
5 Lifestyle Habits for Preventing Asthma Attacks

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects over 28 million American adults and kids. As part of your asthma management plan, make lifestyle changes now to reduce the onset of asthma attacks later.
Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing asthma. We offer advanced lung function tests on-site to evaluate your lung health and assess the severity of your asthma.
Our pulmonary specialists, Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, provide the latest treatments to control existing asthma symptoms and prevent new asthma attacks.
Here, we outline some lifestyle changes that support your respiratory system to minimize asthma complications.
A brief overview of asthma
Asthma is a lung condition that causes sudden inflammation in the airways, limiting how much oxygen moves in and out of your lungs. The lungs also produce excess mucus that further complicates breathing and causes coughing and wheezing.
Risk factors for asthma aren’t well understood, but the condition commonly affects people with a family history of asthma and those with allergies and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Known factors that can trigger an asthma attack include:
- Weather changes
- Air pollution
- Cigarette smoke
- Physical exertion
- Certain medications
For some, asthma attacks can be severe and life-threatening. Even milder cases benefit from the experienced medical professionals like those at Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, who ensure your symptoms are well-controlled.
We provide inhaled and oral medications, breathing treatments, and other asthma therapies in the office. We also offer guidance for lifestyle changes to keep your lungs strong and healthy.
5 habits to help prevent asthma attacks
A healthy lifestyle protects your overall well-being and longevity. When you’re prone to asthma, follow your treatment plan and take proactive steps to reduce your exposure to known triggers.
Here are five habits to help prevent asthma attacks:
1. Protect yourself from environmental allergens and toxins
People with asthma should be aware of the quality of air they spend time in, indoors and outdoors. For instance, stay inside when pollen counts are high and keep your windows closed to keep out smoke, pollen, and other substances.
Change the air filters in your home frequently and use a vacuum with a high-quality filter to minimize dust in your home.
2. Eat a lung-friendly diet
Create meal plans that focus on anti-inflammatory foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, lean proteins, and antioxidant-rich foods. Avoid sugary, processed foods that contribute to inflammation and may play a role in asthma attacks.
Our physicians can also assess your sensitivity to certain food ingredients, such as preservatives and additives, that can cause an asthma flare-up.
3. Stay active
There are low-intensity exercises that people with asthma can do safely, including swimming, yoga, and tai chi. Be consistent with daily workouts and warm up beforehand.
If you have exercise-induced asthma, ask our lung specialists for recommendations. They can prescribe inhaled medication to use before working out to prevent airway inflammation.
4. Stay on top of stress
Being stressed or anxious causes changes in your breathing that can worsen asthma symptoms. Meditation and other relaxation techniques relax the mind and the body. If you’re overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, consider meeting with a therapist for additional help.
5. Get a good night’s sleep
Not sleeping well or getting enough hours of sleep can weaken your immune system and make you prone to infections that trigger an asthma attack. Follow a bedtime routine to ensure you get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
Our sleep specialists offer sleep testing and other diagnostics to identify what’s interfering with your rest. They can also address nighttime asthma symptoms that prevent you from getting sufficient sleep.
Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep today to schedule an asthma consultation.
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