ASTHMA-PROOF YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

WHICH HEALTHY HABITS COULD BENEFIT YOUR ASTHMA?

Whether you like to wake up slowly or bounce out of bed, a good morning routine can benefit your health all day.1

Here are just a few asthma-friendly habits to get into…

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GET SOME SUN

 

Whatever time you get out of bed, be sure to get outdoors. Exposure to natural light helps encourage a healthy sleep cycle,2 as well as boosting levels of inflammation-busting vitamin D - there’s evidence to suggest increasing levels of the sunshine vitamin can help reduce asthma symptoms, so every little helps.3

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USE YOUR INHALER / ASTHMA MEDICATION

 

If you’ve been prescribed controller medication by your doctor, it’s a good idea to add taking it into your daily routine in a manner as prescribed, so that it becomes natural. Try to keep it close by at all times, from your bag to your desk, or your bedside table – before long, taking it as part of your routine will become automatic.

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DOWNLOAD A WEATHER APP

 

If your asthma is triggered by pollen, pollution, or cold or hot weather, why not check the forecast? Most weather apps now include air quality and pollen counts, meaning you can plan your day accordingly.

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FILL UP ON FRUIT

 

Research suggests that people with asthma can benefit from eating a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables4,5 – and breakfast is the perfect opportunity to boost your intake. Add your favourite fruit to cereal, for example, or whizz some fresh veggies, such as spinach, cucumber or beetroot, into a in a delicious fruit smoothie.

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SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUTS

 

Exercising doesn’t just keep your weight in check – it could help control your asthma.6 In a study in the journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research, people who exercised the most (around 30 minutes for five days a week) were 2.5 times better at controlling their asthma than those who weren’t physically active.

So there we have it – five simple ways to improve your day and help keep asthma symptoms to a minimum.

Don’t forget to see your doctor for regular treatment reviews, too.

Is your asthma well controlled?

Take the test

If you’re concerned about your asthma, speak to your doctor about daily treatment. The asthma control test (ACT) is a quick way to see how asthma symptoms are affecting your everyday life. Click on the link below to get the results in seconds – and be sure to share them with your doctor.

  • referenceS

    1. Arlinghaus KR, Johnston CA. Am J Lifestyle Med 2018;13(2):142–144.
    2. Wright KP Jr, et al. Curr Biol 2013;23(16):1554–1558.
    3. Martineau AR, et al. Cochrane DB Syst Rev 2016(9):CD011511.
    4. Guilleminault L, et al. Nutrients 2017;9(11):1227.
    5. Seyedrezazadeh E, et al. Nutrition Reviews 2014:72(7):411–428.
    6. Bacon SL, et al. BMJ Open Respiratory Res 2015;2:e000083.