Asthma-14 Ways To Breath Easier-[Part-2]

Kick the cigarette habit.

Tobacco smoke can be an irritant that triggers asthma

as well as an allergen that touches off an allergic

response leading to asthma. Tobacco smoke is one of

the worst irritants known: It paralyzes the tiny

hairlike cilia along the mucous membranes of the

respiratory tract. It also reduces immune response and

leaves a smoker much more susceptible to upperrespiratory

infection. "There is not a single redeeming

feature to cigarette smoking," cautions Weinstein.

"Given the known health risks associated with

smoking, asthma patients should make every effort to

stop smoking--either on their own or with the help of

a smoking-cessation program." Nonsmokers who live

with a smoker are no better off. So if there's someone

in your household who won't quit smoking, ask that

individual to take his or her habit outdoors.

Weather the weather.

While each person responds to weather conditions

and weather variations differently, some general

trends may be noted. "Keep close watch on how the

weather affects you," advises Young. (That means

paying attention to factors including temperature,

wind velocity, barometric pressure, and humidity.)

"Then try to avoid conditions that cause you problems.

" For example, you should stay indoors when it is

very cold, since a blast of cold air can cause a spasm

in your bronchial tubes. Stay indoors if the wind is

strong, too. While gusts of wind can blow pollution

and smog away, they can also blow pollen in your

direction. If you enjoy walking in the rain, you're in

luck, because rain tends to wash away roving

allergens, pollutants, and irritants.

Watch what you eat.

The question of whether foods trigger chronic asthma

has yet to be answered. Some foods, such as nuts,

shellfish, milk, eggs, and strawberries, can result in an

array of allergic responses, including asthma

symptoms. Sulfites in wine can have a similar effect.

"While the information available today suggests that

the chances are small that food allergies are a trigger

for chronic asthma in adults, it is still wise to reduce

or eliminate your consumption of certain foods that

you notice make your asthma worse. But consult your

doctor if you think the foods are nutritionally

necessary," says Weinstein. Allergies to certain types

of food, especially milk and wheat, are more often a

trigger of asthma in children. If milk and wheat seem

to be causing problems for your asthmatic child,

eliminate these foods. Check labels, and avoid foods

that list milk, milk solids, casein, whey, or caseinate

as ingredients. (Talk to your doctor about alternate

dietary sources of nutrients such as calcium.)Eating

away from home can sometimes be a problem, says

Weinstein. If you are invited to dinner and don't know

what dinner will be, eat something at home before

you leave so you won't be left hungry. If you are

eating in a restaurant, inquire about the ingredients in

the dish you want to order as well as the method of

preparation. No matter where you have your meal,

common sense suggests that you avoid overeating,

eating too fast, and talking while you are eating. Steer

clear of alcohol, too, especially if you are taking

medications for your asthma. One final reminder:

Avoid so-called cytotoxicity tests and similar

methods that promise to root out hidden food allergies

and cure asthma (see Extra! Extra! - "The Quack

Comes Back").

Stay healthy.

A problem in the upper airways--such as a respiratory

infection--can cause trouble in the lower airways--the

bronchial tubes--and precipitate an asthma attack.

"Everybody wants to be in a state of good health,"

says Bell. "For a person with asthma, maintaining

good health can mean a dramatic lessening of

symptoms." Bell suggests that you stay away from

people who have a cold or the flu, drink plenty of

fluids, and avoid getting overtired; otherwise, you

will be more susceptible to infections. If, despite your

best efforts, you do develop an infection, see your

doctor; early use of antibiotics, when appropriate, can

be quite helpful.

Exercise your options.

For years, people with asthma have been told to avoid

exercise because it would induce attacks. Research

has shown, however, that the more asthmatics

exercise, the more exercise they can tolerate. "If you

have asthma, you should partake in regular aerobic

exercise," says Bell. He recommends that you start by

warming up with light exercise before a morevigorous

workout. (Young recommends using

cromolyn sodium, a prescription medication, 15 to 20

minutes before aerobic exercise; discuss this with

your doctor.) Begin with short workouts and

gradually increase them. At least at first, keep a

bronchodilator with you. If you feel tightness in your

chest and can't work through it, use the device. If you

are out in very cold or dry air, wear a scarf around

your nose and mouth to heat the air before breathing

it in. Cool down with light exercise at the end of your

workout. If one type of exercise still brings on attacks,

try another form of exercise. You may not be able to

tolerate running, for example, but you may be able to

swim regularly.

Avoid aspirin.

Aspirin and certain products that contain aspirin can

trigger asthma attacks in certain people. "It's just wise

to stay away from the whole family of aspirin

products if you have asthma," says Weinstein. "This

is especially true for patients with nasal polyps, for

whom aspirin ingestion can be life threatening. Even

if you have not experienced an asthma flare in the

past, it could occur at any time." Weinstein

encourages anyone with asthma to keep aspirin out of

the medicine chest by checking labels on every over-

the-counter drug that is purchased. (Avoid those that

list "aspirin" and those that contain the initials "ASA,

" "APC," or "PAC"; ask your pharmacist if you are

unsure whether the medication you want to purchase

contains aspirin.) If you feel that you must take

aspirin, get your doctor's approval. According to an

expert report from the National Asthma Education

Program, people with asthma should also stay away

from certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents

(ibuprofen is one such medication) that have effects

similar to aspirin's. Opt instead for such "usually safe

alternatives" as acetaminophen, sodium salicylate, or

disalcid. You may also need to avoid tartrazine

(yellow food dye #5), which is found in a number of

soft drinks, cake mixes, candies, and some

medications, if it aggravates your asthma.

Take a deep breath.

Breathing exercises provide a form of relaxation and

can be of benefit to some patients during an asthma

attack. However, it would be a mistake to rely on

breathing exercises alone to control an asthma flare,

says Weinstein. As long as this rule is not broken,

breathing exercises are fine for those patients who

find them beneficial. "You can practice controlled

breathing, which concentrates on slow inhalations

through the nose rather than panting breathing

through the mouth," says Weinstein. He suggests that

before starting these breathing exercises, you blow

your nose to make sure that your air passages are

clear of all foreign matter. Then sit in a chair in a

comfortable position. Take a deep breath and feel

your breath going as far down as possible. Your

abdomen should expand as you do this exercise.

Exhale slowly, feeling your abdomen relax as your

breath comes out of your nose. Repeat this exercise at

least three times a day (but never right after eating).

Keep your weight down.

"Unfortunately, some asthma medications can result

in weight gain. An overweight person has to breathe

more heavily, and the heart works harder to pump

blood all around the body. Weight reduction is very

important," says Bell. If you are overweight, you and

your doctor should work together to establish a diet

plan that will reduce your calorie intake without

depriving you of necessary nutrients.

Mind your mind.

The notion that asthma is "all in your head" has gone

the way of many medical myths. Asthma is an illness

with both physical and emotional aspects. For

example, asthma attacks can be triggered by

emotional changes, such as laughing or crying, or by

stress. "The human body interacts with the mind,"

says Young, "so by putting your mind at ease, you

can dramatically reduce the panicky feeling that can

make an already existing attack worse." He

recommends developing an upbeat mind-set by

committing yourself to feeling better. A positive

attitude works wonders to enhance your other coping

methods. In addition, be forthright about your asthma;

others will respect your directness and, in most cases,

try to make things easier for you.

Learn to relax.

Since stress and emotional upsets can trigger asthma

attacks, it may be helpful to set aside time each day--

preferably the same time--to practice some form of

relaxation.

 

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Asthma-14 Ways To Breath Easier-[Part-2]