Asthma is defined by doctors as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway that causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. With asthma, the airways become narrow, swell, and produce excess mucus. While the condition may be a minor nuisance for some, it can pose a major problem for others. It can interfere with daily activities and can even lead to a deadly asthma attack. It is an incurable condition, but the symptoms can be managed.
One of the best ways to manage asthma and allergies is to make lifestyle changes:
1. Know and understand your asthma triggers
Asthma attacks can be triggered by a number of factors, including dust, pollen, pet dander, cigarette smoke, mold, and perfume, which can trigger environmental asthma. There are occupational threats that can trigger asthma, such as fumes, gases, dust, and other harmful chemicals. Some patients experience exercise induced asthma in which symptoms only appear when physically active. A lot of these triggers can be controlled or managed by simply avoiding them or with a doctor-prescribed inhaler.
2. Try an anti-inflammatory diet
Asthma is an inflammatory disorder and an anti-inflammatory diet can be helpful for those with asthma. Much like the beloved Mediterranean diet, an anti-inflammatory diet claims to reduce the inflammation associated with asthma and other serious medical conditions, like heart disease and cancer. Opt for foods loaded with minerals and vitamins, like vitamin D, A, and magnesium, including salmon, fortified milk, eggs, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, apples, bananas, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and swiss chard.
3. Stay active
Even if you have exercise induced asthma, it is important to keep up with physical activities. A study published in 2015 found that patients with moderate to severe asthma experience less severe reactions to working out after 12 weeks of aerobic training and education. Exercise can also help you lose weight too, which is good to consider since obesity can trigger asthma.
4. Destress
Strong emotions like stress can trigger asthma and it’s not even the negative emotions. Some patients have found that laughing can produce asthma symptoms. Research has shown over and over again how harmful and unhealthy chronic stress can be and reducing stress in our lives can be downright difficult. We recommend utilizing stress management techniques like meditation and yoga, developing a regular exercise routine, spending time with loved ones, and counselling or therapy as ways to decompress when life feels hectic.
5. Enjoy a cup of joe
Great news for coffee lovers, caffeine is chemically related to a drug called theophylline that is used to treat asthma. It can also reduce respiratory muscle fatigue and open the airways making it easier to breathe. Research has shown that caffeine can improve airway function in people with asthma for up to four hours.