding the | | | | Decide which areas of the house will become your |
| factors that trigger your symptoms and by working | | | | exclusion zones. I recommend you never allow your |
| with your physician to develop an effective | | | | pet into at least two rooms, the bedroom and lounge. |
| management and treatment plan. | | | | You may want to add other rooms to the list. If your |
| In order to help you, before you decide to go to the | | | | pet once slept in those rooms, wash as much of the |
| doctor, here are a few tips on how to prevent, | | | | bedding or upholstery as possible and consider buying |
| foresee and minimize the risk of asthma. | | | | a new mattress and duvet. Keep the animal?s bed in |
| Caffeine and Asthma | | | | another room, perhaps a utility room or lobby. For a |
| If you feel an asthma attack coming on and don't have | | | | cat, sprinkle some catnip there to make the area |
| your inhaler handy, try a couple cups of coffee, tea, | | | | seem more attractive. However, if your asthma is |
| hot chocolate or chocolate bars. The caffeine will help | | | | severe and triggered by pet allergens the best advice |
| open your airways. | | | | is to find a new home for the animal. |
| Controlling Your Asthma | | | | It may not be possible to 100% cure your asthma, but |
| If you find yourself using your quick-relief inhaler to stop | | | | by putting the above into practice you should be able |
| an asthma attack more than twice a week, it may be | | | | to alleviate it quite considerably. |