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Asthma Home Remedies
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You may think of asthma as a childhood illness, not one that's much of a problem for adults. Yet approximately 7 percent of American adults and about 9 percent of children have asthma. It accounts for 1.7 million hospital emergency department admissions every year.
Asthma isn't always serious enough to require hospitalization, of course. It may cause only occasional and short-lived symptoms, such as breathlessness, coughing, or wheezing. But unless your asthma is well-controlled, it subtly interferes with normal activity and may get out of hand quickly.
Asthma occurs when the main air passages in the lungs, called bronchioles, become inflamed and overly sensitive to "triggers." During attacks, the lungs produce extra mucus and the bronchiole walls narrow, making breathing difficult.
No cure exists yet, but nearly everyone can dramatically reduce—and maybe even eliminate—symptoms. Even if you currently use medications to treat your asthma, you may be able to reduce the dose or frequency more than 50 percent by practicing good lifestyle control, says Thomas F. Plaut, M.D.
When to call a doctor
The symptoms of asthma are often subtle at first, but they can get much worse in a hurry. Any changes in your usual breathing patterns need to be checked by a doctor.
If you're already being treated for asthma, see your doctor if you're needing the asthma medication more frequently. In addition, if your wheeze, cough, or shortness of breath gets worse even after the medicine has been given time to work, you need to call your doctor. Anytime you have an attack, it means the asthma isn't as well-controlled as it should be.
Panel of Advisors
Kendall Gerdes, M.D., is director of Environmental Medicine Associates in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Elson Haas, M.D., is the director of the Preventive Medical Center of Marin, an integrated health-care facility in San Rafael, California, and author of seven books on health and nutrition, including The False Fat Diet and Staying Healthy with Nutrition.
Thomas F. Plaut, M.D., is director of Asthma Consultants in Amherst, Massachusetts, president of Pedipress Asthma Publications, and author of Dr. Tom Plaut's Asthma Guide for People of All Ages and One-Minute Asthma.
Remedies
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Wash your hands often
Asthma episodes tend to surge in the autumn and winter, when people tend to get more colds. Even a mild case of the sniffles can make asthma harder to control.
Switch on the bathroom fan
Mold is a common asthma trigger, and it thrives in bathrooms and other high-moisture areas. Good ventilation is essential.
Don't put up with heartburn
The upward surge of stomach acids that cause the telltale pain of heartburn can also trigger asthma attacks.
Change furnace filters
During the cold months, central heating systems unleash veritable clouds of dust, Dr. Plaut says.
Or use the Doser
Available at allergy supply stores and catalogs, the Doser attaches to metered inhalers and automatically keeps track of how many doses you have left.
Make your house a smoke-free zone
Cigarette smoke is extremely irritating. It not only triggers asthma attacks but also can increase the risk of asthma in children.
Think twice about aspirin
About 5 percent of those with asthma are sensitive to aspirin, ibuprofen, and related pain relievers, known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), says Dr. Plaut.
Open windows when you cook
Strong food odors—from a smoky frying pan, for example, or the pungent oils in raw onions and garlic—often irritate airways and trigger asthma attacks.
Act quickly if asthma strikes
Don't ignore early signs of asthma attacks, even if the symptoms—wheezing, coughing, or faster breathing—seem mild at first. Use your rescue medication promptly.
Fill up on flavonoids
To fight the inflammation that accompanies asthma, consume foods loaded with flavonoids—tiny crystals in foods like onions, apples, blueberries, and prickly pears that give them their blue, yellow, or reddish hues.
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Get rid of dust mites
Fill up on flavonoids
Don't put up with heartburn