Cure for asthma | My experience | Don’t Smoke | Eat healthily | Exercise | Protect | Medications | Takeaway
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which leads to difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing.
Asthma can be a debilitating condition, but with the right management and prevention techniques, it’s possible to minimize its impact on daily life. In this article, we’ll explore five effective strategies for managing and preventing asthma symptoms, including tips on quitting smoking, making dietary changes, exercising regularly, avoiding triggers, and using medications.
Is there a cure for asthma? 🤔
While there is no cure for asthma, it can be managed and controlled with the right treatment and prevention techniques.
In this blog post, we will explore some effective ways to say goodbye to asthma symptoms and achieve better control over the condition.
My Asthma Story: Coping with Symptoms and Finding Relief 😮💨
I have had serious asthma and suffered from many really bad asthma attacks, ending up in the emergency department many times.
Coming to New Zealand from India, where the air quality is really bad is a blessing I owe to my parents. New Zealand has the cleanest air in the world and my asthma was instantly cured, I didn’t have to take my inhaler for many years.
From 7 years old to about 18, I didn’t have to use my inhaler, except for the few times I had contact with my asthma triggers, like feathers and when I went back to India on holiday.
All this changed once I finished high school and started university, as I spent more of my time studying my health suffered.
My diet changed, I exercised less and for the first time, I tried smoking shisha at get-togethers with my friends, eventually going regularly every few months.
The combination of all this caused me to need to use my inhaler on a regular basis.
What caused me to stop smoking?
Only one other friend from my group had asthma. Although I didn’t know this at the time.
Every time we got together, my friend who had asthma would decline smoking shisha each time. I thought he was just being health conscious.
Eventually, I found out he had asthma when I had a mild asthma attack after eating an allergic food and luckily he had his inhaler on him.
This caused made me realise how unaffected he is by peer pressure, the many times we asked him to smoke shisha with us. He really cared and made the right decisions to not worsen his asthma or trigger it.
Thanks to my friend, I was motivated to change my habit and take my asthma more seriously.
So I have first-hand experience with how to manage my asthma and I know what works and what doesn’t. Although it may be different for you and you may have different triggers than me, most of the tips I will share below should help you.
1. Quit Smoking and Avoid Second-Hand Smoke to Manage Asthma🚭
No form of smoking is good for your lungs as the burning effects and smoke will damage your lungs no matter what you smoke.
This includes :
- Vapes (e-cigarettes)
- Pipes including for smoking cannabis
- Cigars
- Hookah/shisha
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are major risk factors for asthma and can worsen asthma symptoms. Smoking is a leading cause of asthma and the chemicals in cigarette smoke can irritate the airways and cause inflammation.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can also cause irritation and inflammation in the airways. The best way to avoid the negative effects of smoking and secondhand smoke on asthma is to quit smoking or avoid secondhand smoke by avoiding places where smoking is allowed, choosing smoke-free environments
Be firm when your friends if they offer you to try their vape or try shisha, tell them you have asthma and they should understand.
If they are still persistent and don’t hang out with you because of this they aren’t really your friends, either they aren’t mature enough or they don’t care about your health/well-being.
2. Asthma and Diet: Foods to Avoid and Nutrients to Incorporate🍎
A healthy diet can play an important role in managing asthma symptoms. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can help improve overall health and lung function.
Additionally, studies have shown that a diet high in processed foods and saturated fats can increase the risk of asthma and worsen symptoms.
Examples of inflammatory foods include:
- Refined carbohydrates
- Trans fats
- Processed meats
- High-sugar foods
- High-fat dairy products
- Alcohol
- Packaged snacks
A healthy diet can also help with weight management, which is important for people with asthma. Being overweight or obese can worsen asthma symptoms, so it’s important to maintain a healthy weight.
Consume anti-inflammatory foods to offset any inflammatory foods and as part of your regular diet.
Examples include:
| Anti-inflammatory foods | Examples |
| Fruits and vegetables | Berries, cherries, oranges, apples, leafy greens, and tomatoes |
| Omega-3 rich foods | Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines |
| Whole grains | Oats, quinoa, and brown rice |
| Nuts and seeds | Almonds, walnuts, and flaxseeds |
| Herbs and spices | Turmeric, ginger, garlic, and rosemary |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | Olive oil |
| Legumes | Beans, lentils, and chickpeas |
3. Exercise Tips to Manage Asthma Symptoms 👟
Take up some form of exercise as part of your daily routine.
Exercise is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing asthma symptoms. Regular physical activity can improve lung function, increase muscle strength, and reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
However, exercise-induced asthma can be a concern for some individuals with asthma, but it can be managed by warming up properly before exercising, choosing an appropriate exercise, monitoring symptoms, using breathing techniques, carrying a reliever inhaler and taking preventive medication as prescribed by a doctor.
4. Protect Yourself from Asthma Triggers: Allergens, Pollution, and More💪
It’s essential to understand the triggers that cause asthma symptoms. Common triggers include allergens, irritants, and respiratory infections. By identifying and avoiding these triggers, you can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
For example, if you know that you are allergic to certain types of pollen, you can plan to stay indoors on days when the pollen count is high. If you know that you are sensitive to certain types of cleaning products, you can opt for natural cleaning solutions instead.
Wear a mask when clearing dust. It will help lower the pressure on your lungs.
5. Medications for Managing Asthma🩺
Medications are an essential part of asthma management and prevention. There are different types of medications that are used to treat asthma, including bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and leukotriene modifiers.
Your doctor will work with you to determine the right medication or combination of medications to control your asthma symptoms. It’s important to take your medications as prescribed and to keep track of your symptoms to determine if your treatment plan needs to be adjusted.
Takeaway ✍️
Asthma is a chronic condition that can be managed and controlled with the right treatment and prevention techniques. By identifying and avoiding triggers, taking medications as prescribed, and making lifestyle changes, you can say goodbye to asthma symptoms and achieve better control over the condition.
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