An asthma attack can feel like the scariest situation you can ever face. Out of nowhere, the airways in your lungs may acutely contract. When you can't get enough oxygen into your lungs, you feel as if you are dying. However, many strategies exist to mitigate extreme asthma problems. If you live in Georgia, you can find local activities that can improve asthma management.
Children's Camp
The American Lung Association in Georgia sponsors a camp dedicated to asthma treatment. The camp is located in Rutledge, Georgia, and is open to children 7 to 13 years old. Campers participate in normal camping activities: swimming, fishing, canoeing and archery. Asthma treatment and prevention are interwoven with all camp activities. Children learn about asthma's early warning signs, asthma triggers, current pharmacological treatment and managing asthma exacerbation. At the end of the six-day, five-night camp, children will be more skilled at managing their asthma symptoms.
Smoking Cessation
The Georgia Cancer Coalition maintains a toll-free telephone hot line for Georgia residents 13 years of age or older. Trained smoking cessation counselors create a structured plan over the phone for Georgians wishing to quit smoking. In some cases, callers can receive free nicotine gum and patches by mail. Spanish-speaking counselors are available. As of February, 2011, the toll-free phone number is 877-270-7867. Spanish-speaking counselors may be contacted at 877-266-3863.
Home Air Quality
Dr. Sandra Roberson of the Atlanta Asthma and Allergy Clinic advises allergic asthmatics to pay attention to their living conditions. She says asthmatics should keep their windows shut during seasons of heavy pollens. If you have air conditioning in your home, you should fully utilize it to minimize asthma-inducing pollens. You should clean the filters on your air conditioner on a regular basis.
Immunotherapy
Dr. Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta Asthma and Allergy Clinic suggests seeking immunotherapy for the treatment of allergy-induced asthma. Immunotherapy treatment assesses what allergic triggers the asthmatic may have. It then incorporates small amounts of diagnosed allergens into the patient. The goal is build up an immunity to allergens and minimize asthma symptoms. Patients initially receive two immunotherapy injections a week. Depending on how the patient adapts to the immunotherapy, the allergist will then increase the potency of the injections.
Outdoor Exercise
Dr. Roberson advises allergic asthmatics to exercise only in the early morning or late at night. At noon, pollens, such as ragweed, saturate the air. Avoiding the peak pollen saturation times while outdoors may decrease your asthma symptoms.
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