Asthma page 7

To summarise, keep yourself away from all known irritants and always check your foods. Vacuum your bedroom daily and your mattress also (unless you prefer to cover it with plastic). Sunshine and dry air are good for getting rid of dust mites.

Remove yourself from all external allergens as far as possible. Try to avoid contact with infection; take a good healthy diet with necessary supplements and get plenty of fresh air and sufficient exercise to suit your needs.

Instead of dusting, wipe your furniture with a damp cloth. Avoid brushing if possible and wear a mask when hoovering and in all other dusty situations. This mask is also useful to keep the air warm for people who get asthma through breathing in cold air. These medical masks can be obtained from chemist shops. Alternatively, wearing a scarf over the nose and mouth warms the air first so that the lungs and respiratory passages are less affected.

Deep breathing in clean, non-polluted air is good, as are walking, dancing and swimming. Air filters and ionisers will improve the quality of the air in your home. Ionisers can be bought for the car too.

Extra nutrients in the form of supplements help to counteract all the unavoidable toxins. Those recommended are:

• Vitamin C, 1g, 1-3 times daily
• A strong preparation of B complex vitamins or multi-vitamins
• Strong multi-mineral supplement
• Evening Primrose Oil 250mg, 1-3 times daily
• Vitamin E 500iu daily
  (Children should be given supplements appropriate to their age)

This regime will help to boost your immune system and raise your allergy tolerance level, thereby making you less subject to asthma than you otherwise would be.

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© Food & Chemical Allergy Association