Dealing with Asthma (Part 2)

Don't pet a pet
The best approach is to not have a pet that can trigger your asthma. The problem is not the hair of the animal but the dander--the dead, dry skin that flakes off. The animal licks the skin, and the dander remains in its saliva. If giving up a pet is impossible, the next logical step is to make very strict rules about living with an allergenic animal. Do not allow your pet into the bedroom--ever. If the animal is in the bedroom at any time during the day, the dander will remain for hours. Leave the pet home if you are going for a car ride that would necessitate very close contact with the animal. If you do have direct contact with your pet (or any animal, for that matter), wash your hands right away. If you simply cannot keep your hands off your pet, at least keep your face away; kiss the air--your pet will still get the idea. In addition, try bathing your dog or cat once every other week in warm water with no soap.

Kick the cigarette habit
Tobacco smoke can be an irritant that triggers asthma as well as an allergen that touches off an allergic response leading to asthma. Tobacco smoke is one of the worst irritants known: It paralyzes the tiny hairlike cilia along the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. It also reduces immune response and leaves a smoker much more susceptible to upper-respiratory infection. "There is not a single redeeming feature to cigarette smoking," cautions Weinstein. "Given the known health risks associated with smoking, asthma patients should make every effort to stop smoking--either on their own or with the help of a smoking-cessation program." Nonsmokers who live with a smoker are no better off. So if there's someone in your household who won't quit smoking, ask that individual to take his or her habit outdoors.

Weather the weather
While each person responds to weather conditions and weather variations differently, some general trends may be noted. "Keep close watch on how the weather affects you," advises Young. (That means paying attention to factors including temperature, wind velocity, barometric pressure, and humidity.) "Then try to avoid conditions that cause you problems." For example, you should stay indoors when it is very cold, since a blast of cold air can cause a spasm in your bronchial tubes. Stay indoors if the wind is strong, too. While gusts of wind can blow pollution and smog away, they can also blow pollen in your direction. If you enjoy walking in the rain, you're in luck, because rain tends to wash away roving allergens, pollutants, and irritants.

Watch what you eat
The question of whether foods trigger chronic asthma has yet to be answered. Some foods, such as nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, and strawberries, can result in an array of allergic responses, including asthma symptoms. Sulfites in wine can have a similar effect. While the information available today suggests that the chances are small that food allergies are a trigger for chronic asthma in adults, it is still wise to reduce or eliminate your consumption of certain foods that you notice make your asthma worse. But consult your doctor if you think the foods are nutritionally necessary. Allergies to certain types of food, especially milk and wheat, are more often a trigger of asthma in children. If milk and wheat seem to be causing problems for your asthmatic child, eliminate these foods.

Check labels, and avoid foods that list milk, milk solids, casein, whey, or caseinate as ingredients. (Talk to your doctor about alternate dietary sources of nutrients such as calcium.)Eating away from home can sometimes be a problem, says Weinstein. If you are invited to dinner and don't know what dinner will be, eat something at home before you leave so you won't be left hungry. If you are eating in a restaurant, inquire about the ingredients in the dish you want to order as well as the method of preparation. No matter where you have your meal, common sense suggests that you avoid overeating, eating too fast, and talking while you are eating. Steer clear of alcohol, too, especially if you are taking medications for your asthma. One final reminder: Avoid so-called cytotoxicity tests and similar methods that promise to root out hidden food allergies and cure asthma.

Stay healthy
A problem in the upper airways--such as a respiratory infection--can cause trouble in the lower airways--the bronchial tubes--and precipitate an asthma attack. Everybody wants to be in a state of good health. For a person with asthma, maintaining good health can mean a dramatic lessening of symptoms.

Exercise your options
For years, people with asthma have been told to avoid exercise because it would induce attacks. Research has shown, however, that the more asthmatics exercise, the more exercise they can tolerate. If you have asthma, you should partake in regular aerobic exercise.

Begin with short workouts and gradually increase them. At least at first, keep a bronchodilator with you. If you feel tightness in your chest and can't work through it, use the device. If you are out in very cold or dry air, wear a scarf around your nose and mouth to heat the air before breathing it in. Cool down with light exercise at the end of your workout. If one type of exercise still brings on attacks, try another form of exercise. You may not be able to tolerate running, for example, but you may be able to swim regularly.

Take a deep breath
Breathing exercises provide a form of relaxation and can be of benefit to some patients during an asthma attack. However, it would be a mistake to rely on breathing exercises alone to control an asthma flare, says Weinstein. As long as this rule is not broken, breathing exercises are fine for those patients who find them beneficial. You can practice controlled breathing, which concentrates on slow inhalations through the nose rather than panting breathing through the mouth. He suggests that before starting these breathing exercises, you blow your nose to make sure that your air passages are clear of all foreign matter. Then sit in a chair in a comfortable position.

Take a deep breath and feel your breath going as far down as possible. Your abdomen should expand as you do this exercise. Exhale slowly, feeling your abdomen relax as your breath comes out of your nose. Repeat this exercise at least three times a day (but never right after eating).

Keep your weight down
"Unfortunately, some asthma medications can result in weight gain. An overweight person has to breathe more heavily, and the heart works harder to pump blood all around the body. Weight reduction is very important," says Bell. If you are overweight, you and your doctor should work together to establish a diet plan that will reduce your calorie intake without depriving you of necessary.