Natural Asthma Remedy

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness that can be lethal if left untreated. The condition is characterized by shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing. If you suffer from asthma you are likely already aware that asthma attacks can be a truly scary experience for not only you but those around you. You may not, however, be aware of the natural options available to help you prevent asthma attacks that are easy to do and don’t require taking any additional medication.

Things All Asthma Sufferers Should Avoid

It is generally believed that many asthma attacks are reactions to certain triggers so one of the best ways to prevent an asthma attack is to avoid the triggers that cause them. Cigarette smoking is one of the most significant triggers and should be avoided. Even if you are a non-smoker, it would be a good idea to avoid places where smokers congregate and ask that smokers that visit your home don’t smoke inside or near doors and windows.

Certain perfumes or products that have strong perfumed scents have been known to trigger asthma attacks so avoiding perfume is a good way to prevent asthma attacks. While avoiding colognes and other perfumes is obvious, you should try to buy unscented products whenever possible. This includes deodorants, body washes, soaps, hand lotions and other products of this nature. Look for mildly scented shampoos and conditioners. Although it may be more difficult to find the right shampoo, with a little trial and error, you will find something that works for you in time.

Simple Things to Do to Help Prevent Asthma Attacks

Vacuum and dust your home regularly. Dust is a common trigger for asthma attacks and although this may take a little more time than you would prefer, it is worth fewer asthma attacks. Make sure your dust shelves and vacuum or wipe curtains and blinds down with a damp cloth. If it has been quite some time between cleanings, you may want to consider wearing a dust mask.

The cold seasons are particularly hard times for those with asthma so always make sure you take special care to keep your mouth, throat and chest covered and warm during cold weather. You should always cover your mouth, and nose if possible, with a scarf when out in the cold to insulate these vulnerable areas against the cold.

Asthma Attacks Will Still Happen

No matter how careful you are, you will likely still experience asthma attacks, but the important thing to remember is that this attacks will be much less frequent if you take these measures. While there are a whole host of natural remedies available that can help you fight the condition, prevention is ultimately the best possible remedy.

It is not uncommon for someone suffering with the symptoms of asthma to seek alternative treatments when they have seen only limited success with traditional treatment methods. It can be a frustrating journey as not everything will work for everyone. One of the best natural remedies for asthma that has been shown to be effective for nearly everyone who tries it is yoga.

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is an exercise technique that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years all over the world. Many yoga classes focus not only on the poses and physical aspects of yoga but also offer meditation and breathing techniques making yoga an ideal fit for an asthma patient. The benefits of yoga extend far beyond physical fitness. Although some sufferers are reluctant to try yoga, the truth is, there are few better options for someone suffering from this condition.

How Is Yoga Beneficial for the Treatment of Asthma?

Yoga can help you manage the symptoms of asthma and even reduce the frequency and severity of those attacks without requiring you to take any additional medication. You won’t even need to boil herbs or drink special tea although in all honesty, it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

While yoga helps the body’s flexibility by stretching out muscles and soft tissue it also helps release lactic acid that causes fatigue, stiffness and soreness. This is a great benefit to asthmatic patients who find their muscles, particularly the abdominal muscles, sore following an asthma attack. Yoga will help your muscles build up resilience and you will feel less sore following attacks.

Yoga also requires significant focus on breathing which helps you learn how to control your breathing and take command of what your lungs are doing. The benefits here for a asthmatic patient are obvious. Having greater control over your breathing means you are more likely going to be able to have greater control during asthma attacks.

Yoga also offers improved physical fitness and weight loss. Losing weight not only helps you feel about yourself but also aids in the treatment of asthma while physical fitness helps your lungs function better as well. Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself having difficulty at first. Some of the positions may be hard for you to master but in time as your flexibility and fitness in prove so will your ability to perform the more advanced positions.

Of course the biggest benefit yoga offers the asthma sufferer is the combination of all the mentioned benefits with the truly relaxing nature of yoga. Yoga is a total mind and body experience. If you choose to take classes you will likely be guided through meditation as well, something you can use outside of the yoga exercises to help you stay calm and grounded during life’s more stressful events. Stress is a powerful trigger of asthma attacks so learning how to cope with it and control it is vital.