How to Deal with Asthma During the Winter

January 30th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Asthma is nothing to be taken lightly. An asthma attack can be very serious and even fatal in some cases. You need to take precautions against asthma attacks especially during the winter months when these attacks are more likely to happen.

In the winter, we are all exposed to a lot more germs, which means we become highly susceptible to contracting illnesses like the cold and the flu. Children are sharing germs with each other at school on a daily basis since they are inside more. These common winter diseases often lead to asthma attacks. Taking the steps necessary to prevent diseases will also reduce the chances of an asthma attack. Wash your hands as often as possible and get a flu shot.

If your child has asthma, do not give your child any over the counter medicine for a cold or flu until you check with the doctor. Some medicines could react badly with or reduce the effectiveness of their asthma treatments. The doctor will be able to tell you what you should and shouldn’t give your child.

Asthma symptoms generally improve in the warmer months. Some people think that since they feel better, they don’t need their asthma medicine anymore but this is not true. You never know when you could get sick. If you do go off your asthma treatments in the warmer months, be sure to start them up again before winter gets here. You don’t want to wait to start them until you feel sick.

Sometimes doctors can recommend supplemental treatments during the winter months that will alleviate or reduce asthma symptoms. These can be for both adults and children and can include nebulizer treatments.

Low humidity in the winter can increase the symptoms of asthma. Running a humidifier in your house or even at work is a good idea as the humidifier will produce some moisture in the air. You can even find small ones that are portable. Keeping the air moist will reduce your chances of having an asthma attack. Also, avoid spending too much time outside and always bundle up before going out in the cold.

Indoor allergies like dust and pet dander, which are more common in the winter, can also cause an increase in asthma symptoms. These are just as much of a risk as a cold or the flu. Keep your house dusted and do vacuum often to remove allergens. Keep pets out of your bedroom and consider using allergen-free bed covers. Also talk to your doctor about taking allergy medicine in the winter if you have problems.

Asthma doesn’t have to be a problem in the winter. You just need to understand how to deal with the winter asthma issues so you can take the appropriate steps.

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Why You Should Quit Smoking

January 28th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Are you a smoker? Are you aware that you are putting your health (and life) at risk by continuing the habit? You should also be aware that you’re putting the health of those around you since they are exposed to second hand smoke. You are increasing your chances of getting a serious disease like lung cancer, heart disease and more by smoking. If you quit smoking now, you would lower your risks to levels equal to those of a smoker who quit 10 years ago. You will also get some immediate results from quitting.

The following are the benefits you can get right away if you quit smoking today:

Your sense of taste and smell will return which means you’ll be able to enjoy food and beverages much more and enjoy smells you have been missing all those years you were smoking.

Don’t worry about the smoker’s cough; it will go away in time. The first few days or weeks after you quit smoking, your lungs will be trying to get rid of all the toxins that have built up over the years. Eventually, you will stop coughing.

You won’t have as much of a risk for diseases affecting your lungs and airways like asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia if you quit smoking. Your lungs will be able to build their resistance to these diseases back up after you quit. If you are already asthmatic, you’ll experience asthma attacks less frequently.

You will lower your blood pressure. Nicotine has been shown to negatively affect blood pressure. You might get rid of those headaches and have more energy once your blood pressure goes back to normal.

You’ll be amazed at how much more endurance you’ll have. Those small tasks that used to have you breathing heavily after only a few minutes will be easy to do now.

Your sleeping habits will improve. Not only will the nicotine, a stimulant, not be keeping you awake any longer, your cough will be gone as well.

You won’t be at as high of a risk for ulcers and other stomach disorders. Smoking weakens your stomach by affecting the acid levels and destroying the lining.

You’ll be proud of yourself after you quit smoking and it’ll show in the way you carry yourself.

We all know smoking is dangerous and we’d eventually be healthier if we quit. That doesn’t motivate a lot of people, however, who don’t see any immediate reasons to quit. There are benefits to stopping smoking that you can notice right away. This will help you stay motivated and resolute to never light up another cigarette again.

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