How to manage asthma symptoms during the winter

Winter months can be rather tricky on asthmatics as it usually triggers at least a mild asthma attack among many such persons. However, if you are careful enough, you can prevent a major asthmatic attack of catastrophic nature without having to leave your home. 

Winter months can play tricks on asthmatic patients and cause SOB from time to time

According to researchers, the reason why many people develop shortness of breath during winter months is because they get infected with simple viruses giving rise to common colds or else because of allergens. Given the fact that an asthmatic patient will always be having an irritated lining within the respiratory system, even a mild infection can trigger a worsening in the level of irritation and therefore a narrowing of the respiratory passages. Such narrowing can give rise to asthmatic attacks.

Thus, if you can control the irritation that is present within your respiratory tract, you can prevent an asthmatic attack even if you suffer a viral infection. So, how can you do this?

The answer is for you to prepare an asthma control action plan. What does your action plan include?

In general, experts advise for asthma patients to never miss the controlling doses of the medications that they take during winter months. It is these medications that will subdue the irritation within the lungs and therefore if you fail to take them every day, you might expose yourself to a flaring up of the respiratory tract irritation.

While taking medications is one of the most important tasks in your action plan, avoiding potential sources of infection is another important task. Avoiding people with infections and making use of hygienic methods after returning from crowded places are some actions you can take to prevent germs from infecting you. This is same with the allergens that you may come across both at home as well as in outdoors.

Thirdly, it is important that you use your peak flow meter regularly in order to detect deterioration in your lung capacity as early as possible. Thus, use the peak flow meter often and note down the percentage level of your ability to blow air. In general, if you can maintain a peak flow rate between 80 to 100%, you should be all right.

However, the action plan does not guarantee that you want get an asthmatic attack. Therefore, you should always keep your emergency care kit with you all the time, especially in the early morning at your bedside. If in case you develop a shortness of breath, you should try your medications first and if no improvement, you should see a doctor without a delay.