Overview
Asthma is a chronic illness of the respiratory system that affects a large portion of the populace. Diagnosing it at home is easy if you pay careful attention to the signs. The classic symptoms of asthma include wheezing, high-pitched and labored breathing, cough, shortness of breath, allergic symptoms and sudden onsets of severe episodes. These happen more during the winter. The foremost reason is the biting cold. The air gets dry and this lack of moisture gets irritating to the respiratory tract. The winter months also see a rise in the clothing needs and the warm woolen clothes and sheets that are used, are often havens of molds, mites and dust – all which trigger asthma. So you should take extra precautions in winter if you are prone to asthmatic attacks.
Things to watch out for
Here are a few tips that can help reduce the onset of asthma, especially during the winter.
1. A good diagnosis is the first step for a cure. So, when you have a cough and cold, try to avoid taking cough suppressants as far as possible. They help in only covering up cough, which is a symptom only and this symptom could be an early warning sign of asthma.
2. Ask your doctor for the influenza shot. It would do well in building your resistance to asthma.
3. Please refrain from self-medication. It is not advisable under any circumstances, let alone asthma! When you take over-the-counter medications, you stand the danger of treating only the symptoms while you might actually be aggravating the underlying problems.
4. Having a fireplace at home or using a stove to keep warm will seem comforting but these devices increase the pollution within the home. Smoke and dust/ash are also asthma triggers.
5. If you are using a humidifier at home, it is very important that you change the water daily. Mold in the water is another trigger for asthma.
6. Breathing in dry air causes irritation of the respiratory tract. To add moisture to this dry air, it is suggested that you tie either a handkerchief or a scarf across your nose and mouth. When you set out on cold mornings or evenings, cover your ears properly with a monkey cap or muffs.
7. If you use an inhaler, keep it with you always.
8. Wear shirts and tops that have full sleeves and cover your hands completely. Try to use woolen dresses. Make use of all the sweaters and jackets.
9. This dressing becomes especially important when you are setting out on journeys. Travel can get you weather-beaten and you must cover your whole body well. It would be preferable to wear socks and shoes. Wear gloves to keep the palms warm.
DIY steps
In order to put into practice all the tips given above and have a happy, asthma-free winter, you should start asthma-proofing your home. Here are some of the important steps to be taken.
1. Controlling the growth of molds
Molds are one sure shot trigger for asthma. They grow in areas that are humid for a long time. Removal of humidity from the home is the way to go in preventing molds. This can be done in the following ways.
a. Mopping away and drying any water spills.
b. Making proper slopes and drainage to prevent water stagnation.
c. Having proper ventilation at home and making use of exhaust fans in the bathrooms and other regions of high humidity.
d. Insulating all the cold surfaces at home.
e. Getting an electric heater to warm the home and a humidifier to provide the necessary moisture in a safe manner.
2. Deal with dust mites and pet dander
Dust mites are parasitic organisms that are found in most homes. They trigger asthma as an allergic reaction. The same is true of pet dander which is the hair and skin of pets. The following steps will save you from these allergens.
a. Keep pets out of bedrooms and other places where you spend lots of time.
b. Keep pets away from furniture that have a lot of fabric covering. Also avoid cleaning the pet enclosure if you are susceptible to asthma.
c. Give regular baths to the pets but this should not be done by the allergic person.
d. Make use of allergen-impervious bed and furniture covers to protect yourself from the mites.
e. Wash all blankets, sheets, soft toys and clothes in hot water for at least 10 minutes on a regular basis. This will effectively kill the dust mites.
f. Replace carpeting with linoleum floors or tiles to reduce the growth place for mites.
3. Combating depression
A chronic illness like asthma often leads to depression. You must take care that a physical ailment does not affect your moods and attitudes.
a. Remain connected with family and friends. They provide solace and support in times of depression.
b. Continue to do your hobbies and activities that keep your mind occupied.
c. Get in touch with support groups if necessary. That will also help you stay informed about asthma which will help you battle it better.
d. Check your medications. Some of them actually contain depression causing substances.
e. Do not hesitate to talk out and seek help.
4. Exercising with asthma in winter months
Try to see if you can do your activities indoor during the winter months. Shift your exercise regiment from the garden to your bedroom. Play indoor games as much as possible. Keep the following points in mind.
a. It would be best to avoid all winter sports and other strenuous exercises in the cold.
b. If your asthma is controlled and you do exercise, then ‘warming up’ before the regimen and ‘cooling down’ after it are very essential.
c. Drink plenty of liquids to prevent your airways from drying. Also, keep your inhalers warm to prevent a cold aerosol spray.
d. Try to avail the facility of an indoor heated pool. That is the best possible exercise for an asthmatic.
