Knowing what to do and when.
In order to keep asthma under control and lead an ordinary life you need to learn to deal with your illness. An asthma attack can be a terrifying ordeal, and not only for children. Every year, thousands of people -young and old alike- have to be taken to hospital to have their asthma treated under emergency conditions. What is worse, thousands of people are still dying annually and it is estimated that 90% of these tragic deaths could easily be avoided. In the United Kingdom for example, it is estimated that around 1400 people die each year from an asthma attack. That is nearly four people every day.
It is a sad state of affairs in which people die needlessly.
By learning to deal with asthma you not only get peace of mind,
but it could very well safe your life. If you are an adult and
have recently been diagnosed as having asthma, the first item
on your list should be to find information. Now I assume you
are reading this for the right reasons so you are off to a good
start. Read all you can about your illness. Become an expert
on the subject. The more you know about asthma and what happens
when you get an asthma attack, the more confident you are likely
to be when faced with the reality.
A diary is a good way to start. Make a list of all the questions
you need answers to. Go to the public library and try to answer
those questions. Find out what triggers your asthma attack.
Then go to see your doctor again and clear up any doubts you
may still have. Your doctor may have mentioned a peak flow meter.
This is a tube like instrument that you use every day to measure
how well your lungs are working. It is said to be effective
in predicting when an asthma attack is going to happen. In the
event of an attack, the single most important fact to remember
is to keep calm. While in the beginning this may seem difficult,
by the time you are a seasoned asthma sufferer it becomes second
nature. Keep your hands palms down on your lap, focusing on
breathing slowly and calmly, and not trying to take big gulps
of air. If after five to ten minutes the asthma attack subsides
you can go back to whatever it was that you were doing. But
if symptoms persist, get yourself off to the hospital or call
an ambulance. Don't worry about causing a fuss. It doesn't matter
if it is the middle of the morning or the middle of the night,
your health and safety come first.
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© Karon Beattie - http://www.cure-your-asthma.com
About the Author - Karon Beattie is a former asthma sufferer.
She is the author of several books including "Naturally
Free From Asthma" which describes how she eliminated her
own asthma. This
book has helped many other sufferers WorldWide do the same.
http://www.cure-your-asthma.com