Asthma occurs when your airways are inflamed or swollen and produce extra mucus. This makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma can affect daily activities or an individual can be affected by occasional asthma attacks. These attacks can be frightening, especially since it’s hard to breathe. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent an asthma attack.
Know the Signs
You can prevent an asthma attack if you know what signs to look out for. Once you recognize these signs, you can take action to soothe them. Common signs include shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing. Some people may also wake up in the middle of the night because they are having trouble breathing.
Asthma can be triggered by certain activities as well. Exercise or any other intense physical activity can trigger asthma. If any of these signs or triggers are present, you should take your asthma medication, such as an inhaler, to soothe symptoms. If symptoms worsen, you may need to seek medical attention.
Keep Your Home Clean
Asthma can be triggered by irritants in the air. This means that certain seasons, such as springtime when there’s more pollen, can trigger asthma. It can also be triggered by the air quality in your home. Indoor pollutants increase your family’s risk of asthma. You need to keep your home clean and remove any pollutants.
Having your HVAC system and air vents cleaned can remove pollutants and make sure you aren’t circulating air that contains irritants. Switching out your floors from carpet to hardwood can also help. Carpet is likely to trap pollutants while wood floors are much easier to clean.
Stay Healthy
When you’re sick with a cold or the flu, it constricts your airways. Adding this on top of your asthma can make it even harder to breathe. You should take steps to avoid becoming sick. Maintaining your health can be done in many ways. Make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet that contains a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Get close to 30 minutes of exercise a day, but also be considerate of how exercise affects your asthma. Try low-impact exercise. Getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night allows your body to recover from the day and prevent sickness. Lastly, make sure you get all of your vaccinations including your yearly flu shot.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, talk to your doctor about an Asthma Action Plan. This will help you know what you should be doing if you think you’re going to have an asthma attack. Finding multiple ways to prevent attacks can help you live more comfortably.
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