In case of not being controlled, asthma is a disease that, in addition to being chronic, can become fatal, so we should not abandon treatment under any circumstances
According to data published by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) on May 2, 2017, at least 10% of the population of children and adolescents and 5% of adults suffer from asthma. Many asthmatics usually take their illness with some lightness, especially in mild and moderate cases or when crises pass and symptoms disappear.
It is important to keep in mind that an asthma attack is life threatening if it is not treated properly. The death rate in many countries for asthma is 2 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, while around 100,000 people die every year in the world. Discipline and common sense are two essential elements to live in peace if you have asthma.
Bear in mind that you can keep your organism in optimal conditions, here at Northcote Medical you’ll find qualified professionals for this task. Contact us today.
- No smoking
The action of tobacco smoke, combined with that of nicotine in the human body, is life threatening. When there is a diagnosis of asthma it is essential to quit tobacco.
Being a passive smoker is also harmful. Staying in a room with someone smoking not only amounts to breathing contaminated air, but the clothes will be impregnated with smoke, and the risk will continue, anywhere.
- Cleaning and order at home
Dust is a classic trigger for asthmatic crises, as well as some related diseases, such as chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis. The use of hypoallergenic bedspreads is recommended to reduce exposure to mites.
Also, clothing, blankets, and sheets should be removed and vacuumed regularly to avoid asthma and its effects.
Food should remain perfectly stored and away from the bedrooms. Cockroaches and rodents are two triggers of asthma attacks, as well as unhealthy from any point of view. The humidity must also be minimized. Mould and fungi are elements that play against anyone with asthma.
The use of detergents and disinfectants without fragrances is recommended.
- Exercise and take care of food
Exercise is not contraindicated in almost any case for those who suffer from asthma. You have to take certain precautions, such as avoiding playing football in fields whose lawn has been recently trimmed.
Before starting any physical activity, a warm-up routine must be followed. The body should gradually adapt to the effort it will undergo.
This is not always true, so the risks of suffering not only asthma attacks but any type of physical injury in general are very high. At the end of the exercise, it is also important to perform a relaxation routine, so that the breath recovers its normal rhythm progressively.
There are no contraindicated sports. In any case, swimming is universally recommended for asthmatics, since the moments of maximum intensity are short. Finally, if the exercise is done outdoors and it is cold, it is suggested to use scarves to protect the throat and mouth.
- Change jobs
The work environment is important, because we spend many hours of the day in it. In this sense, occupational asthma is more common than many people think.
This pathology is presented by the constant breathing of elements present in the work area, such as wood dust or grains, fungi and some chemical substances. However, changing jobs is not always so easy.
Thus, in addition to using some medications under strict medical supervision, those affected should seek to move to areas with less presence of the substance that causes the problem. It is also important to use respiratory devices, such as special masks.
- Go to the doctor and comply with the prescribed treatments
Specialists argue that asthma is far from being completely under control. And it is that less than 30% of the people who are diagnosed comply with the ordered medication regimens.
Most patients stop symptomatic treatments as soon as they begin to feel better. In the case of preventive treatments, the compliance rate is even more daunting. Few things can be more unpleasant and hopeless than an asthma crisis. To prevent them, many times, it only takes a little common sense.
It is very important that if you suffer from this disease you visit your trusted doctor. It is your health that is at risk, so do not leave the treatment to feel improvement, remember that you must be constant.
- Take common sense when traveling
As long as asthma is well controlled and stable, an asthmatic person can travel like any other, but he must always carry with him his usual medications, the written action plan he has developed with his doctor and the medications he may need in case of worsening or crisis.
- Take your medication every day, even if you don’t suffer symptoms
In order to control your asthma and enjoy a good quality of life, it is very important that you take the medication that your doctor has prescribed in the dose, frequency and duration indicated.
- Never abandon treatment on your own
Tell your doctor any questions you may have about how to follow him or your possible fears of side effects – very unlikely – but never stop taking the medication on your own initiative.
- Always consult your doctor before taking new drugs
Never self-medicate and inform your doctor of new prescriptions that other specialists may have indicated. In any case, always inform your pharmacist, dentist and doctors of your asthmatic condition.
- Learn to recognise and act in the face of crises
Ask your doctor to teach you to detect the symptoms of worsening – for which sometimes an expiratory flow meter may be necessary – and develop with him a written action plan, which tells you exactly how you should react in case of a severe crisis: increase the dose of medication, take a new one or go to the Emergency Department.
Remember you can visit a qualified professional here at Northcote Medical.
