Lifestyle Tips

Avoid cigarette smoke.
Cigarette smoke causes asthma attacks and makes them worse. Don't smoke, and don't allow others to smoke in your home. It is harmful to the children and may causes asthma and damages their lungs for a lifetime. If you are having any friends or relatives having this habit ask them to smoke outside. If you are visiting someone who smokes, explain in advance that you can't tolerate smoking. Don't allow baby sitters to smoke around your child, and particularly where your child sleeps. Be very firm if necessary.

Carefully handle your Pet
All pets can cause allergies-except fish. Pet skin flakes, saliva and urine can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to these allergens. Another big source of discomfort for pet owners with allergies is the pollen, mold spores and other outdoor allergens brought inside on your animal's fur. You can try these strategies to minimize your allergies:

• Keep your pet out of your bedroom, where you spend the most time.
• Wash your hands after handling your pet to avoid spreading the dander.
• Have someone else to bathe your pet weekly and brush it outdoors twice a week.

Avoid spicy heavy meals.
A study led by Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., a cardiology fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, found that heart attacks are four times more likely to occur two hours after eating an usually large meal. After a meal, your heart has to work faster and stronger to digest food, and the more you eat, the harder it has to work. A diversion of blood away from your heart to digest food also can be a problem for people at risk for heart attacks. Hence you should avoid heavy meal.

Reduce Stress at Work
Regular exercise, nutritional meal, enough sleep will help you to reduce work-related stress. Avoid alcohol, smoking, caffeine and sugar. Drink more water to keep you hydrated. Come in a little early and use planning techniques and prioritizing to manage your time. Look for creative ways to solve problems or work around them rather than simply getting angry. Get to know your coworkers a little better. Get up and walk around periodically if you have a desk job. If your job is really not a good match, consider looking for a new one or otherwise changing the situation will help out. But consider this as a last resort.