Most asthma sufferers find that summer is an easy time of year for their asthma. Why?
- The warm weather helps alleviate symptoms
- Spending more time outdoors can result in more exercise and less exposure to indoor allergens, both beneficial for the asthma sufferer
- Additionally, colds and flu, one of the main causes of dangerous asthma attacks, are less prevalent during the summer months.
However, many people, especially children, have major problems with asthma in the fall because they have stopped taking their asthma medications during the summer. Remember, you must continue your course of treatment prescribed by your health practitioner even if you do not have asthma symptoms. Do not alter your treatment without consulting your health practitioner.
For some people, there are still asthma triggers present in the summer. Possible asthma triggers that are more common in the summer are:
- Increased air pollution
- Exposure to pollen
- Smoke from grills and campfires
For summer asthma management, you should avoid possible asthma triggers and continue your prescribed treatments.
Helpful Asthma Control Tips
The best way to stay healthy is to prevent asthma attacks from occurring in the first place.
- Medications: you were probably prescribed two types of asthma medications: long term control medications and quick relief medications. You should take these as prescribed by your health practitioner.
- Avoid triggers. Identify your asthma triggers and avoid them as much as possible. This can be tricky, because asthma sufferers do not always react instantly to triggers. It may take several minutes after exposure for an asthma attack to set in. If you have an attack, think carefully about what may have caused it.
- Diet changes may help some asthma sufferers, especially those with allergic asthma. You may be eating something that you are really allergic to, and it might be causing your asthma attacks. Common allergies are milk, nuts, and shellfish.
- Acupuncture, massage, yoga, or chiropractic treatment may help some people control their asthma.
- Biofeedback has also been shown to be useful.
Sources
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/topicofthemonth/0706/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/68678.php
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9⊂=19&cont=254
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9⊂=19&cont=254
