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Asthma Angel provides tips to help reduce your exposure to triggers and to make
living with asthma as hassle free as possible. As well as following your doctor's advice, here are
a few of our top do's and don'ts to help improve your asthma.
Do ...
- live an active life if you can – get to know the type of exercise you can take part
in without triggering an attack. Many people find swimming, dance, martial arts,
yoga, the gym and other indoor sports help their asthma. Don’t give up on exercise
because one type of exercise triggers attacks
- eat plenty of fruit – vitamin C is considered a natural remedy to widen airways.
This will also help reduce the likelihood of colds and chest infections
- each plenty of vegetables – magnesium, found in green vegetables, is believed to
lead to healthier airways. Beta-carotene found in carrots is also thought to help
prevent airway inflammation. As with fruit, eating vegetables will reduce your chance
of getting colds or chest infections
- wear a scarf in cold weather round your neck and mouth. Research has shown that
airways contract when the area around your mouth is cold – the scarf also helps
keep the air that you breathe in slightly warmer
- buy anti-dustmite protectors for your bedding and mattress and keep your bedroom
clean and tidy
Don’ts
- if possible avoid your allergens – things that trigger your asthma such as pets
and pollen. If you can’t avoid your allergens consider ways to reduce contact and
talk to your doctor about increasing your medication at certain times
- dust regularly but avoid airborne dust by using a wet cloth to dust or using throw-away
wipes so dust doesn’t become airborne when cleaning
- avoid dustmites which live in soft furnishings – use anti-dustmite protectors on
bedding and wash your bed sheets at 60 degrees once a week. Washing at a lower temperature
than 60 degrees will not kill dustmites
- avoid being around smoke, and if you smoke yourself try to give up. This includes
smoke from cooking – open a window when you’re cooking and use an extraction fan
if you have one
- reduce your salt intake – a number of different studies have shown that increasing
the amount of salt eaten can make asthma worse
- avoid foods which give you heartburn as this can make your asthma worse
- if you can, reduce the stress in your life. Try breathing exercises and relaxation
tapes which may help your asthma
- avoid using aerosols, strong perfumes and air fresheners
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