Home remedies for asthma

Every day in America alone, 30,000 people have an asthma attack. Of that number, 5, 000 people visit the emergency room, a thousand are admitted to the hospital and 11 people die due to asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.

While it is incurable, there are many things you can do to control and avoid it. And when your doctor’s not around, these home remedies may help.

But if you have an attack, seek medical attention as soon as possible. The natural remedies listed below may relieve your condition temporarily but they are not meant to replace your doctor’s advice or your asthma medicines.

Stop smoking

Tobacco smoke is a major irritant responsible for 8,000 to 26,000 new asthma cases yearly. In the United States, more than 20,000 asthma cases among children are aggravated by secondhand smoke. Kids whose parents smoke are also more likely to develop it later.

Watch the weather

Stay indoors when it is cold, humid, windy or rainy. This can make your asthma worse.

Keep away from pets, especially cats and dogs

It’s not only their hair which triggers asthma but also the dead dry skin that flakes off. If you must have a pet, don’t sleep with it or allow it in your bedroom. Wash your hands after holding it and bathe it every week to reduce the amount of allergens in your pet’s fur.

Stay away from people with cough, colds or the flu

These often trigger an attack.

Avoid foods that provoke an attack

Food allergy is a rare cause of asthma. Still, some asthmatics can’t tolerate certain foods. Common offenders include nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, and strawberries. If these foods make you worse, avoid them.

Don’t take aspirin

This can trigger an attack, especially if you have nasal polyps. Check medicine labels for aspirin which is sometimes listed as ASA, ARC or PAC. Ask your doctor for safer alternatives like acetaminophen or paracetamol.

Avoid foods with artificial colors like tartrazine (E102)

This yellow dye is used to brighten the appearance of juices, cake mixes, candies, and some medicines and may aggravate it.

Stay away from sulfites

This chemical preservative is added to food and beverages and may trigger attacks in sensitive individuals. Common sources are wine, lemon juice, dried fruits and canned vegetables. Check labels to be sure.

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