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• Some drugs used for heart problems or hypertension, such as B-blockers will cause bronchoconstriction or a
flare-up in most patients with asthma. These drugs are also sometimes included in eyedrops for glaucoma. Flare-
ups caused by these drugs can be severe and sometimes fatal. If a person with asthma has a medical problem for
which these drugs would normally be prescribed, the physician should carefully evaluate if it is safe for them to
be taken, and they should be monitored very carefully.
• Some herbal or complementary treatments can make asthma worse, e.g. royal jelly; echinacea.
Can my diet be responsible for worsening my asthma?
• Some studies suggest that Vitamin D deficiency, or not eating enough Omega-3 (e.g. in fish) or antioxidants (e.g.
in fruits and vegetables) is associated with a more difficult-to-control asthma although this should be confirmed. It
is suggested for people with asthma to have a normal balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit.
Can I keep my cat if I have asthma and my allergy skin tests are positive to cats?
• If somebody who has asthma is allergic to an animal, the contact should be eliminated or reduced to the
minimum, otherwise asthma can worsen. There is no natural desensitization to animals if somebody has allergic
asthma and he/she is exposed to the allergens. Allergy is caused not only by fur or hairs, but also by their saliva,
epidermis, and urine. There is no such thing as a hypo-allergic animal. The best approach is not to have an
animal to which you are allergic but if you have decided to take this risk, at least the animal should never be
allowed to enter the bedroom and strict hygiene measures should be taken (including washing clothes that have
been near the animal), although asthma can still be affected over time.
What are the best measures to reduce the effects of house-dust mites on my asthma?
• Most previous studies on environmental measures to reduce the effects of house-dust mites on asthma have been
inconclusive, and some of these measures are expensive. GINA mentions that there are no evidence for
interventions in adults, and some evidence for encasing bedding for children. Some specialists still suggest to
keep humidity levels low in the house (around 40%) and use house-dust mite covers for mattresses and pillows.
Chemical substances used to kill the house-dust mites (acaricides) are not recommended and their effects on health
are unknown.
Can passive smoking be dangerous for a child’s asthma?
• Passive smoking can definitely make a child’s asthma worse. The child’s asthma can be more difficult to control,
they can have more frequent flare-ups, and they are more likely to need to go to hospital for their asthma. This is
also true for adults with asthma.
If I have asthma can I perform exercise?
• Yes, in fact, regular exercise is recommended for people with asthma as has a lot of general health
benefits, including improving fitness and improving the quality of life. However, as exercise causes faster
breathing, it can induce bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways) due to dehydration (drying out) of the
airways, so some preventative measures may be needed. The better asthma is controlled, the less that exercise will
induce bronchoconstriction. Taking a regular inhaled anti-inflammatory controller medication every day will greatly
reduce the chance of asthma symptoms occurring during exercise. If needed, a short-acting bronchodilator (blue
reliever inhaler) can be used in the 15-20 minutes before exercise. Normally, reliever medication should not be
needed before every time that exercise is performed; if it is needed every time, it suggests that asthma is
insufficiently controlled, requiring reassessment of the maintenance treatment by the physician.