There are few things as terrifying as an asthma attack. If you’re reading this, you’re probably an asthma sufferer, and you know exactly how terrifying it is. Your throat closes up, and the feeling of suffocation is horrifying. You struggle to gulp down any air, while everyone around you panics. It’s even worse if you’re surrounded by people who don’t understand how to help. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, you’re probably wondering how you can manage it better. How can you make sure your risk of attack decreases? How can you live a healthy and normal life, without suffering these painful and terrifying attacks? Here are the basic steps you can take to help manage your asthma better.
Take your prescribed medicine
This may sound like obvious advice. But, you’d be surprised how many asthma sufferers ignore it. Many think they don’t need to take medicine or their inhaler on a ‘good day’. Now, asthma treatments are getting better all the time. Visit improvingtreatments.co.uk to see some of the good work being done. But, the current medicines are by no means a miracle cure. They are preventative solutions, designed to help you cope with the condition. That means taking your prescribed medicine and inhaler twice daily. No matter how you’re feeling.
Asthma action plan
Your GP should sit down with you and write an asthma action plan. It might sound silly, but it could save your life. It’s your complete handbook to dealing with your condition. It’s important that you treat it with respect, and follow the advice carefully. The action plan will outline your medicine and treatments. It will highlight your triggers, and show you how to deal with an asthma attack if it comes. You should also make sure your family and close friends understand your action plan.
Recognise your triggers
Asthma attacks can strike at any time. Even when you least expect them. Unfortunately, you can’t stop every attack, but you can reduce the frequency. By learning to understand your triggers, you can start to avoid harmful environments. Any number of things can trigger asthma attacks. Exercise, stress, emotions, animal fur, pollen, food and alcohol are just a few! Avoiding all of these things is just about impossible! But, what you can do is learn to spot when a trigger could develop into something worse. Just practice caution when triggers are around.
Regular reviews
Your asthma is an evolving condition. As you grow older, things may change. You may develop more triggers. You may lose some triggers! What’s crucial here is that you visit your GP regularly and review your asthma. They can alter your medicine or make suggestions for alternative lifestyle choices. Make sure you keep up with the changing nature of your asthma.
Don’t let asthma control your life. Instead, you must learn to control the asthma. Most people with the condition lead full and happy lives. So can you. Just follow this advice, and stay one step ahead! Good luck.
