Page 22 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'B' issue

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8 ways to look after yourself with asthma
AS well as taking your regular
asthma medication, there are simple
lifestyle and self-help measures that you have asthma, according to Dr Mike
can take to reduce your symptoms and
your risk of having an asthma attack.
If you’ve been diagnosed with
asthma and you’ve been given regular
preventive and reliever therapy,
it’s important to use the preventive
treatment every day even if you’re
feeling well. Because asthma can’t
be cured and triggers can’t always be
avoided, using safe, regular medications
is the best way of achieving a normal
life.
There are additional measures that
you can take:
Avoid triggers. Everyone’s asthma
triggers are different. Some people’s
asthma is triggered by exposure to
pet hair or fur; others by pollens, and
others by non-allergic irritants, such
as perfumes. Some women notice that
their asthma is worst just before their
monthly period.
If you’ve noticed a possible trigger
for your asthma, it’s worth discussing it trigger an asthma attack, it shouldn’t
with your doctor or nurse at your next
review.
Asthma triggers
Pet allergies and pet hygiene
PET owners shouldn’t let their
animals sleep on their beds or even in
their bedroom, say vets. This advice is
especially important for people with
animal allergies.
About half of all households in the
UK have a pet, with cats (10 million)
and dogs (7 million) the most common.
Not only can pets trigger allergies,
vets say pet owners need to be aware
of the possible spread of diseases from
domestic animals.
Allergies caused by animals. Animal
allergens are a common cause of
indoor allergic reactions. Allergic
reactions are caused by animal saliva,
skin and urine. When animals groom
themselves, they lick, and saliva coats
the skin, fur or feathers. Skin cells
covered in saliva (‘animal dander’) are
shed along with loose hairs and fur.
Cats Protection, a charity that takes
in and rehomes unwanted cats, says it
receives hundreds of calls a year from
HEALTH and Lifestyle
Stop smoking. Stopping smoking
is the best way to help yourself if you
Thomas from Asthma UK.
“Smoke acts as an irritant and
can trigger asthma attacks,” says Dr
Thomas. “It makes inhaled medicine
less effective. As a result, you’re likely
to need to take bigger doses of inhaled
steroid medication.
“If you have asthma and you smoke,
your chances of developing conditions
such as COPD or bronchitis increases.
Your lungs are already inflamed, and
cigarette smoke can have an even
more powerful effect.”
Second hand smoke can be a
trigger too. It’s important for people
with asthma to stay in a smoke-free
environment.
See your GP for help if you want to
give up smoking. The NHS offers lots
of help and support.
Get regular exercise. Although
exercise or physical activity can
happen once you have the appropriate
treatment, such as inhalers. “People
with asthma should take regular
owners wanting to give up their cat
due to allergies. The charity says there
are simple ways to control your allergic
symptoms, including:
• having hardwood floors instead of
carpets, and blinds instead of curtains
• avoiding wearing woollen
clothing
• designating some areas as pet-free
zones, particularly bedrooms
• opening the windows for at least
one hour every day and moving the
litter tray and cat bed away from air
vents
• regularly cleaning rooms where
the pet sleeps
• washing your hands immediately
after stroking your pet and not rubbing
your eyes
• washing your cat’s bed regularly
• taking them to the vet if you
notice them grooming or scratching
more frequently
• using medications such as
exercise. It’s the healthy thing to do,”
Dr Thomas says. “Walking, swimming
and cycling are all activities you can
do if you have asthma. A lot of top
sportsmen and women have asthma.”
(Note that scuba divers need to have
special medicals before they can dive).
If you find that exercise gives
you troublesome asthma symptoms,
discuss this with your doctor. You
may need more preventive asthma
treatments. Sometimes, using your
reliever inhaler 20 minutes before
planned exercise helps to reduce
subsequent symptoms.
Be in control. “It’s good for people
with asthma to be in control of their
condition,” says Dr Thomas. “Form a
partnership with your GP or asthma
nurse. Make sure that you understand
your condition, and that you have a
personal action plan. Know what to do
when things change.
“Sit down with your GP or nurse
and discuss your medication, and any
changes to your dosage. This could
prevent a crisis, such as having to call
your doctor. Everyone should have a
check-up at least once a year.”
SOME people are much more likely than
others to develop allergies, such as asthma,
hayfever and eczema. Certain ‘triggers’, such
as pollens, household cleaners or pets, can
cause an allergic response.
