Daily Routine for Asthma Patients

Face the challenge

-Today, asthma is not at all a barrier to physical activity. In fact, keep your asthma under control,
and you can do everything.
One of the most important factors for keeping the bodys natural cleansing process strong is to
maintain a lifestyle that does not disturb the natural bodily tempo. When we eat, sleep and
exercise in constantly disturbing patterns, the body loses its natural balancing cycles and cannot
heal itself effectively. Therefore, regularity in our daily routine is the first step in reducing
body imbalances and controlling asthma.
Start your day with the cleaning process of the entire system. As soon as you get up, drink one or
two cups of hot water for loosening the secretions of the throat. Think positively about
something good, which will help pacify the mind as well as instill optimism in the mind so that
the person is prepared for the day.
Go for a walk, or undertake some outdoor activity in the open, so that your lungs get plenty
of fresh air. Breathe deeply, and exhale completely, but gently. You will gradually feel the
difference.
The need for maintaining hygiene and strengthening the body is significant, so as to have
better resistance to different infections. Cleaning may include, sun bathing, fresh air and bathing.
Sunbathing kills germs. Care should be taken to clean all the body parts which are exposed
thoroughly, with water.
Daily self massage with oil, before bathing for 5-10 minutes provides a deep soothing and
balancing effect to the entire nervous system. The motion of massage creates heat and friction
which enhance circulation and help cleanse chemical impurities that could be causing symptoms
of asthma.
Pay special care to the timing as well as the quality of food being consumed. Avoid any
spicy, cold, sweet or irritating foods. Have food that is easily digestible, do not stuff your
stomach because it could cause indigestion or gas formation. Have food early as well as at
regular intervals. Heavy food leads to sudden distension of the abdomen by pushing up the
diaphragm, and thereby reducing the volume of lungs available for ventilation.
Take the prescribed medications, as suggested by your doctor regularly. Accept the fact that
you have asthma, and be pro-active in treating it. A passive approach will only worsen the
situation. Be in touch with your doctor to take care of emergencies and sudden flare-ups. Asthma
is not a disease, it is a condition that has to be controlled and it is very much within the patients
reach as to how he wants to do it.

Carry on with your daily chores as before. If you are an office goer, or going to school, a
housewife or whatever. Day to day work should not stop, unless the situation demands. Asthma,
with a slight maintenance of a regular routine, will not hinder your other work. But yes, you need
to take certain precautions to help avoid sudden triggers. Always carry your emergency
medicines with you such as inhalers or pills, whatever you are using.
Try out some stress management techniques like meditation or yoga. Asthma is often
worsened by heightened stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. This is due to hormonal changes that
aggravate the nervous system and depress the immune response.
The sleep disturbance that is created by symptoms of asthma increase fatigue, which increases
one's susceptibility to stress, which in turn aggravates the asthma condition a vicious circle. Go
in for stretching and flexibility exercises to get a positive effect on the body's healing response.
Pranayama is an effective way to breathe equally and rhythmically. This helps an asthmatic
patient to have more control over breathing pattern. Be aware that correct breathing in other
situations, such as rest, work etc. should be practised.
Cut down on unhealthy habits such as cigarette smoking, drinking or any other type of
addiction. Healthy mind, diet and exercise will gradually make a asthmatic patient less
dependent on cigarettes and other addictions.
Do not unnecessarily waste positive energy by talking unnecessarily or viewing things not
worthy etc. In order to preserve the energy, it is essential not to indulge in negative thinking as
well as in bad habits since emotional stimulation take up a lot of energy which otherwise can be
spent for constructive purposes.
Small changes in the daily routine of a patients life can influence tremendously. Give
importance to small but healthy routine which can be easily followed, and will be of great benefit
also. The daily schedule can include hot water drinking, application of hot water bags, steam
inhalation, sun bathing, candle blowing and certain exercises to stimulate the mind.

Asthma Due to Food Articles

We all enjoy an assortment of foods as part of our daily lifestyle. There are numerous natural
components and compounds in the foods that we consume. After many years of clinical
investigation, the view that foods may cause asthma symptoms has been negated; now it is
widely held that there are very few confirmed food triggers to asthma.

