Asthma is a challenging condition to deal with. Depending on the intensity of your symptoms, it can either be a minor nuisance or a significant problem that can obstruct your daily activities and even threaten your life.
Regardless of the severity of your manifestation, you still want to keep the disorder under control and reduce the probability of getting an attack. While asthma cannot be cured, there are ways it can be kept under control, so it doesn’t drastically affect you.
However, you should be mindful of the fact that the signs and symptoms can change over time, so it’s essential to discuss with your doctor and adjust your treatment as the variations appear.
With that being said, there are a few ways to keep the attacks at bay and improve your quality of life that you should be aware of if you’ve recently been diagnosed with asthma. While they can’t guarantee the complete disappearance of your symptoms, they will likely help and improve your overall well-being.
Identify the triggers
For most individuals, asthma symptoms tend to increase in the presence of specific triggers. You’ve probably noticed that your symptoms tend to become worse when you’re exposed to certain environmental conditions. These can range from temperature to activity level to common allergens such as pollen, mildew or pet dander.
Your asthma may also be the occupational kind, meaning it is triggered by irritants at your workplace. These can range from dust to chemical fumes. In the case your health was affected by the conditions present at your job, you may be entitled to begin a personal injury case.
If you live in Great Britain, you can use a UK compensation claim calculator, which can give you a realistic idea of how much you are eligible to receive in compensation when you file a claim. The amount you can receive in compensation varies depending on the severity of your disorder. It can range from up to £19,200 for mild cases, where you experience a few signs that don’t interfere with your daily life too much and can climb up to £65,740 for severe, disabling cases.
The grave cases include being completely reliant on your inhaler, inability to perform physical activities at normal, pre-diagnosis standards, and sleep disturbances related to coughing attacks.
Identifying your triggers helps regulate your symptoms because you’ll know what you can avoid. It can be challenging to figure out right away what triggers your symptoms, so you may have to monitor your condition over a period of a few weeks. It may be beneficial to write down your symptoms to keep track of them.
It is important to note what you’re interacting with, as the symptoms may arise from a singular or a combination of factors. After you’ve discovered what causes them, you can take the necessary steps to avoid them. If bypassing them is unavoidable, such as when physical activity triggers an attack, you’ll have to take your treatment before you work out or go for a walk.
Prevent colds
One of the most important aspects to keep in mind when dealing with asthma is to try and stay as healthy as possible. As such, you should reduce close contact with friends or relatives if they’re dealing with infections such as the common cold or flu. Catching these seemingly banal infections can be significantly worse in your case than it is for those who are asthma-free.
This is due to the fact that colds inflame your airways and increase mucus production, meaning that you can find yourself struggling to breathe. When you add this to the commonplace asthma symptom of shortness of breath, you can understand why it would be very uncomfortable to struggle with both simultaneously.
While it’s impossible to protect yourself against colds perfectly at all times, some of the customary habits you should adopt to protect yourself include:
- Practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly to decrease the likelihood of catching a viral infection significantly.
- Get your flu shot every year. As colds and flu season rolls in, you’ll want to get your jab to stay safe. This is especially important since asthma can leave you more vulnerable to developing pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
- Wear a face mask. One of the best items of protective equipment you can use, mainly if you use public transport or have to be in crowded places. Guarding the airways, your mask protects you if someone sneezes or coughs around you.
Don’t smoke
Smoking when you have asthma is not a good idea. There are many reasons why cigarettes are harmful to your asthma. One of them is the irritation caused by the smoke.
A by-product of the inflammation can be a major asthma attack, so it’s crucial to avoid smoke-filled places as they can trigger your symptoms. This includes all types of smoke and is not limited to tobacco. Candles, fires, fireworks and incense can similarly affect you.
Moreover, smoking damages the minuscule structures in the airways known as cilia. When they work correctly, their role is to eliminate debris from the airways, but when they’re damaged, irritants pile up and accumulate, causing breathing problems.
Therefore, if you’re smoking, you’ll have to quit immediately after discovering you have asthma. No amount of smoking is safe when you are experiencing asthma symptoms.
However, just because you’re not an active smoker, don’t believe you’re all set. Secondhand smoke can be just as, if not more harmful, than smoking yourself. When you’re smoking passively, you have an increased likelihood of experiencing wheezing or coughing due to the toxic substances (including tar and carbon monoxide) you inhale.
It’s not easy dealing with asthma. There are many adjustments you’ll have to do to your lifestyle in order to accommodate your disorder. The diagnosis can come as a shock in the beginning and cause you to feel lost or afraid.
Make sure you benefit from a strong support group until you become accustomed to the symptoms. Many people around the world have asthma, so you’re not alone. If you follow some guidelines, you’re most likely to see your symptoms decrease and avoid the incidence of attacks.