Asthma, also known as bronchial Asthma, is a persistent respiratory disease that affects the lungs. The condition is marked by inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Asthma affects millions worldwide. The recent global burden of the disease GBD estimated the total burden of asthma in India to be 34.3 million, accounting for 13.09% of the total global burden.
Asthma patients have apparent signs and symptoms similar to those of other respiratory diseases. You may experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Patients may have all or some of these symptoms and even different symptoms at different times of disease attack.
Asthma becomes aggressive and gets triggered by certain factors such as allergens, pollutants, respiratory infections, exercise, stress, changes in weather, etc. This article educates you about how to be mindful of allergens and asthma-triggering conditions and their management.
5 Home Remedies to Deal with Asthma
The medical treatment the health care practitioner prescribes is crucial for treating and managing Asthma. However, there are some home remedies and techniques to combat the symptoms and intensity of the disease. These remedies go hand in hand with medicines and help the patient get better and reduce the disease outbreak. Some techniques are listed below to help you conquer this chronic disease.
1. Breathing Techniques
Many asthma patients find breathing exercises quite helpful. They reduce the symptoms and occurrence of asthma attacks and improve overall lung health and function.
2. Diaphragmatic Breathing
it is also known as belly breathing or deep breathing. This breathing technique involves using the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large muscle located between the abdomen and the chest.
Most people breathe shallowly. Use only the upper chest muscles and shoulders. Diaphragmatic breathing allows you to breathe deeply and use your lungs to their full capacity. It dramatically helps asthma patients.
3. Pursed Lip Breathing
This breathing technique is beneficial for people with Asthma or shortness of breath. It works by inhaling through the nose and exhaling through pursed (whistle-like) lips. Be mindful that exhalation has to be twice as long as inhalation. It induces relaxation and helps with shortness of breath. It also helps with endurance during exercise.
4. Steam Inhalation
Steam inhalation is quite a simple yet cost-effective method to combat Asthma. One should inhale steam to moisten the airways and nasal passages. It provides relief from asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
You can inhale steam in various ways. You can opt for plain steam or enhance its effectiveness by adding eucalyptus and essential oils to soothe and calm deteriorated airways.
5. Herbal Teas
Certain herbal teas are said to provide relief and soothe asthma symptoms. These teas include ginger tea, green tea, black tea, eucalyptus tea, fennel and licorice tea. Keep in mind that these teas are used as a complement to ongoing medications and therapies. It is not a stand-alone solution for asthma relief.
Allergy Management for Asthma Control
Allergies play a significant role in managing Asthma. Identifying allergens and trying to avoid them as much as possible is crucial for asthmatics. Allergies are one of the factors that can aggravate Asthma. Many people might have Asthma, but they are not allergic to certain things that most asthma patients are, and vice versa. It would help if you visited an allergist to learn more about allergies.
Here are some Management Strategies for Asthma Patients:
1. Avoiding Allergens:
Identify and avoid common allergens such as dust, pollen, dander, mold, and cockroach droppings. Although you may not be able to prevent them entirely, try your best to make your environment as allergen-free as possible.
2. Regular Cleaning:
Vacuum regularly, wash bedding with warm water, and use allergy-free pillows and mattress covers to keep your living environment clean and dust-free. Regular hygiene also keeps dust mites and other allergens at bay.
3. Air Filtration:
You must use high-efficiency particulate Air (HEPA) filters in vacuum cleaners and air purifiers. This improves indoor air quality and effectively removes allergens, which is beneficial for asthma patients.
4. Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy:
Consider consulting an allergist to identify your allergies and triggers. Have allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) to de-sensitize the immune system and reduce allergies.
5. Environment and Life Style Factors
Apart from allergens, several other environmental factors can alleviate asthma symptoms. Here are some tips to avoid common asthma triggers.
- Smoke-free environment: Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke and automobile smoke as it can increase asthma symptoms and can pave the way for asthma attacks.
- Reducing Pollution: Try staying indoors during high pollution and peak traffic hours. For indoor air quality, use air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters.
- Weather Awareness: Always take a look at the weather forecast and be mindful of cold days, high humidity, dryness, and temperature fluctuations. Don’t let unexpected weather catch you off guard—plan ahead and stay safe.
- Stress management: Avoid stress by practicing stress management techniques such as yoga, low-intensity exercise, deep breathing, etc.
Asthma Medications
In addition to lifestyle modification and holistic approaches, asthma medications should be taken religiously. To manage asthma and lead an effective life, you should take medicines as prescribed, understand proper inhaler techniques, and monitor your symptoms closely. There are various types of medications for effective asthma management:
- Relievers (quick-relief medications): These medications provide relief by relaxing muscles around the airways, making breathing easier. Bronchodilators are commonly used to control exercise-induced asthma symptoms during asthma attacks or before exercise.
- Controllers (Long term control medications): These medications are taken regularly to reduce inflammation and control asthma symptoms over time. They include corticosteroids that can be taken orally or nasally.
Emergency Action Plan:
People with asthma need to make an emergency action plan with their healthcare provider. This is necessary during an asthma attack. The person knows how to manage situations. The plan typically includes identification of common triggers and medication to be taken based on the severity of symptoms, monitoring of peak flow, and step-by-step instructions in case of an emergency.
Conclusion
Asthma is a respiratory condition that impacts millions globally. It needs to be managed with proper prescribed medicines and regular checkups. However, lifestyle modification and consideration of allergens are crucial to keep asthma outbreaks in check. By being mindful, one can lead a full, happy, healthy, and energetic life.