1. Lie back on a firm bed with knees drawn up, arms limp at
the sides. Exhale as you rise and bend forward to place the head between the
knees. Inhale as you slowly sink back to the starting position. Rest for a
moment and breathe out quickly, using abdominal muscles. Inhale before resuming
the exercise.
Rest, breathing normally and allowing only the upper part of
the abdomen and lower portion of the rib cage to move
2. Stand with feet apart and arms elevated almost to
top-of-head level, with fists clenched, and elbows well back. Bend shoulders
and neck to one side, with the corresponding arm going to side of body in
direction of bend. Use fist of opposite arm to help push head down. Repeat in
opposite direction. Do three times in each direction.
3. Sit with feet well apart. With right hand over ribs on
right side, bend to right, breathing out and pushing hand into ribs. Inhale
while resuming original position. Do the same in the opposite direction. notify his doctor.
The change may signal
status asthmaticus. An asthmatic who becomes depressed by his illness-and
people vary greatly in their reaction to labored breathing-should receive
psychotherapy if he wishes it. With such therapy, some asthmatics are aided in
adopting a more cheerful attitude, and some find that psychotherapy helps
reduce severity and frequency of attacks.
PRIMARY PREVENTION
Effective desensitizationto pollens that cause hay fever helps to reduce the risk of developing
asthmatic reactions to these substances. So, too, avoidance of food allergens
that may produce allergic upsets for a given individual. Some allergists
suggest that, as a precaution, children of allergic parents should not be given
eggs and other commonly allergenic foods during the first year of life and
should not be exposed to wool.
Also, each new food should be introduced in
small quantity and in- creased slowly in amount. It is believed that a child
can build up tolerance for small amounts of new foods but might be made
allergic by sudden introduction of large amounts.
