1)Make Changes To Your Diet
There is no specific diet for asthma patients but the exclusion and inclusion of a few elements in your diet can make a considerable change. Being overweight has been known to affect and trigger asthma symptoms. Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. To reduce the inflammation around your airways, consider sources rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and beta- carotene. Omega 3 found in salmons, mackerels are also known to help with inflammation. If any particular food seems to make your symptoms much worse, make a note and avoid consuming it.
2)Using the Papworth Method
The Papworth method has been used since 1960 to help people with asthma. It is a type of breathing and relaxation technique. It makes use of the nose and diaphragm to develop breathing patterns that will suit the asthma patient. These breathing patterns can then be used while engaging in activities that can possibly flare up your asthma. Papworth method is a way of controlling ‘over-breathing’ that is basically rapid and shallow breaths taken at the top of the chest.
3)Practicing Buteyko Breathing Technique
This is also a system of breathing exercises. Buteyko Breathing Technique focuses on breathing out through the nose and not the mouth. Breathing out through the mouth can dry up the mouth and the airways very fast resulting in more problems. Practicing and using BBT also makes you less prone to suffering from respiratory infections. Buteyko Breathing Technique can also be instrumental in decreasing your asthma symptoms with the help of slow and gentle breathing through the nose.
4)Using Honey
Honey can be used during the winters as a remedy for cold. It can be used to soothe a sore throat and prevent coughing. Coughing can worsen symptoms of asthma. You should be careful during winters as not to catch a cold. Mix honey with hot tea and drink it or just have a spoon of it every morning with 2 or 3 tulsi leaves.
5)Have Garlic
Do you love the smell of garlic in food? Good for you because not only does garlic enhance the smell and flavor of food, it also has certain medical qualities. Garlic has great anti-inflammatory properties. In the case of asthma, the surrounding areas of the airways become swollen. Garlic can help to reduce the inflammation thus, reducing the symptoms of asthma. Put garlic in your food or sauté it with some Nigella and enjoy it as it soothes your airways and helps to open them up.
6)Include Ginger in Your Diet
Just like garlic, ginger has anti-inflammatory qualities too. A study conducted in 2013 showed that ginger supplements were able to ease symptoms of asthma. Having some ginger daily can help you get some relief. Add ginger in your tea during winters. You can also add ginger while cooking your food and reap its benefits.
7)Yoga and Practising Mindfulness
The benefits of yoga are manifold. If you want to get relief from your asthma symptoms, make sure you do yoga every single day. Yoga incorporates breathing and stretching exercises. It will help to increase your flexibility and also boost your overall fitness. Some yoga poses that can help open your throat and chest are the bound angle pose, bow pose, bridge pose, camel pose, cat pose, cobra pose, cow pose, and cat pose among many others. Meditate every day and increase focus on your mind and body. The focus on breath and stress control from yoga and meditation will help you a lot in breathing easily.
8)Turmeric
Are you prone to many allergens? Developing various kinds of allergies can worsen your symptoms of asthma. Turmeric has been known to have strong anti-allergy properties. Histamines are known to cause inflammation. Turmeric has an effect on histamines that can stop inflammation. It can relieve symptoms of asthma and help you in preventing asthma attacks. Cook your food with turmeric every day.
9)Caffeine Intake
Caffeine has many similarities to theophylline. Theophylline is a bronchodilator drug that is used to open up the airways in the lungs of asthma patients. Because of its similarities to the drug, caffeine can be a good home remedy that can help you ease your asthma symptoms. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, cocoa, and various cola drinks. Hot beverages also help open up congested airways. Drink hot tea or coffee to feel and breathe better.
10)Take Steam Baths
Steam baths are often used to alleviate nasal and chest congestion. Steam treatments are not a treatment for asthma but can definitely improve your condition. Steam baths can provide moisture to your airways, relieve you of the congestion, help you get rid of accumulated mucus and let you breathe more freely.
What Happens During Asthma Attacks?
Asthma attacks may start out as minor but if not managed effectively, can turn dangerous. During an asthma attack, the airways become swollen and constricted more than usual. Breathing properly becomes quite tough. Some signs of an asthma attack are:
Wheezing while breathing in and out
Extremely rapid breathing
Consistent coughing
Difficulty in talking
Sweaty and pale face
Chest tightness and pain
What Can Trigger an Asthma Attack?
Do you live with somebody who suffers from asthma attacks often? Or do you fall prey to the attacks instead? It is important to know what can trigger an attack so that you can avoid them and lessen the chance of having an attack. Following are some common triggers:
pet hair
pollen
pollution
smoke from burning grass or wood
acid reflux (stomach acid flows back to food pipe and causes heartburn)
certain fragrances
tobacco smoke
dust
mould
cockroaches
sinus allergies and infections
bad weather ( thunderstorms, high humidity, bad air quality)
Read More on Asthma Causes & Triggers
Emergency Asthma Treatment at Home in Case of an Attack
Do not lie down
Sit up straight and try to calm down
Take a puff from a reliever every 30 to 60 seconds
Breathe in through the nose and out through pursed lips (Pursed lip breathing)
Breathe in through nose with hands placed on the belly and exhale (exhale should be longer than inhale)
Try sipping warm back tea or coffee
Try to inhale the vapor of eucalyptus essential oil from a diffuser
Call for medical help
Try the natural home remedies for asthma and witness your symptoms get diminished. Try to maintain an asthma diary. Write down about your symptoms when you experience them, foods that seem to trigger the symptoms, where you were and what you were doing before your asthma flared up, how often you have to use your inhaler, if at all, and other such details. It will help you and your doctor to get a better insight and control your asthmatic symptoms in a more effective way.
