Winter survival tips?

[Chip_y2kuk]

Hi all,

So what are your winter asthma survival tips?

At the minute I'm trying to avoid breathing cold air (wearing a buffet and covering my mouth with it)

Staying away from sick people

Thanks for any advice

Chip

[Lucea7]

I found cutting out milk & all dairy really helped my asthma. In fact I can count on one hand the amount of times I've used my blue inhaler this year!

[hb1977]

I'll be following this thread too! Last winter was a nightmare with an admission in October plus exacerbations in Jan, Feb, May and now have another and it's only November

My main trigger that causes exacerbations are infections. I try to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg, I take multivitamins and exercise indoors to avoid cold air where possible!

[QuietChest]

As below. Trying to maintain a level temperature but not easy

[Superzob]

I've been told to use my blue inhaler as often as I need it to combat colds in the winter. Not sure it's working but your GP/consultant might suggest something similar. I also note the post re changing diet away from mucous producing food, like dairy and wheat - unfortunately, I rather like my cereal in the morning!

[Teigan01 in reply to Superzob]

Me too. I start every morning with cereal with milk!.

[Lucea7 in reply to Superzob]

You too can still eat cereal with milk, but choose a plant based milk which won't make your asthma flare up...after a short time your taste buds and body will be used to the change and will thank you for it.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Lucea7]

Yes I had a spell some years ago where I used to drink vanilla soy milk with everything (even on its own )

[Lucea7 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Yes that's an option and there are also so many other plant milks out there these days...trust me, cows milk isn't good for us especially if we have asthma - far too mucus forming, it causes the inflammation which causes the wheezing.

[Teigan01 in reply to Lucea7]

Just done shopping this morning which of course I have included semi skimmed milk. Lucea7 Thanks for the life of me I had never thought of this and have seen coconut milk etc when I have been out in the past, but will certainly have a look for plant based milk. Hope if not all out there that most up us hard of breathing people stay well this winterx

[sirocco]

I don't have severe asthma, just moderate. I normally take Seretide 100 twice a day, which keeps me well controlled for most of the year. However, my main trigger is a cold and if left, I then inevitably need a course of oral steroids and end up feeling very unwell. I find, however, if I use in addition to this Clenil 200, 2 puffs in morning and 2 puffs in evening, at the first sign of a cold, it really holds the development of the asthma and although, my peak flow drops a little, it stops my peak flow plummeting and becoming very unwell. Psychologically, it also helps because I don't fear getting a cold any more. I also use a muffler (uniqlo have some very good inexpensive ones) and take Vitamin C and other Vitamins.

[Chip_y2kuk]

Thanks for all the replies

[su-mo]

Hi If you do nothing more than make a few lifestyle changes make sure you take a Minimum 14 billion Probiotic Capsule every day. 40 years with chronic Asthma ;4/5 chest infections per year. None since I started taking probiotics 2 years ago. 72 years old cured.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to su-mo]

I have in the past experimented with Korean ginseng, royal jelly and milk kefir

And used echinacea and elderberry flower when I hAve had an illness

[su-mo]

Hi Chip-y2kuk Tried ginseng some years ago & royal jelly(not much luck) milk kefir & sauerkraut are two very good natural probiotics. Echinacea & elderberry very useful as are zinc/vit c lozenges. have had good results with magnesium oil (to rub on arms legs etc) and selenium & nascent iodine have also helped me.