Do food articles cause asthma?

Although food allergies may trigger asthma in a few people, not all individuals with food
allergies have asthma. The following foods are some of the most common asthma triggers:

Diagnosed food allergens such as:

Milk

Eggs

Peanuts

Some seeds, such as sesame

Tree nuts,

Soya

Wheat

Shellfish

Sulfites and its agents such as sulfur dioxide, sodium metabisulfite,

potassium metabisulfite, and sodium sulfite. . Common food sources of
sulfites include:

dried fruits or vegetables

potatoes

wine, beer

lemon juice

shrimp

pickles

Why do certain foods cause asthma?

A food allergy produces asthma symptoms because of allergic reaction called an Ig-E mediated
allergic reaction. An IgE-mediated allergic reaction is so-called because it is brought about by
IgE - immunoglobulin E - one of the bodys natural antibodies that is designed to fight disease.
When exposed to a food that causes allergy, the IgE antibody goes into action and sparks a series
of chemical reactions in the bodys tissues which cause the airways to narrow with typical
asthma symptoms such as wheeze, cough and/or difficulty in breathing.

Is food intolerance similar to asthma caused due to food

articles?
When on eating certain foods, one gets some repulsive effects such as abdominal pain, wind,
diarrohea, it is termed as intolerance towards that particular food. Food intolerance is not
necessarily asthma, but in some people, food intolerance can trigger asthma symptoms.

Do food additives cause asthma?

If a person is intolerant to a food additive/chemical, his response to the chemical depends on how
much is consumed, that is, eating a small amount might not make a difference, but a large
amount is likely to produce symptoms. In case of a food allergy - eating even the smallest
amount of an allergen food can trigger a severe reaction.
Here are some of food chemicals that can cause food intolerance, and in some people can trigger
asthma symptoms.

Sulphite is used as preservatives in fruit juice or drink, wine, dried fruits such
as apricots.

Food and drinks containing colours.

Tartrazine is used as a dye in many foods and may in a few cases trigger
asthma. .

Benzoate is used as a preservative in fruit products (jams, jellies) and soft

drinks.

Salicylates present in many pain-relieving medications such as aspirin.

Monosodium glutamate occurs naturally in many foods or is added to

enhance flavour in many Chinese preparations, soya sauce.

Are there any food articles that help in case of an asthma

attack?
1. Some food articles can help control an asthma attack. One of the best-known foods for doing
this is coffee, due to the presence of caffeine.
2. Some other food articles actually do dilate air passageways, by thinning the mucus and
opening them up. The foods in this category include spicy, pungent foods like chilli, hot
mustard, garlic and onions. These hot foods function by stimulating the nerves, thereby
resulting in the release of a watery fluid in the mouth, throat and lungs.
3. Some food articles control inflammation of the airways because of their anti-inflammatory
components. These include onions, fatty fish (high in omega 3 fatty acids) and Vitamin C rich
foods.

How to prevent asthma triggered by food articles?

The best way to avoid food-induced asthma is by determining asthma triggers and avoiding or
eliminating that food from diet altogether.
Read the labeled ingredients on packaged food before buying them, and be aware of your food
triggers. This is the best protection against an asthma attack.
Be in consultation with your physician for an emergency plan; use proper medications, and you
will be prepared to act in case of an asthma attack.
The doctor may suggest a food allergy test or an elimination diet.
An elimination diet involves consuming food free from all suspected allergens for two weeks,
then re-introducing one food every three days. You will be asked to note any reactions such as
headaches or increasing asthma.
Although research is going on in this area, some alternative diets, such as a vegan diet or
eliminating sugar, may help prevent asthma. Whatever you try out, asthma is a serious condition
and you should work closely with your doctor in controlling it.

A warning for all new mothers!

Exposure of a baby to some foods in its first few months may predispose to asthma in later stages
of life. A research article published in the July 2004 Pediatrics said that formula fed babies who
got multivitamin drops in the first 6 months of life were on an average 1.6 times more likely to
develop food allergies and become prone to asthma as compared to other formula-fed babies.
This association did not hold for breastfed kids.

