By Chioma Umeha
With increasing pollution levels in the country
and dust particles in the environment, it is no secret that the number of
people suffering from asthma is rapidly increasing, especially in urban areas.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) there
are millions of asthmatics present worldwide. Not just asthma, the increasing
air pollution is also adding to the people complaining of breathlessness,
unexplained coughing, tightening in the chest and wheezing.
Asthma is a chronic breathing condition where your
airways, or bronchial tubes become inflamed and narrow and thus, make it
difficult for you to breathe. The difficulty for the air to move in and out of
lungs triggers symptoms like coughing, shortness of breathe, tightening of
chest and wheezing. The symptoms are also triggered in response to some kind of
allergens like dust, cigarette smoke, pollution, infection, pollens or
hypersensitivity.
Due to plenty of allergens in the atmosphere, a
sensitive person can get an attack due to any of these allergens. It’s not
possible to eliminate all the allergens from the atmosphere, so one must be
very careful of his surroundings and try to minimize the exposure to such
triggers.
People suffering from asthma must keep a record of
allergens that trigger their condition, but if they don’t know, it is always
better to avoid some of the most common type of allergens. Some allergens and
condition including, physical activity for an extended period of time which
might lead to shortness of breath. Others are; dust, mites, spores, pollen
dust, cockroach feces, common cold and infections; cold and humid air; smoke
and fog.
The rest are: Stress and anxiety; medication that
may trigger the condition and pollution from vehicles.
Though asthma needs medical attention, there are
certain lifestyle changes that can cut down your risk of aggravating the
condition, i.e. asthma attack. Following are certain changes, which can help
manage Asthma in a better way. These can be adopted to minimize or even
eliminate the symptoms of the disease.
Stay away from pets: Animal fur, waste and urine
are common allergens which can cause respiratory problems and lead to coughing
and sneezing which can be a trouble for asthmatic patients. Keep your pets away
from your bedroom and keeping them well-groomed and washed can help in
minimizing the problem.
Use air purifier/AC with air filters: Using air
purifier and air conditioners with filter will help to clean the indoor air and
control allergens from entering your house. Air conditioner also minimizes
humidity in the house. If your house is very humid, you can use a dehumidifier
to make it better.
Use mask while travelling and cleaning: When you
travel, there are a lot of allergens around you. So, to keep them at bay, use a
pollution mask.
Clean your room and decor frequently: You should
clean and sanitize your room and its decor frequently to avoid any dust
build-up on them. Try to frequently replace your pillow covers, mattress,
carpet and curtains as these items are the ones which contain most of the dust.
Ensure no molds and fungal deposit are there inside the house. Stuffed toys and
bedding should be washed in hot water every alternate day.
Don’t use heavy fragrances and perfumes: Using
very hard perfumes and fragrances is not a good idea for asthmatics. So, use
mild and liter ones.
Make a list of eatables that trigger your
asthmatic condition: Avoid food products which are known to trigger Asthma.
Eatables like shelfish, cow milk, soy, peanuts, eggs and wheat may be allergens
for some people. You need to identify yours and keep a track of which food
triggers your condition.
Stay healthy: Do regular exercise, yoga and have a
healthy diet. This will strengthen your heart and lungs and make your body more
resistant to asthmatic attacks. A healthy and wholesome diet containing Vitamin
C and E, beta-carotene, Omega fatty acids, antioxidants, magnesium, and
selenium reduces the risk of asthma and boosts immunity.
