How to survive the Harmattan if you're asthmatic

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that transport air to and from the lungs. No full cure is available, but management methods can help a person with asthma lead a full and active life.

In a person with asthma, the inside walls of the airways, known as bronchial tubes, become swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases their susceptibility to an allergic reaction.

In an allergic reaction, the airways swell, and the muscles around the airway tighten, making it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs.

Asthma attacks

In some asthma attacks, swelling in the airways can completely prevent oxygen from reaching the lungs, which also stops it entering the bloodstream and traveling to vital organs.

This type of asthma attack can be fatal and requires urgent hospitalization.

At the start of an asthma attack, the airways allow enough air into the lungs, but it does not let the carbon dioxide leave the lungs at a fast enough rate. Carbon dioxide is poisonous if the body does not expel the gas, and a prolonged asthma attack might lead to a build-up of the gas in the lungs.

This might further reduce the amount of oxygen entering the bloodstream.

How to survive the Harmattan if you're asthmatic

1. Carry your inhalers everywhere you go. Having an inhaler doesn't make you weak or show you're going to die.

2. Know your triggers. Stay away from them.

3. Carry a sweater, pullover, coat with you, where ever you go. Doesn't matter if you wear a cute dress or shirt.

4. When you get an "attack" use your inhaler. Don't try to brave the storm.

5. Get to the hospital as quickly as you can.

6. When you go to the hospital please do not join the queue. Go to the emergency room. You are a priority.

7. Carry your health insurance card so if you have to be in the hospital it will be easy and cheap.

8. When you enter a Pharmacy to buy any drug, tell the Pharmacist or support staff you are asthmatic. This is very important.

9. If you are triggered by cold or dry air, as we are in the harmattan season, cover your nose.

10. Before you step out, ask yourself "is it necessary?" If it is not, stay home.

11. Stay hydrated. This is not the season for if I don't drink cold water, I don't feel like I've drunk water.

Stay safe. Stay strong.