Running a little short on breath every once in a while, after having indulged in tough physical activities, in most cases, sound like another commonplace affair that most of us don’t give a second thought to. However, this general phenomenon might turn out to be quite a nuisance if there is an attached set of medical implications to it. If it so happens that your breathing problem has of late gotten out of hand, there is a good chance that you might be suffering from asthma, a disease that results in narrowing and subsequent inflammation of the airways. You’ll be surprised to know that 2/3rd of adults who suffer from this disease either have asthma that is poorly controlled or even worse, entirely uncontrolled. The implications are rather grave since such patients are exposed to a greater risk of sudden and unforeseen worsening of their symptoms, which in turn, pave the path for serious medical complications.

To shield against any possibility of deteriorating health conditions, it is therefore important to correct the biggest mistakes asthmatics make:

• The Correct Medical Supervisor

While family doctors can effortlessly manage cases of breathing problems, they are often not the right people to seek help from during emergencies. For patients with persistent and acute asthma, the best help can often be derived from allergists. This is primarily because they perform tests to establish whether the patient’s asthma triggers happen to be allergy-based or not.

• Spot the Less Obvious Triggers

The agents that trigger asthma are numerous, usually ranging from taxing physical exercises to breathing rapidly in cold air. Most patients are generally aware of what precisely acts as a trigger in their case. What they might sometimes overlook are the agents that are less obvious to spot. Non-steroidal drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin, overwhelming emotional moments, as well as household plants also contribute to the worsening of your condition.

Source

• Get Flu Shots

Annual flu shots must be opted by asthma patients to shield against flu complications that tend to have grave consequences on the patient’s health. Pneumonia vaccinations are often not also prescribed for asthmatics.

• Take Your Medications Regularly

Most asthmatics harbour a preconceived notion that taking controller medicines cease to be necessary once their condition improves- one of the major mistakes asthmatics make. What is imperative, on one hand, is to recognise the medicine that is the effective ‘controller medication’ in your case, so that you may use it daily, even if there are no symptoms and on the other hand, to circle the ‘rescue medication’ that can be effectively used for curbing asthma symptoms.

Source

• Disinfect Your Home

There is a direct relation between hygiene and triggering agents. If your house harbours cockroaches and other pests of similar nature, chances are that your asthma problem will aggravate in no time. Go for cockroach traps and pest control for maintaining better living conditions.

• Don’t Let Pets Sleep Next To You

Pets invariably carry legions of allergens that comprise moulds, pollen and dust. They may easily deposit these in your bed, thereby thrusting you towards greater allergen exposure.

• Keep the Windows Closed

Pollen exposure is drastically cut down when the windows are kept closed. The recirculation feature of the air conditioning system enables you to minimise the number of allergens that enter your home.

• Air Fresheners and Candles

Pleasant and soothing aromas of air fresheners and scented candles often irritate the nasal passage, thereby contributing to asthma attacks – a classic case of mistakes asthmatics make. They must, therefore, be avoided as much as possible.

Source

• Check the Weather

It is always advisable for asthmatics to try and plan the day in accordance with the weather conditions. If humid conditions trigger inflammations in your case, you might want to spend more time outdoors in the morning.

• Formulate Emergency Action Plans

To avoid the mistakes asthmatics make – a written emergency action plan must be formulated by every asthmatic to ensure that the most appropriate measures are taken during crisis periods. The information for contacting your doctor, along with the details of your symptoms must also be provided in the same.

Read More: What You Need To Know About Asthma Treatment  & Remedies

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.