Asthma Q&A

Can asthma attacks be controlled or avoided?

If you know environmental factors trigger your asthma (dust mites or specific pollen), then lessening the chances of coming into contact with the substances that trigger asthma by cleaning the house regularly will help.

What do I do if I or someone else has an asthma attack?

If you or someone you know has an asthma attack suddenly, there are certain steps that you can take to relieve its severity or to stop it in its tracks.

Asthma UK recommends:

  • Take two puffs of your inhaler
  • Loosen tight clothing
  • Sit up, as lying down can impede your ability to breathe correctly
  • If you can't breathe any easier soon after taking a puff on your inhaler, continue to take one puff every five minutes or until your symptoms improve
  • If you continue to have trouble breathing, or your lips are turning blue, then call your doctor or 999 immediately
  • Even if you don't suffer from asthma, it's likely that you know someone who does. Familiarise yourself with the above steps and help relieve their symptoms by talking quietly and calmly to them

Can I reduce the number of asthma attacks I have?

Lifestyle changes, such as exercise (1), diet (2) and breathing techniques (3) can lessen the severity and regularity of asthma attacks.

A low-salt diet will reduce your sensitivity to histamine (pollen), which may be the cause of an asthma attack (4). Food allergies or food intolerances also play an important role, so avoid known allergens if a reaction occurs.

Exercise and relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation may also be helpful, although there is no scientific evidence to support this.

Can exercise help with my asthma?

People with asthma should remember to exercise. According to Asthma UK, having the condition is no reason to avoid exercise. As long as your GP has approved exercising, regular participation in sports such as swimming and walking help your lung function and overall health and wellbeing.

Infolinks:

  1. NHS CKS Library | Exercise-induced asthma: How do I manage? | Accessed Mar 16 2009 | Version 2.1: revision planned 2010 | Last revised Nov 2008
  2. NHS CKS Library | Weight reduction, diet, and exercise: What advice should I give someone with asthma? | Accessed Mar 13 2009 | Version 2.1: revision planned 2010 | Last revised Nov 2008
  3. Ernst | Breathing techniques. Adjunctive treatment modalities for asthma: a systematic review | York University | Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) | Accessed 16 Mar 2009 | Created 2008
  4. Henriette, Smita, Grievinka and Tabaka | Dietary influences on chronic obstructive lung disease and asthma: a review of the epidemiological evidence | Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Group Symposium on 'Nutrition and lung health' | Accessed Mar 17 2009 | Cambridge University Press Feb 28 2007

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