What can trigger asthma? Many things
can make asthma worse. Keep a list of your
triggers when you discover them, and discuss
them with your GP or asthma nurse. Asthma
UK cites the main asthma triggers as:
Animal proteins, such as house dust
mites, animal hair and cat saliva. Read more
about pet hygiene if you have asthma.
• Pollens, including trees and grass.
• Mould spores, which are released from
trees at the end of the year, or in damp housing.
antihistamine tablets or nasal spray
yourself, as advised by your doctor
Cats Protection also suggests that
owners with allergic symptoms discuss
allergy testing with a doctor before
giving up their pet. Sometimes your
allergy may be caused by something
else, such as dust mites.
Infections from pets. Infections and
diseases can be passed from animals to
people. Although this is rare, examples
include:
• Ringworm: a fungal infection of
the skin that can be passed on from
dogs, cats and hamsters. People who
work with animals are more prone to
the infection.
• Toxocariasis: an infection caused
by worms found in dog and cat faeces
(poo).
• Toxoplasmosis: caused by a
parasite found in cat faeces. It can also
be found in undercooked and infected
meat and can be spread by using
January 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 2 • UK & Europe Edition
Take care in cold weather. Cold
air is a major trigger of asthma
symptoms, such as wheezing and
shortness of breath. Be especially
careful in winter. Stay indoors on
very cold, windy days. If you go
out, wear a scarf over your nose
and mouth. Be extra careful about
taking your regular medications.
Keep rescue inhalers close by and in
a warm place.
Eat healthily. Eating a healthy
diet with plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables and few additives may
help with asthma in the long term. It
also helps if you stay trim. “Obesity
has an adverse impact on asthma,
so people with asthma should try
to stay a healthy weight,” says Dr
Thomas.
• Smoking.
• Weather and changes in temperature.
• Viral infections. A cold, the flu or other salicylates, such as ibuprofen and some
respiratory infections can make asthma
worse.
• Emotions. Negative emotions can act
as a trigger, possibly for the same reason
that exercise is a trigger. Your respiratory
rate (the rate of breathing) increases, which
means that you take in more air.
• Hormones. A small number of women
with asthma find that changes in their
hormone levels can be a trigger. This may be
worse before menstruation.
• Medicines. In a few people, asthma
is triggered by medicines that contain
contaminated kitchen utensils.
The most common way to get an
infection from an animal is by being
bitten, or by close contact with its
faeces.
There is also a very small chance
of an infection being spread through
contaminated water or food.
Tips on pets and hygiene. Follow
these general pet hygiene tips to reduce
your risk of infection.
• Wash your hands thoroughly.
Always use an antibacterial soap after
handling your pets (this is essential
before preparing food).
• Teach children to always wash
Get your jabs. If you take inhaled
or oral steroids to control your
asthma, you need flu and pneumonia
vaccinations to reduce your chances of
a serious respiratory illness.
The flu and pneumonia jabs are
available free from your GP.
The flu jab is given every year from
October. The pneumonia jab is a one-off
jab that protects against certain types of
pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning)
and meningitis. You can have the flu and
pneumonia jabs at the same time.
Check your painkillers. If you have
asthma and you take aspirin or other
painkillers, there’s a very small chance
that you’ll have a bad reaction to the
medication. If this happens, stop taking
the aspirin and seek advice from your
doctor. n NHS Choices
other anti-inflammatory drugs. It may
also be triggered by beta-blockers, a type
of drug prescribed for some people with
cardiac disease, anxiety, hypertension,
angina and glaucoma. If you have
asthma, be cautious of taking ibuprofen
(which may be sold by the brand name,
Nurofen) or beta-blockers. Your GP or
asthma nurse may be able to suggest an
alternative.
• Traffic fumes.
• Household cleaners and sprays can
have an irritant effect, which can trigger
asthma. Strong perfume can do the same.
n NHS Choices
their hands. You could wipe their
hands with a cleaning wipe, especially
before they eat anything.
• Make sure children stay away
from dog and cat faeces. Don’t let
children play around a litter tray and
stay clear of dog litter bins at the park.
• Check that your pets are in good
health. Immunisations should be up-
to-date. Regular check-ups at the vets
can also spot any possible infections.
• Keep your pet’s fur clean. This
may simply involve cleaning their paws
if they’ve dug up any soil or a thorough
shampoo after swimming in the local
pond. n NHS Choices