Most of us take the life-giving act of breathing for granted!

The vast majority of the time we don’t even think about it. Breathing just happens.

Until that is, your ability to take in oxygen comes under threat. Only then, with a tight chest and wheezy breaths, do you become conscious of the situation. Of course, it doesn’t take long for that awareness to give way to panic.

After all, few things in life are more terrifying than feeling/being unable to breathe.

The 25 million asthmatic Americans know this all too well. For them, knowing how to control asthma can literally be a matter of life and death. They live in full awareness of their breathing, painfully cognizant that it could be withdrawn at any time.

Thankfully, there are numerous ways to keep asthma in check. Looking for advice on doing exactly that? Read on for 7 top tips on how to manage asthma more effectively.

1. Know Thyself

Everybody’s experience with asthma is different.

For instance, some people suffer from it worse than others. They experience more debilitating symptoms and face extreme attacks.

The triggers that spark peoples’ asthma vary as well. Be it dust, pollen, allergies, stress, cigarettes, or exercise, all manner of factors can spark attacks in people.

One key to controlling your asthma is knowing your own personal triggers. You can then take steps to reduce the risk of suffering and avoid potential asthma attacks. Without this insight, you risk walking right into life-endangering situations.

2. Understand (And Take) Your Medication

Your asthma medication offers an essential weapon with which to control the condition.

It’s of utmost importance that you understand how and when to take it. Any issues can prevent the medication from reaching your airways and working to full effect.

Clarify any confusion with your health-care provider. Ask them if you’re taking it correctly and make sure you know when it’s required. The last thing you want is to have an asthma attack and be unable to reap the full benefits on offer.

Likewise, remember the chronic nature of the condition you’re battling against. There’s a good chance that you’ll need to take the medication even in the absence of symptoms. Once again, check with your doctor to hone your understanding of what’s involved.

3. Create a Disaster Plan

Failing to plan is like planning to fail.

This age-old quote provides an essential insight into effectively managing your asthma. Why? Because it’s hard to think clearly in the midst of an attack.

Swept away in the panic that arises, your ability to make sensible, life-preserving decisions can be impaired.

Having a well-rehearsed plan reduces your need to think. You know what to do already, with protocols in place to address the issue and ease your symptoms.

Work with your GP to put a sensible plan in place that’s personalized to your individual needs. At the very least, think about which medications you need to take and know when to call the emergency services.

4. Try to Avoid Falling Sick

Obviously, nobody wants to get sick!

There’s nothing fun about catching the cold, flu, or any other illness. You feel lousy and risk infesting others at the same time.

However, these kinds of viruses can be particularly dangerous for asthma sufferers. They interact with the condition and cause symptoms that otherwise wouldn’t develop.

That’s why it’s important to be proactive in avoiding these illnesses. Stay away from people you know to be ill, get a flu shot each year, and keep everything nice and clean at home. With a bit of luck, you’ll steer clear and stay safe.

5. Stay In Shape

Exercising can be a daunting prospect when you’ve got asthma.

As a common cause of symptoms, doing anything that elevates your heart rate can feel like walking into the lion’s den. It becomes tempting to avoid exercise in order to reduce the risk of having an asthma attack.

The irony is that getting out of shape can make asthmatic matters worse. Your immune system weakens, your heart rate will rise quickly during exercise, and you’ll find it harder to recover.

It becomes a vicious cycle. Being overweight means you’re more likely to experience symptoms when you exercise. As such, you avoid physical activity and become even unhealthier.

Conversely, staying fit and active is known to reduce the impact of the condition. You’ll suffer less severe symptoms on a more infrequent basis.

6. Stop Smoking!

Smoking is absolute kryptonite to people with asthma.

Inhaling cigarette smoke when you’ve got a respiratory condition is like eating fast food when your cholesterol’s sky-high. It’s only ever going to make matters worse.

In the same way, your asthma’s going to be less debilitating if you stop smoking. Your body will thank you in a plethora of ways, including a reduction in asthmatic symptomology.

It’s worth pointing out the importance of avoiding second-hand smoke too. Unfortunately, even being around people who are smoking can be enough to exacerbate your asthma. The best bet is to stay away from any and all smoky situations.

7. Create an Allergen-Free Home

Is your asthma affected by allergens in your environment?

Well, it makes sense to do what you can to create an allergy-proof home. Everything from buying dust-mite-proof bedding to regularly cleaning the house can make a difference.

Your pets could be another important part of the puzzle. Try to keep them off your bed and out of the bedroom altogether. Giving them a regular bath and washing their bedding should help as well.

Exactly How to Control Asthma

There’s nothing pleasant about having asthma.

It puts millions of people in a state of constant worry about their ability to breathe. In severe cases, one wrong move could have disastrous consequences.

That’s why knowing how to control asthma is so vital. It minimizes the risk of symptoms and allows you to walk through life with less stress. We hope this post has helped in this regard!

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