- 1). Make sure you are breathing fresh, clean air. Stop smoking if you smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. Ask your doctor about smoking-cessation therapies. Ask your friends and family members not to smoke around you. Also avoid anything that triggers your asthma, such as indoor and outdoor pollution, chemical fumes and perfumes, animal dander, pollen and dust mites. Use a high-efficiency air cleaner in your home, and a humidifier--especially in your bedroom--if you live in a dry climate. The moister air will help loosen the thick mucus in your airways.
- 2). Ask your doctor about medications such as bronchodilators, both short- and long-acting, to open your airways; inhaled corticosteroids and oral steroids to reduce airway inflammation; and antibiotics to treat respiratory infections caused by bacteria.
- 3). If you have gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD, make sure you are taking precautions with your diet and using medications (such as Nexium or Prilosec) as prescribed by your doctor. GERD can aggravate your airways when the fumes from stomach acid flow into them. Also make sure your sinuses are healthy and that you treat any post-nasal drip or sinusitis that could aggravate your airways.
- 4). If your symptoms suddenly worsen, lung failure can occur. It's essential to get prompt medical attention if you begin coughing or wheezing more, if you experience an increase in mucus production, or if you have more difficulty breathing. You might require additional medicines, supplemental oxygen or hospitalization.
- 5). Ask your doctor whether you need pulmonary rehabilitation to help you participate in everyday activities. Pulmonary rehabilitation provides training in exercise and nutrition counseling. You would work with physical therapists, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists and dietitians to customize a program.
How to Treat Asthmatic Bronchitis
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