Home Remedies for Asthma

Are you suffering from mild shortness of breath and do not pay much attention because you feel it is mild and does not require attention? Or do you think ‘’it is just the cold weather that is the cause, it will stop with time the same way it started?’’ As much as this may displease you, I have to inform you that you might be suffering from asthma.

Asthma is known to be frustrating and a nightmare. It takes away your peace of mind and imposes on your lifestyles that you have no choice but to accept, for instance, avoiding dust, carrying inhalers everywhere you go in case of asthma attacks, as forgetting to carry them along with you would mean trouble for you. However, over the years, victims have learned to live with it, and this is because they have devised means in which they have been able to successfully manage it. If you want to know and understand what these means, or you probably would like to know the guidelines for managing asthma in the comfort of your house; if you are also interested in learning how to reduce attacks, then determining what lifestyle and diet you have to adapt to is necessary. Fortunately, you are in the best place, as this article contains all you need to know about asthma management. Before you get to the end of this article, you must have had adequate knowledge about asthma management.

Asthma is a lung disease and a condition in which a person’s airways become irritated, swells, becomes narrow, or produces excess mucus. All these amounts to making breathing complicated triggers coughing and shortness of breath. Asthma can be so fatal, it can lead to death if not properly managed, it can disrupt your daily activities, cripple your schedule, and leave you in pains and tears. Hence the need for you to read this article to the end to avoid these.

Causes of Asthma

The causes of asthma have been identified to be any of the following;

• Cold air
• Air pollutants such as dust and smoke
• Side effects from the long term usage of medications such as ibuprofen
• Preservatives in foods and drinks.
• Allergies
• Pregnancy
• Stress and strong emotions
• Some physical activities
• Infections

Risk Factors

Some factors have been detected to increases your chances of developing asthma, they include;

• Family history
• Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy
• Being a chain smoker
• Being obese or overweight
• Living in areas that are usually exposed to smoke, chemicals, and fumes

Asthma Triggers

In cases of people who already have asthma, some things have been discovered to trigger attacks, and they include;

• Pet’s hair
• Some fragrances
• Wastes from cockroaches
• Bad weather

Symptoms

The symptoms of asthma include;

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Inability to breathe
• Difficulty in finding sleep at night as a result of shortness of breath
• Coughing or wheezing
• Tightness in the chest
• The urgent need to use something to aid your breathing (inhaler)
• Fast breathing after a short walk or little work
• Difficulty in talking or walking
• Pale face, lips or fingernails
• Whistle sounds when you breathe
• An expanded chest that refuses to deflate when you breathe out
• Increased mucous production that accumulates and blocks the airways

All of these symptoms worsen over time if asthma is not adequately managed. Poor management or paying no attention to minor symptoms can lead to complications. Complications occur when you start experiencing the following;

• Rapid shortening of breath or whistling in your lungs when breathing
• No improvement even after using your inhaler
• Tiredness or fast shortness of breath after doing little or no work at all
• Constant sickness in school and at work.
• Constant interference with sleep and other activities.

Does Asthma Have a Cure?

Asthma has no known cure medically, but if you fall victim to this illness, it is not a death sentence because you can lead an everyday life even as an asthmatic patient. All you need to do is, do not ignore the symptoms and take appropriate steps to manage it. Managing asthma could be done both at home and by visiting a medical practitioner, which involves administering inhalers and other medications. However, this article is focused on enlightening you on how to manage and control asthma at home.

Home Remedies for Asthma

• Use herbs, vegetables, vitamins, and food supplements like fish oils and foods that contain nutrients like magnesium as they can help you improve health as an asthmatic patient.
• Drink caffeinated tea or coffee in moderate amounts. Research has found out that they have properties that help relieve and treat asthma.
• Add lavender and eucalyptus essential oils to your diet.
• Engage yourself in breathing exercises and training, including slow-breathing, breathing through the nose, and controlled holding of breath.
• According to medical records, massages have been found to ease and reduce asthma attacks as well as reduce anxiety.
• Quit smoking and avoid living in areas exposed to chemicals, smokes, and other air pollutants.
• Relax more, as this can help reduce stress, which is also a significant cause of asthma.
• Try to reduce your weight and maintain a moderate weight if you are obese or overweight.
• Take steam baths to ease the nasal and chest blockage.

Natural supplements for asthma

How do you manage asthma using things from your kitchen and garden? Having these things handy helps make it easier for you to reduce asthma, pains, and frustrations. What are these things?

• Ginger: Grind to paste and swallow in reasonable amounts.
• Turmeric: Turmeric also has properties that can reduce asthma attacks. Chew it in appropriate amounts.
• Garlic: Do you still suffer from asthma frustration when you have garlic lying around the corner in your kitchen? Bled that garlic, drink the juice and watch your asthma beaten down.
• Figs: Soak dried figs in water overnight in water, eat it first thing in the morning and drink the water you used to soak it.
• Honey: Leak plenty honey, there are no side effects, it has numerous health benefits of which asthma management is one of them.
• Coffee: Coffee helps in the treatment of asthma. It also helps improve asthma conditions.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: add omega-3 to your diet. It helps manage every form of inflammatory conditions.

Who knew all these natural things that we only use while cooking and sometimes ignore would be your most incredible savior? These natural supplements have proven to be effective in asthma management. They are also a cheap means of controlling asthma. They make you worry less about expenses and supply you with natural nutrients fresh from the garden.

Prevention

• Pet’s hair can trigger an asthma attack. Therefore, bathe your pets as often as possible
• Always keep your house clean to reduce dust
• Quit smoking completely
• Stop staying around areas where smoke or other air pollutants re-occur
• Censor the way you eat to avoid being overweight

Asthma During Pregnancy

Most women develop asthma during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, while some women get pregnant while suffering from asthma. All you have to do is speak to your doctor about it. However, taking asthma medications while being pregnant cannot harm your baby. To avoid complications, do the following as a pregnant woman;

• Stick to your medications, do not skip any
• Do not smoke
• Keep to your prenatal appointments
• Complain to your doctor if you notice any funny feelings.
• After birth, asthma medications would not hinder you from breastfeeding your baby.

If you follow the above procedures, your baby would be asthma-free. Still, if you do not (especially women who smoked during pregnancy), your baby would have more chances of developing asthma.

Asthma Facts

• In the last decade, the number of people that had asthma increased to 15%.
• As of 2012, over 18 million adults and 6 million children suffered from asthma.
• Asthma is one of the reasons for children missing school every year.
• Adults between ages 18 and 24 are likely to suffer from asthma more than older adults.
• Asthma costs countries up to 50 billion dollars to cover health care costs.
• Boys are likely to develop asthma more than girls.

In Conclusion

Asthma can be a nightmare, but beating its attacks down has become easier over the years. Maintaining asthma has to do with diet and lifestyle adjustments. Home remedies with natural products are useful in this maintenance. As an asthmatic patient, all you need to do is do not wait for the symptoms to worsen, complain to a medical practitioner for immediate treatment, follow the treatment routines, and back it up with home remedies and natural remedies. With these, you are sure to live a happy and zero-frustration life.