What is your Non-Pharmacological ways of helping to manage Asthma?

I have severe asthma. I had carbon monoxide poisoning in 2003. Burning debris can be very very very bad. The kind of chemicals it can put in the air can be horrible. Those military burn pits have caused endless problems. Gave the President's son cancer and he died.

Burning plastic produces dioxin, one of the most dangerous chemicals known to man.

Many firefighters are told not to go into a burning warehouse with a lot of plastic, as it is simply too dangerous.

If you are around burning debris? The only real solution is to move. Period.

You can buy an expensive air filter. But they can only process a small amount of chemicals in the air.

If you want medical confirmation of my suggestion to simply move, you could contact:

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM)
https://www.aaemonline.org/
+++

One of the top clinics is in Dallas:
https://www.ehcd.com/

@samcal9977zz I give out these links fairly often too. I had an AAEM doctor for many years who told me abut De. Rea in Dallas. They've moved out of Dallas, but the website is the same. this is goods information to share.

Managing Ashtma involes a combination of strategies to minimize exposure to triggers and to strengthen iverall respiratory health. One effective metod is to maintain a clean home enviorment. Reguarly dusting and vacuuming to remove dust mites, pet dander, and other potential allerfens can be very helpful. it's also imortant to change air filters frequently in your heating and cooling systems to ensure you're breathing cleaner air. Additionally, using hypoallergenic beddingand keeping humidity levels low can deter mold growth, which is another common asthma trigger.
Another approach is to focus on lifestyle facotrs that can improve respiratory strength and reduce symptoms. Regular exercuse, while it should be moderated accoriding to individual asthma action plans, can help by strenghtening the lungs and improving overall fitness. Of course, it's important to exercise in enviorments that don't contain your specific asthma triggers. A balanced diet rich in fruits and veggies can also support immune funstion and potentially reduce the severity of asthma symptoms. it's all about creating a supportive enviorment and lifestyle

@pat2407, I can remember being in Kings Canyon National Park while the fires were in Yosemite (just north of Kings Canyon) The smoke was affecting the air and I wrapped a scarf to cover my nose and mouth because it was all that I had with me. I'm not sure if it made any difference, because my asthma is diagnosed as Exercise Induced Asthma, and is activated by spring pollen, humidity, and physical exertion. Maybe I am lucky that when hiking, I can slow down to make me breathing easier. Just last fall my pulmonologist changed my daily/during spring/summer season. I also have an albuterol inhaler which I can use year round if needed. I am going to be giving it a real test in June when I will be hiking in the humidty, heat, and mountains. After that trip, I have an appointment with pulmonologist where he will want to know if the now current treatment is helping me.

I do realize that my experience is not your experience, and I am curious as to your "game changing" reaction to the smoke that you have mentioned. Were you aware of asthma before the wildfire smoke episode? What are you doing when you say that you are "still working to come out of this"? Are you working with a pulmonologist?

Hi @lenchiksf - I liked reading the discussion you started about nonpharmacological ways to manage asthma. I found your comment about your use of meditation and also the comment from @sueinmn about relaxed, deep breathing interesting. In an asthma checkup I had years ago, the pulmonologist talked to me almost entirely about managing my stress to improve my asthma, which was unfamiliar to me. I wonder if the techniques you two mentioned address the same thing.

Lenchiksf - are you continuing to use the infrared lamp and infrared sauna for sinuses and chest, especially when you have symptoms? If so, how are you using these, and what have you found they do to help your asthma?

@samcal9977zz - you mentioned needing to simply move if one was exposed to burning debris. I'm wondering if you've had that experience? If so, what happened?

@otter2154 - you mentioned some practices you use to manage your asthma such as several consecutive nights of deep, quality sleep, exercise and staying away from alcohol. Are these continuing to work to help manage your asthma? If so, do these things replace using any rescue medications, or are you using them along with medications?

Hi @lenchiksf - I liked reading the discussion you started about nonpharmacological ways to manage asthma. I found your comment about your use of meditation and also the comment from @sueinmn about relaxed, deep breathing interesting. In an asthma checkup I had years ago, the pulmonologist talked to me almost entirely about managing my stress to improve my asthma, which was unfamiliar to me. I wonder if the techniques you two mentioned address the same thing.

Lenchiksf - are you continuing to use the infrared lamp and infrared sauna for sinuses and chest, especially when you have symptoms? If so, how are you using these, and what have you found they do to help your asthma?

@samcal9977zz - you mentioned needing to simply move if one was exposed to burning debris. I'm wondering if you've had that experience? If so, what happened?

@otter2154 - you mentioned some practices you use to manage your asthma such as several consecutive nights of deep, quality sleep, exercise and staying away from alcohol. Are these continuing to work to help manage your asthma? If so, do these things replace using any rescue medications, or are you using them along with medications?