Effective asthma treatment depends on what you do
Asthma treatment isn't just about medication. While your doctor has a
critical role to play, he can't take care of the problem on his own. Asthma
management is about managing your life and environment well.
The doctor will prescribe preventive as well as emergency relief medication. Both are important. However, asthma treatment also depends on reducing the chances of having an attack in the first place. You and your family have a key role here. You can keep asthma from degrading the quality of your life if you adopt sensible self help techniques.
It turns out that there are several different things you can do to reduce the number of attacks and the severity of those attacks. Your doctor can create a personalized action plan for you. A lot of asthma treatment and management revolves around avoiding asthma triggers.
Here are several ways you can manage asthma better.
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The most important asthma treatment step is to follow the doctor's orders precisely. In particular, this means taking the preventive medication as per the schedule drawn up by him. Unfortunately, many asthma patients quit taking preventive medication when they feel better. This ultimately results in more asthma attacks. Likewise, if your doctor has asked you to measure peak flow every day, make sure you do that so that he can monitor your condition.
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Pet dander is a common asthma trigger. If possible, avoid keeping any pets in the house. If that is impractical, at least keep pets out of the bedroom.
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Dust is another cause of asthma attacks. Keep your home as dust free as possible. Use cylinder vacuums, especially ones where the cleaner bag is enclosed inside a canister. This will prevent dust from being blown back into the air.
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Dust control doesn't mean just vacuuming or dusting your home regularly. You need to create an environment where dust - and dust mites - can't accumulate. If possible, avoid carpeting and heavy draperies throughout the house. At the minimum, avoid using them in the bedroom. And regularly vacuum the ones you do have in the house.
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Get rid of stuffed animals and other similar decorations. The same goes for down feather pillows, comforters, etc. Use mite-proof plastic covers on mattresses, because mattresses are breeding grounds for dust mites.
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Quit smoking, if you are a smoker. Cigarette smoke can easily trigger asthma attacks. If anyone else in the family smokes, they should avoid smoking in the house, since secondary smoke can lead to asthma too.
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Some foods and drinks can set off allergies and asthma attacks, as can some medications. Remain aware of what foods and drugs do not suit you and be sure to stay away from them.
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Prevent mould growth because of its linkage to asthma. Don't keep plants in the house, since mould can grow in the soil. Wet laundry should not be kept for long and should be dried immediately. Bathrooms should be disinfected and thoroughly washed frequently.
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If your asthma symptoms are set off by airborne allergens, monitor air quality on a daily basis. Pollen season can be particularly tricky and you should avoid woods and open fields during the season. If cold air acts as a trigger, it may help to cover your nose and mouth with a scarf during cold weather.
As you can see, a large part of effective asthma treatment depends on you.
Follow the prevention plan prescribed by your doctor and you should see
significant reduction in asthma attacks.