If you have asthma, you probably have medications from your doctor to treat and prevent attacks but there are some simple things you can do on your own to reduce the likelihood of an attack. Here are some helpful recommendations to help you make your home environment work with you, instead of against you, in your quest to cut down on asthma attacks.

If you are out of shape, a solid exercise regimen can help improve your asthma symptoms. The fact is that under-exerting ourselves can lead the body to exhaustion more easily. By pushing your boundaries, you tone functions vital to your body’s general balance, making your body less likely to go haywire.

Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.

Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. Doing so can cause an asthma attack you might not have the ability to stop. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.

If you have asthma, and you have no choice but to live in a cold environment, try not to spend too much outside when it is cold. The cold will worsen your asthma symptoms or cause attacks. Spend as much time as you can in a hot environment and when you have to go outside, wear a scarf.

It is important for asthma sufferers to make sure to get their flu shot every year. Getting the flu can be deadly for anyone, but for asthma sufferers, that chance is greater. The flu virus can cause fluid in your lungs, which in turn, can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up.

A yearly home inspection by a qualified professional for common asthma triggers, such as mold spores and dust, is a must for asthma sufferers. Removing any of these substance’s if they are present in your home can reduce the number of asthma attacks suffered and make life more comfortable for the entire family.

Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.

When you travel, carry with you a copy of your doctor’s contact info and a current prescription for your asthma medications. This way, if your baggage is lost or stolen, you can fill your medications without trouble. Even if your doctor is not licensed to prescribe where you’ll be traveling, contact info allows a local doctor to contact your physician and get the needed information to write you a valid prescription.

Asthma is commonly linked to allergies. People with allergies tend to develop asthma more often than people who do not, and also allergic reactions can serve as triggers for asthma attacks. It is therefore important to have your allergies properly diagnosed, and more specifically to be aware of which allergens you have to watch out for. This knowledge will allow you to avoid situations where you could be at risk of an asthma attack.

Add onions to your daily diet. Onions contain a chemical called diphenyl-thiosulfate, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects. Eating more onions can reduce your need for pharmaceutical interventions in order to treat your asthma symptoms, by increasing your body’s natural ability to reduce inflammation in your lungs.

When you clean your home, as you should do regularly to minimize asthma symptoms, use all-natural cleaning products. Harsh chemical cleaners can give off fumes that may irritate your lungs and make your asthma symptoms worse. Many chemical cleaning products also have fragrances in them that should be avoided by people with asthma.

If you or a family member suffer from severe asthma, consider having a professional cleaning company clean your home. They have access to steam cleaners and other deep-cleaning equipment that a private individual may not be able to afford. If you do have a cleaning crew come, make sure the asthmatic is not in the home during the cleaning.

The most important thing to remember when you are having an asthma attack is to not panic. Panicking causes your heart rate to rise, your blood pressure to increase and your breathing to become labored. This last one is the thing that you DON’T want to have happen. You need to keep your breathing as controlled as possible.

With these tips, you can make your environment cleaner and safer, which can help prevent asthma attacks. Prevention is much easier than treatment, so implement these tips and reduce your exposure to common asthma triggers. These tips, used in conjunction with your doctor’s advice and medications, can reduce the length and severity of asthma attacks.

Got Asthma? Top Tips For Managing Your Symptoms was originally published on Spring