Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

In some cases, asthma can dramatically affect your life and limit your activities. However, with proper care, you may be able to overcome those limits and maintain an active lifestyle. Steroid inhalers and peak flow meters help control and monitor asthma. You can help yourself by discussing these with your doctor and learning how and when to use them.

Other things you can do to help yourself include the following:

• Monitor and track when your asthma attacks occur, their severity and any side effects you have from medications.
• Avoid substances that trigger your asthma.
• Develop an action plan with your doctor for managing your condition.
• Exercise - can help strengthen your heart and lungs so they won't have to work so hard
• Use your air conditioner - helps reduce your exposure to airborne pollen
• Reduce pet dander - if removing the pet from the home is not an option, you can reduce pet dander by using mattress and pillow covers, thoroughly vacuuming and cleaning carpet, avoiding pets with fur or feathers. Having pets regularly bathed or groomed also may reduce the amount of dander in your surroundings.
• Clean regularly to minimize collection of dust
• Decontaminate your home - encase mattresses, pillows, and box springs in dustproof covers

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.