Asthma-14 Ways To Breath Easier-[Part-1]
If you have asthma, you know the dreaded choking
sensation, the faintness, the anxiety. It's as if someone
made you run around the block, then pinched your
nose shut and forced you to breathe through a straw.
And you know all too well that once an asthma attack
starts, it won't go away by itself. Asthma sufferers
make up an estimated five to ten percent of the
population. And while no two persons with asthma
are alike in the subtle characteristics of the condition,
they do have one thing in common: They have trouble
breathing properly. The reason is that their lungs are
supersensitive and easily provoked into constriction
by a wide variety of outside factors, called triggers.
As you have probably discovered, perhaps the hard
way, many things can set an asthma attack into
motion--someone's perfume, a smoke-filled room, a
friendly dog, a flowery garden, a strong wind, or even
a good laugh. (Asthma, however, is a hereditary
condition, so unless a person is genetically
predisposed, nothing will make asthma happen.)
Triggers can be allergic or nonallergic, and reactions
can be immediate or delayed.
While there is no cure for asthma, the good news is
that asthma--whether mild, moderate, or severe--can
be managed. Doctors who specialize in treating
asthma can be very helpful. Every patient with asthma
should see a doctor to be sure another cause of
wheezing is not present and, if true atopic asthma is
present, to develop a therapeutic program for
managing the disorder.
In addition to working with your doctor, you can take
measures to help control your asthma. The key is to
track down the triggers and, as completely as possible,
eliminate them from your life. In short, you can help
counter an asthma attack before it happens. Here's
how:
Smite the mite.
"Dust mites are microscopic insects that thrive on
food debris and high humidity," says Allan M.
Weinstein, M.D., an asthma/allergy specialist in
private practice in Washington, D.C. "Since they are
among the most common allergic asthma triggers,
dustproofing is a must." His suggestions:
* Enclose your mattress in an airtight, dustproof
cover, then cover it with a washable mattress pad.
Keep a bedspread on the bed during the day.
* Wash your sheets in hot water every week, wash
your mattress pads and synthetic blankets every two
weeks, and wash your pillows every month.
* Use polyester or dacron pillows, not those made of
kapok or feathers, and enclose them in airtight,
dustproof covers.
* Avoid carpeting, which is difficult to clean; stick to
bare floors with washable area rugs.
* Choose washable curtains instead of draperies.
* Try not to do heavy cleaning, but if you must, use
only a vacuum cleaner and damp cloth to clean; dust
mops and brooms stir up the dust. Always use hot
water. "Cold water is like a day in the sun to a dust
mite," says Weinstein.
* Wear a mask over your mouth and nose while
cleaning, and leave the room when you're done.
* Run an air conditioner or dehumidifier in warm
weather, especially in spring and fall when mites
multiply. Aim to keep the humidity level in your
home under 40 percent but above 25 percent.
* Consider using an air purifier in the bedroom to
keep the room free from dust particles.
Minimize mold.
"Fungus is a parasite that can literally 'grow on you,'"
says Stuart Young, M.D., an asthma/allergy specialist
in New York. "It can grow on nonliving organic
material, too, in several forms--mold, dry rot, and
downy mildew." Fungi reproduce by producing
spores. The spores are the real problem, as millions of
them float through the air to be inhaled in every
breath, touching off an allergic reaction that can
contribute to asthma. To stave off the spores, Young
advises you to:
* Keep your windows closed, because the mold
spores can come right in through the windows even if
the windows have screens.
* Stay out of attics, basements, and other dank, musty
places.
* Wear a face mask and give your bathroom a goingover
for signs of mold. (Better yet, have a nonallergic
family member do this.) The most likely spots for
mold growth: dark areas, such as the backs of
cabinets and under the sink.
* Examine all closets regularly to see that molds have
not set up housekeeping in unused shoes and boots.
* On a regular basis, have a family member or friend
investigate the inner workings of air conditioners,
humidifiers, and vaporizers in your home where
molds like to grow.
* Periodically check houseplants for mold growth. In
fact, getting rid of mold will help your plants, as well.
Make peace with pollen.
Pollen is released when plants are blooming--trees in
the spring, grass in the late spring and early summer,
ragweed from mid-August until the first frost. Plants
that are pollinated by the wind are much more of a
problem for asthmatics than are those pollinated by
insects. "The goal is to learn how to live with pollen,
not hide away from it," says Loomis Bell, M.D., chief
of pulmonary--critical care medicine at St. Luke's--
Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. He
recommends that you avoid cutting grass or even
being outside while grass is being mowed. Keep your
windows closed as much as possible--pollen can get
through screens, too--and use an air conditioner to
cool your home instead. Room air purifiers are also
available that can purify recirculated air, removing
particles of all sorts that are suspended in the air and
further cleansing the air by passing it through a
charcoal filter. After being outside in the midst of
pollen, take off your clothes and wash them or at least
run a vacuum over the articles of clothing. Wash
yourself, too, and don't forget your hair.
Don't pet a pet.
The best approach is to not have a pet that can trigger
your asthma, advises Young. 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," Young
warns. 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.
Bathing the animal in this way significantly reduces
the amount of allergen on your pet's fur, according to
Clifton T. Furukawa, M.D., clinical professor of
pediatrics at the University of Washington School of
Medicine in Seattle.
[To Be Continued]
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