Life style change, which can help manage Asthma in a better way

Staff Reporter

New Delhi,May 29,2017 : 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 are rapidly increasing, especially in urban areas.

Asthma is a chronic disease involving the airways in the lungs. These airways, or bronchial tubes, allow air to come in and out of the lungs. If you have asthma, your airways are always inflamed. They become even more swollen and the muscles around the airways can tighten when something triggers your symptoms. This makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness. The symptoms are also triggered in response to some kind of allergens like dust, cigarette smoke, pollution, infection, pollens or hypersensitivity.

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 allerges. Some factors that can lead to asthma are:

• Physical activity for an extended period of time which might lead to shortness of breath.
• Dust, mites, spores, pollen dust, cockroach feces, common cold and infections.
• Cold and humid air
• Smoke and fog
• Stress and anxiety
• Medication that may trigger the condition
• Pollution from vehicles

Though asthma needs medical attention, there are certain lifestyle changes that can cut down your risk of bothering 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. Stuffed toys and bedding should be washed in hot water frequently.

Keep your nasal passages clear:  If you feel stuffed up, try using saline spray to clear your nasal passages. This will reduce strain on your airways by helping you breathe easier—and also cut down on post-nasal drip, which can trigger attacks.

Many asthma sufferers rely on these lifestyle changes to help control their symptoms and avoid common allergy triggers.

Keep in mind that individual reactions to food vary a great deal, but here are some guidelines on what to eat to possibly help asthma, or at least not make it worse.

Foods that helps Asthma:                                           

Flax seeds

Flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids as well as magnesium. Some research suggests that omega-3s, abundant in salmon and other oily fish, have a beneficial effect on asthma, but that research is still preliminary.

Coffee

It seems that every week there’s a new headline on how caffeine might—or might not—affect your health. With regards to asthma, at least, caffeine is emerging as a good guy.

Carrots

Carrots are famous for containing beta-carotene, another antioxidant. Beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body, may reduce the incidence of exercise-induced asthma.

Apples

Here’s one more reason to put apples on your list of foods to eat every day.  According to a study even after controlling for other factors, people who reported eating two to five apples a week had a 32% lower risk of asthma than people who ate less. Beneficial compounds known as flavonoids may be responsible as it open up airways.

 Avocado

Avocados contain an important antioxidant called glutathione. Their role in the body is to protect cells against the damage inflicted by free radicals.

Foods that worsen Asthma:

Eggs

Although skin reactions such as hives are the most common manifestation of an egg allergy, asthma is another possible reaction.

Salt

The main feature of asthma is inflammation and tightening of the airways, and salt can contribute to inflammation by causing fluid retention.