How to Prevent Asthma?

Effective Strategies to Prevent Asthma in Daily Life

Asthma is a critical condition that narrows your airways and gets inflamed, producing extra-thick mucus. This leads to difficulties in breathing and triggering a cough, especially at night, making it difficult to sleep (Sleep Apnoea).

There is no official cure or treatment for asthma, but you can control its symptoms with proper medications. It happens because asthma often changes over time, showing different signs and symptoms.

Tips for Preventing Asthma  

If you have asthma, it is important to observe what the causative agents are that trigger your problem. As there is no official cure, you can manage symptoms like cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath.

You need to follow these steps to prevent the onset of asthma:

Identify the agents that trigger your Asthma

Numerous causative agents trigger a cascade of asthma symptoms, especially in children and also in adults. These include:

1. Allergens
2. Air pollution
3. Cold Air
4. Common cold viruses
5. Sinusitis
6. Smokes
7. Fragrances
8. Pet dander
9. Dust mites
10. Common domestic pests, like cockroaches

It is extremely important to understand which causative agents for an acute asthma trigger are and needs to take precautions.

Stay Away from the Vicinity of Allergens

If you have asthma and allergies, you should not stay near allergens like pollen or pests. Exposure to these allergens can trigger inflammation and allergic response in your airways, leading to a chronic asthma attack.  

Avoid any Types of Smokes

Both smoke and allergy or asthma are a deadly combination that can lead to extremely serious conditions like anaphylactic shock. Maintain a distance from all kinds of smoke sources like incense sticks, candles, fires, fireworks and cigarettes. Keep away from public places where smoking is predominant, and do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or car.   

Avoid Contact with Anyone Suffering from the Common Cold

If any of your family members are suffering from a common cold, it is better to stay away from them. Getting in contact with them can trigger an asthma attack as the virus can easily transmit to your airways, causing inflammation. A common cold infection can worsen asthma.   

Make Your Home Allergy-Proof  

Keep your room and house free from allergens that trigger an asthma attack. Keeping allergy-free can lower your chances of developing asthma. Frequent cleaning of bedsheets in hot water and changing the pillow covers can kill dust mites in your bed. Regular vacuuming of the room can keep dust mites away, as these can trigger an asthma attack easily if there is prolonged exposure.

Control Pests in the House

Pests like cockroaches always visit those places where leftover food is present. You can try these tricks to keep these pests away from your house:

1. Clean dishes, spills and crumbs instantly.
2. Remove excess water and food sources from the house.
3. Keep foods stored in airtight containers.
4. Swipe and clean pest-infested areas within 2-3 days.
5. Keep your trash in closed containers.
6. Clean any clutter on sinks, floors, tables, and counters.
7. Use pesticides to kill or trap the pests.
8. Avoid sprays that can trigger asthma attacks.  

• Medication Adherence
  Carry daily controller medications (inhalers) that reduces airway inflammation and provides relief from acute asthma attacks

• Vaccinations
  Annual flu shots and pneumococcal vaccines lower respiratory infection risks 

• Breathing Techniques
  Buteyko breathing exercises may reduce rescue inhaler use by 50%

You should regularly take the prescribed medicines to control the symptoms of asthma. Additionally, you can get a flu shot vaccine to get rid of the sudden onset of asthma, but you need to consult your healthcare provider.