Do's and Dont's for Asthma

The key to proper asthma control is to focus on persistently managing the condition, rather than
simply wait for the arrival of symptoms, and then get hassled for the need for relief. So simply
follow some elementary dos and donts to keep asthma in control:

Dos for asthma:

Remember to be in touch with a doctor to take care of emergencies; and take

medications on time and regularly.

Keep all controller medications within reach. These include inhaled

corticosteroids, bronchodilators and leukotriene modifiers. You may be
required to take such medicines regularly even if feeling well.

Try to identify and control your asthma attack triggers. Once identified, avoid
exposure to the trigger.

Also learn to recognize the early signs of an attack. Many people benefit from
measuring their lung function daily with a peak flow meter which measures
the greatest amount of air one can exhale. This helps identify when breathing
problems are starting and when to take medicine to prevent a full-fledged
attack.

Do maintain proper cleanliness inside your house. Regularly wash bedding,

including pillows, quilts, bedspreads. Try to keep moisture minimum.Ensure a
high level of ventilation by opening windows where possible

If pregnant, and also prone to asthma, be extra careful to keep asthma wellcontrolled so as to ensure adequate oxygen for the foetus. An asthmatic
woman should be in constant touch with her doctor.

Control your environment - environmental triggers, such as dust mites and

pet dander, can be hazardous if you have asthma. Learn from various study
material on the internet or from the library on how to avoid triggers.

Certain practices, such as meditation or yoga especially pranayam

exercises which involve deep breathing help control asthma to a large
extent. One can try them out.

Take care of your diet. Foods such as dairy products, shrimps, shellfish,
certain nuts which trigger asthma should be avoided. Citrus fruits,
particularly the grapefruit, is of great benefit as it aids in clearing the
accumulated mucus in the bronchial tube; and also in bringing new mucus
forming elements to the tubes by the blood-stream.

There is no special diet for disease, but the best is two to three light meals a
day with the simplest combination of fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals
and milk. This diet should definitely include citrus fruits, berries and melons,
but white sugar should be strictly avoided and brown sugar to be used
sparingly.

Make it a point that if you have asthma, your lungs get plenty of fresh air.
However, it is important that you avoid chilling. Warmth of the body is
important to prevent an internal congestion that may aggravate an attack.
Clothing should be loose at all points.

Moderate exercises are beneficial. No specific exercises are required, but all
active sports that the patient can indulge in will do - especially general
setting-up exercises that involve deep breathing and use of the arm and
chest muscles should be used. Heat by any continuous means to the upper
spine or the upper chest also give relief. The drinking of an abundance of hot
water is relaxing and often helps to abort or shorten an attack.

Donts in asthma:

Do not deny the fact that you have asthma. Accept it and take medications to
control it. Asthma is a chronic disease, not to be neglected do not forget or
refuse to take the medications that can control it.

Not following an asthma treatment program is not a good choice. If people

don't take their medications it can lead to asthma flares and may even
endanger their lives. In fact, deaths from asthma have actually increased in
recent years. This is mainly because many people, especially teens avoid
using inhalers or other medications.

Don't abandon life-saving tools like daily preventive medicines and peak flow
meters if they're a part of your treatment plan, even if you're feeling
absolutely fine with no symptoms. Remember, asthma is like a dormant
volcano, which can erupt any time without a warning. So, its best to be
prepared.

Avoid mucus-forming foods - All mucus-forming foods such as dairy foods,

chocolates, refined white flour, bread, cakes, and white sugar are best
avoided in asthma. This is because excess mucus further blocks the airways
and thus aggravates the condition.

Do not smoke. Cigarette smoke is a common cause of asthma aggravation

not only for yourself, but maybe for someone around you. Secondhand smoke
is a common trigger of asthma attacks. If someone in your family smokes,
talk to him about quitting.

I t is necessary to avoid cold applications until considerable general

improvement has been secured. Many attacks have been aggravated by cold
applied to the chest or upper back.

If you have been diagnosed with asthma, it isn't your fault. It can be easily controlled, you just
need to be a bit cautious, alert and regular. With a well managed asthma, a person's quality of life
can be as good as that of a normal person.