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Q&A: What is Asthma?Lifestyle Q:What climate is best for a person with asthma? A:No specific climate is ideal for all people with asthma, since there are so many triggers for symptoms and these factors differ from person to person. If you move to another area, triggers in the new environment may provoke your asthma symptoms more or less than where you lived before. The levels of many allergens are lower at higher altitudes (e.g. in mountainous areas), and this may be beneficial if you have known allergies to pollens or dust mites.  Top of page
Q:Are relaxing exercises good for my asthma? A:Everyone needs to relax sometimes. Learning techniques of relaxation and breathing may help you to avoid feelings of panic during an asthma attack. Top of page
Q:Is there a good breathing technique to use when my asthma symptoms get worse? A:There are a couple of useful breathing techniques. Sit on a chair, supporting your arms on the back of the chair; or stand up, leaning your arms on a table. Then breathe in and out calmly through slightly closed lips. Ask your physical therapist or doctor for more specific advice about these techniques. Top of page
Q:How does asthma affect my choice of a professional career? A:When you decide what type of career interests you, it is important to discuss the alternatives with an asthma specialist. It is probably not a good idea to go for a job which involves spending much time in dusty or smoky environments, or in places with potentially irritant smells. Top of page
Q:Sometimes people have trouble understanding that I cant cope with perfumes and smoke. What can I do? A:Since asthma is invisible, it can be hard for the people around you to understand that you cannot cope with certain things. It is important that you tell them and remind them whenever necessary about your condition, to help them increase their knowledge and understanding and show the necessary consideration. It is reasonable to ask your friends and relatives not to smoke in your home. A number of brochures and videos with information about asthma are available at your doctors surgery, your pharmacy, or on the internet. It could be a good idea to show one of these to your relatives and friends to help them better understand what asthma is all about. Top of page
Q:What can I do to improve my home environment in general? A:It is important that your home is easy to ventilate and kept clean, particularly the floors. Wood, tile or linoleum flooring is better than fitted textile carpeting, which tends to collect a lot of dust, dust mites and allergens. Do not keep furry animals or birds, even if you are not specifically allergic to them, as they will lead to an increase in the amount of house dust. Try to avoid strong perfumes, aftershave, deodorants and fragrant flowers inside the house, as these are all possible triggers of asthma. Do not allow anyone to smoke indoors (and avoid other smoky environments such as bars). Top of page
Q:Can I have pets even though I have asthma? A:If you have asthma and are allergic, you should not buy a pet. If you have asthma but no signs of allergy, and do not get any obvious symptoms from your pet, it is probably all right to keep it, but bear in mind that it will contribute to the amount of dust in the house. Top of page
Q:When I went to Spain on holiday I felt great - should I move there? A:It is unwise to advise someone to move to another place. Having a vacation is, in itself, a pleasant experience that makes you feel good. Living permanently in Spain might be quite different! Bear in mind that you will also have been away from allergens in your home and workplace and consider this perhaps your pet or the dust in your home, or allergens at work, are having more of an effect on your asthma than you realised. Top of page
Q:My asthma means that I have to miss out on activities that are important to me, such as dancing. This makes me sad and angry. What can I do? A:Discuss this with your doctor. One solution is to take extra medication before you go out dancing. An increase in medication may make it possible for you to participate in activities that are important to you. A chronic disease like asthma can, of course, place limitations on your social life that are hard to accept. You can feel a sense of loss over not being able to go out dancing, or missing out on other activities. You may need to work through these feelings so you can move on and find other alternative activities that can be equally pleasant and valuable. Top of page
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