Breathefree - Managing Asthma During Pregnancy - Are Inhalers Safe to Use when Pregnant

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Managing Asthma During Pregnancy - Are Inhalers
Safe to Use when Pregnant Pregnancy is a
beautiful period and a surreal experience. One
needs to be cautious at every step of the nine-
month journey. This is especially true if you are
prone to asthma. Asthma is a chronic lung
condition that puts an expectant mother at a
higher risk of pregnancy complications.
Premature birth, restricted fetal growth, and
lower birth weight of the child are plausible
results of ill-managed asthma. Severe asthma
attacks may also make you susceptible to
preeclampsia, a condition of high blood pressure
and damage to the kidneys and other
organs. Luckily for you, understanding the
condition and knowing the asthma signs and
symptoms will help you be on your toes. That
way, you can manage asthma and give birth to a
healthy child. In this article, we will discuss
tips that you can follow to prevent an asthma
attack during pregnancy. Understand What Your
Body Tells You The first step to managing asthma
is recognizing the warning signs and acting on
them promptly. Early asthma symptoms include
wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and
shortness of breath. If you are experiencing any
of these, reach out to your healthcare provider
for timely intervention. Tackle Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease (GERD) Pregnancy brings along a
host of bodily changes, and the growing fetus may
not leave much room for your digestive system to
function normally. GERD is a chronic digestive
disease that results in heartburn and acid
reflux. Many pregnant women experience GERD at
some point during their expectant
days. Understand that while GERD does not
interfere with your asthma treatment, it can
trigger some of the asthma signs and symptoms in
pregnant women. Try to eat smaller meals and wait
at least three hours after eating before you lie
down. Elevating the position of your head and
consciously avoiding food that triggers
heartburn are other proactive measures that you
can take to keep your GERD and asthma under
control. Give Up on Smoking When you get
pregnant, every doctor would recommend that you
kick the bud. However, if you have asthma, this
is all the more important for you. Smoking
increases the frequency of action-plan-prepared a
nd decreases the effectiveness of any medication
that you consume. While pregnant, simply giving
up on smoking will not suffice, and you need to
make conscious efforts to avoid being exposed to
second-hand smoke as well. Using an
Inhaler Understand that when you experience an
asthma attack, your troubled breathing may lead
the fetus to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Not
only will that hamper the babys growth but, in
extreme cases, may also prove to be fatal for
the baby. You should continue to use your asthma
inhalers throughout the pregnancy. If you are
unsure of the correct use of asthma inhalers,
reach out to your healthcare provider for
suggestions to improve your technique. You may
also consider requesting them to watch you use
the inhaler to identify room for improvement.
Realize that the way you use the inhaler
determines how the medication reaches your lungs.
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Action plan Pregnant women with asthma should
talk to their doctor about their labour and
delivery options. Have an action plan prepared
as asthma can influence a doctors decision on
which drugs to employ during labour, delivery,
and the postpartum period. With the correct usage
of asthma inhalers as per instructions you will
be able to maintain better health
conditions. Periodic check ups During regular
medical visits throughout pregnancy, a babys
health is monitored in a variety of methods.
These visits are especially critical for
asthmatic women. Asthma therapy is most eminent
when you receive regular medical care and follow
a treatment plan closely. Good control of asthma
during pregnancy reduces the risk of
complications. Maintain cleanliness You will be
surprised to learn the role of a clean house in
asthma treatment. Understand that it is
inevitable for your furniture, bedding,
upholstery, and carpets to have dust mites. Keep
your home clean to minimize the existence of
such dust mites and prevent them from triggering
your asthma symptoms. Regular vacuuming is an
effective means of keeping dust mites at bay.
Since you are pregnant, it is recommended that
you avoid the heavy work and have a family member
do the vacuuming for you. Having an air
conditioner or dehumidifier to maintain the
humidity of your room between 30 50 is a
smart choice. You can also consider washing the
bedsheets, pillowcases, and blankets every week
in hot water, preferably at a temperature of at
least 54 degrees celsius. As an expectant
mother, you need to realize that with proper
care, it is plausible to prevent asthma from
taking a toll on your health and that of your
unborn child. As you look forward to stepping
into a new phase of life, the tips in this
article will help you tackle your asthma and give
a safe environment for the growth of your baby.