It’s already a task to breathe in the polluted air daily and now think about people who are going through asthma problems. It is heartbreaking how some people need to face problems with some of the basic functioning of survival, breathing.
Therefore, today we will discuss some important information on asthma. What causes asthma? What are the preventive steps to fight asthma or control its symptoms?
Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation in the lungs that further narrows in the airways. The chronic condition of asthma does not occur overnight or within a week. It takes years and people with asthma experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing while breathing, and chest tightness.
Mostly the coughing becomes worse early in the morning or at night, asthma can occur in any age group, but this problem generally occurs in childhood.
Preventive Steps for Asthma Attacks:
1. Use a cloth that is allergy-proof on your pillows and mattresses.
2. You can also use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture level in the air. This will prevent you from mold in the house.
3. Wash the bedding area at least once a week in hot water (130 degrees F) to prevent dust mites.
4. Try to avoid stuffed toys and avoid carpets in your room.
5. If you cannot remove carpets from your house, you should clean those carpets with a vacuum cleaner twice or thrice a week.
6. Make sure your washrooms are clean and dry to prevent mold because mold is triggering your asthma problem.
7. Do not even think about smoking. Even if you are in an area where someone else is smoking, try to leave or distance. Immediately do not inhale smoke.
8. Try to avoid allergens that can trigger your asthma attack because this can cause inflammation in the airways that causes breathlessness and other symptoms of an asthma attack.
There are some other factors that cause asthma attacks and make the airways more restrict and narrower, which cause severe breathlessness like swelling of the lining of the airways, secretion of mucus and bronchospasm.
Medication to prevent asthma complications:
Asthma comes under two types of categories. In the first category, you need to take some of the medication daily to treat asthma or say to prevent attacks. However, in the other category, you need to take quick-relief medications for quick relief during an asthma attack. You can have these quick-relief medications to prevent asthma attacks or taking these medications at the first sign of asthma attacks can be beneficial to prevent asthma attacks.
Types of Asthma Medications:
· A shot.
· A liquid.
· An inhaler.
· A tablet.
Levels of Asthma you should know:
1. Green zone:
If you are under the green zone level, this means your asthma condition. This means you are not facing any symptoms of asthma and you feel fine throughout the day. The green zone peak flow is 80 to 100 per cent, and this means you are doing well.
2. Yellow zone:
If you are under the yellow zone level, this means your asthma condition is worse and in this condition, you need to consult a doctor to help you get some relief from your asthma symptoms. The yellow zone peak flow is 50 to 80 percent of your personal best. In the yellow zone level, you face severe asthma symptoms like waking up at night because of coughing and shortness of breath, being unable to do normal day-to-day activities, wheezing, and these symptoms remain as it throughout an entire day.
3. Red zone:
If you are under the red zone level, this means you need immediate medical help and one should not delay rushing to the hospital. Red zone peak flow is less than 50 percent of your personal best. This is a worse asthma attack condition that causes extreme shortness of breath; you cannot do anything and your condition needs immediate medical help.
Other Preventive Steps for Asthma are:
1. Do not use harsh chemical-based products for cleaning or fumes for cleaning because this can trigger your asthma symptoms. Always avoid inhaling fumes and prevent yourself from such exposures if inside and outside your home.
2. Try to involve yourself in activities and people that keep you away from stress because if excess stress can trigger your asthma. Therefore, it is important to involve yourself in activities that help you feel relax and reduce your stress. You can also perform some of the breathing exercises like yoga asanas.
3. Make sure the air quality, at least inside your house, is better and for this, you can use a humidifier and air purifier because extreme humid and hot weather and poor quality air can trigger your asthma symptoms.
4. Make sure your seasonal allergies are in check. If you are on medication, do not skip your medication and try to avoid going out when the pollen counts are high. Consult your doctor in case you have a fever.
At last, It is better for you if the surrounding people know about your asthma condition like your co-workers, your friends, coaches, teachers and family members. In case you experience any severe symptoms of asthma, the surrounding people can act accordingly to help you.