How to Control Adult & Child Asthma

Controlling asthma in adults and children can be difficult, especially during times of the year when air quality is low. Anyone who suffers from asthma knows the expense of traditional treatments like inhalers and other prescription medications. It can be difficult to believe, but natural asthma control is possible.

Some asthma sufferers rely on alternative medicine and other natural remedies to get their asthma symptoms in check. While they’re not cures for asthma, there certainly are all-natural solutions that can help manage your condition. Following an anti-inflammatory eating plan and taking certain supplements with anti-inflammatory properties can be part of the plan.

In this article you’ll learn:

• How common is asthma in adults and children?
• How hard is it to get diagnosed?
• How do doctors usually control asthma?
• What natural (and safe) alternatives exist?

How common is asthma in adults and children?

Surprisingly, asthma is more common in adults and children than you might have imagined. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), approximately 1 in 13 Americans has asthma. Breaking down the percentages, that’s 8 percent of all adults and 7 percent of all children diagnosed with this breathing condition.

No cure for asthma currently exists. Adults and children who have it must learn to manage their symptoms. Plenty of sophisticated medical treatments are available today to control asthma in adults and children. Thankfully, that means the people living with it still can lead full and active lives.

How hard is it to get diagnosed?

Getting diagnosed with asthma can be a difficult and time-consuming process. One of the biggest reasons for delay is that sufferers may not realize they have a breathing condition. They don’t associate their coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing with asthma. It may take them days or weeks to make a doctor’s appointment when the symptoms persist.

Seeing a doctor isn’t an immediate guarantee you’ll get an asthma diagnosis. If you’re not symptomatic during your appointment, the doctor may assume you had a seasonal cold or flu and send you home. Another popular explanation is allergies. Your healthcare practitioner may suggest taking an antihistamine, which does not control asthma.

It can take time to figure out you have asthma and what factors can trigger it. Most primary care physicians are not qualified to properly diagnose or treat asthma and may refer you to a specialist in allergy and immunology.

How do doctors usually control asthma?

Managing your asthma first requires identifying your triggers. It could be specific pollen or another pollutant. Maybe vigorous exercise brings on an attack. Once your doctor knows what aggravates your asthma, they can decide how to treat it.

Common medical solutions include a well-balanced combination of prescription drugs and inhalers to keep symptoms from launching you into a full-blown episode. If environmental pollutants irritate you, investing in a high-quality air purification system for your home might be necessary.

Some of the other likely irritants can include:

• Alcohol
• Aerosol sprays
• Caffeine
• Cigarette smoke
• Dust
• Paint fumes
• Perfume/cologne
• Scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners

If any of these things make your breathing worse, your doctor likely will recommend you avoid them.

What natural (and safe) alternatives exist?

Asthma is a serious medical condition that requires monitoring by a healthcare professional. While natural remedies can help control your symptoms, they are meant to complement traditional treatment, not replace it. Here are some things you can try to help manage your condition.

Dust mites and pet dander are common allergy and asthma triggers in adults and children. Reducing the presence of both in your home can help ease your symptoms. No one is suggesting you get rid of your beloved pets. Using an air filtration system can help control pet dander. Regularly bathing your pets and not allowing them on your furniture (especially your bed) also helps.

Another way to reduce dust mites and pet dander in your home is to use Easy Air Allergy Relief Spray and Laundry Rinse. The spray can be used liberally on any fabric surface to repel dust mites and pet dander. The laundry rinse can be added directly to your final rinse for all laundry loads. The effects last for up to four weeks.

Follow an anti-inflammatory diet

Certain foods are known as anti-inflammatories. Including them in your diet can help control inflammation within your body. After all, asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the airways. Researchers have shown that following an eating plan filled with foods that fight inflammation can help prevent asthma attacks.

Among the best foods to add to your asthma-control toolkit include:

• Fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines, tuna)
• Fruits (blueberries, cherries, oranges, strawberries)
• Green, leafy vegetables (collards, kale, spinach)
• Licorice root
• Nuts (almonds and walnuts)
• Olive oil
• Tomatoes
• Yams

Try to avoid fried foods, red meat, refined carbohydrates, and sugar-sweetened beverages like soda. These foods can all trigger inflammation.

Maintain good air quality

Avoid smoking and wood fires in your home. Both aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms in adults and children. You also must change filters in your HVAC system regularly. Considering using an air filtration system – whole-house or room-sized units – with a HEPA filter to improve indoor air quality. Finally, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean carpeted areas of your home at least twice weekly.