Wednesday, June 20, 2012

7 Health Tips for Keeping Asthma Under Control

Living with asthma may not be the easiest thing for anyone to live with, regardless of their age. However, by educating yourself on the illness, you can get a better understanding of how it affects your body and how to control it. The following are 7 health tips to help you keep your asthma under control:

1. Learn to Recognize the Symptoms

For many people, asthma attacks seem to sneak up on them and before they know it, they are in a situation that seems out of control. By carefully monitoring your symptoms, you will have a better idea of when an attack is going to happen.

2. Educate Yourself on Your Medications

A lot of people who are treated for asthma simply follow their doctor's instructions for taking their medications. The fact is that you might be on several medications and each one is going to get a different result. For example, you may have one medicine that is used for prevention, while another, like a steroid, is to be used for a more serious episode.

3. Keep a Journal on Your Symptoms

Every person diagnosed with asthma should keep a journal on the symptoms, as it can lead to great discoveries on what is actually causing the attacks. Each entry should include what symptoms you are feeling, as well as any reading from your peak flow meter.

4. Learn What is Triggering an Attack

For a lot of asthmatics, understanding what triggers an attack is how they are able to keep such great control over this illness. Simple weather changes could affect your breathing ability and understanding this could help you to know when the right times to take your medications are and which ones to take.

5. Plan a Diet that Includes Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

As many fruits and vegetables are considered to be antioxidants, it is important to add them into the diet. Vitamins C and E are well known for their anti-inflammatory effects and can actually help to reduce irritation or swelling in the lungs.

6. Keep Your Weight Down

Being overweight can easily cause more asthma attacks in the individual. By keeping your weight down, you can reduce the number of symptoms that you experience. Even just losing a few pounds will make a difference.

7. Schedule Consults With Your Doctor

The biggest and most important tool you have to help fight your asthma is your doctor. Their experience and education will play a vital role in how well you are able to reduce your symptoms. Regular visits with your doctor can help determine what triggers an attack and they can advise you on how to get it under better control.

Lexi Davis is a writer who enjoys writing on a number of different verticals. For more on asthma, Preemie Twins offers readers information on studies about premature births and asthma.