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How to deal with asthma

Individuals suffering from asthma usually have difficulty in breathing. They can experience an attack during stressful situations. A basic idea about how to tackle asthma is helpful.

Medicines

There are two kinds of medicines available for people suffering from asthma. One is the quick relief medicine, which is given to stop any symptoms of asthma in the individual. The other is a long term medicine which prevents symptoms in the long run. Once an individual has been diagnosed with the disease, your doctor will specify the degree of intensity of your asthma. He will also throw light on your medical health, and your pre-medication condition. Your doctor may give you tablets, but inhalers are the most commonly prescribed medicines for treating asthma. Preventative inhalers are examples of long term medicines. They should be taken regardless of the condition you are in. The regularity of the medicine intake will help in curbing asthma. Reliever inhalers are the quick relief medicines which should be used in emergencies to allay any symptoms of an asthma attack. Developing the knowledge of using these inhalers will be useful for people suffering from asthma. Having an inhaler in your pocket or purse will really alter the quality of your life, as you will be stress-free due to the fact that you have the medicine with you. If an individual is not well acquainted with the usage of inhalers or does not have one with him/her always, the anxiety is enough to trigger an asthma attack.

Monitoring

A regular check up program should be devised for individuals suffering from asthma. These check-ups will keep you updated about your health and the condition of your asthma. An individual should make it a point to maintain the appointments with the doctor religiously and they should not miss it for any reason. Asthma conditions vary from day to day. It may get better or it may get worse. Maintaining the appointments with the doctor will help in updating your knowledge about your condition. This will ensure that if your condition is getting worse, you will not be caught unaware in an asthma attack, but will be prepared with your inhaler. Many medical kits are available now-a-days to test the level of your asthma at your home. Peak flow meter is one of them. Using these kits will be really helpful for individuals with asthma, as it will be able to keep a track of the results, and also a record of the attacks. The next time an asthma patient has an appointment with the doctor, he can show the chart and the doctor will be able to diagnose the problem more effectively and also be able to deduce trends of the asthma attack.

Early warnings

Individuals with asthma, usually notice the first symptoms when they develop problems in breathing. Asthma does not affect a person suddenly. However, it is the result of gradual degeneration of breathing accompanied by tightening or constriction effects. The intensity of this constriction effect increases with time leading to asthma. One of the best ways to deal with this problem is to try and detect the first symptoms of breathing difficulty. When faced with such a problem, an individual should stop and sit down and try to control his breathing. It has been found that if an individual is successful in controlling his breathing in such situations, then he can even recover without the use of medicines.

Staying calm

Remaining calm is the key factor in dealing with asthma attacks. An individual should stop doing the work he is doing when an asthma attack occurs. He should remain calm and quiet. One should sit down without putting pressure on his abdomen. One can sit on the front edge of a chair and lean forward to get relief. Concentrating on your breathing while remaining in this position helps to give relief. Panicking under such situation will cause further damage. You hyperventilate and make the situation worse. Rather than becoming stressed, try and remember the location of your inhaler. After you have calmed down, use the inhaler and remain calm. This will help you to get relief.

 

Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure. Preventing the asthma causing factors is one such technique to deal effectively with asthma. Using hypoallergenic bedding, avoiding furry animals, using specially filtered vacuum cleaners are some of the techniques. One of the cheapest methods is to practice meditation. It helps in controlling your breathing. This makes you equipped when you are suddenly affected with asthma as you will be able to control your breathing. This also limits the asthma from getting worse. A medical grade air purifier (HEPA air purifier) can also be used to reduce indoor air pollutants. This air purifier removes the dust, pollen grains, pet dander and other asthma triggering elements from your house, thereby ensuring you safety from asthma attacks.

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