Understanding Asthma

Asthma can affect people of all ages and can be brought on by an array of reasons. Asthma can be treated and most sufferers should be able to participate in a range of activities, however this would greatly depend on how severe the asthma is. The important thing with asthma is to try and identify what triggers your asthma attack. This knowledge enables you to avoid any unnecessary attacks from occurring.

Asthma attacks can be brought on by a range of sensitivities from dust, pollen and in some cases particular types of food. Allergies are not the only reason for asthma attacks, as cold dry climates, infections, medication, stress and chemical irritants can lead to asthma attacks.

Asthma attacks often occur due to allergens being inhaled into the lungs. Asthma attacks occur when the smooth muscle in the bronchioles contract, resulting in the narrowing of the passages restricting the amount of air flowing through to the lungs. This lowers the amount of oxygen absorbed into the blood and transported to vital organs in our bodies. Asthma sufferers can also suffer from excess mucus production and coughing during attacks.

Your diet can contribute to the severity of your asthma as some foods we eat are mucus producing and can be very damaging for asthmatics. Try to eat reduced amounts of foods which do this, like dairy products, especially ice cream and cream. Other mucus producing foods needed to be reduced include white pasta, breads, cakes and chocolate. Soy milk and large amounts of garlic should also be avoided, as these products can increases the risk of an asthma attack.

On the other hand it is important to eat plenty of foods which contain nutrients that can help you prevent asthma attacks. Adequate amounts of Vitamin A, B3, B6, B12, C, D and E can help prevent asthma attacks from occurring, whilst reducing the severity of an attack. Some important minerals which need to be included in your diet include calcium, magnesium, selenium and zinc for the same reasons.

Exercise can be a great treatment in helping to strengthen the lungs and improve the oxygen capacity of the lungs. Some examples of this include:

• Aerobic exercise is the most beneficial form of exercise for asthma suffers which can include sports like swimming, cycling, walking and jogging.
• Try to avoid doing exercise at times when it is the coldest in the day as this cold dry weather may increase your risk of an asthma attacks.
• When exercising, allow time for your body to warm up and cool down preparing your muscles and lungs for what you want your body to do.
• Avoid exercising in areas which may contain pollens and dusts bringing on your asthma attacks.

Through knowledge and understanding of your disease you should be able to reduce the severity of your asthma and enjoy all of the activities that life can bring.