Getting an asthma diagnosis isn't on anybody's bucket list. A condition that affects your ability to breathe easily is scary. That doesn't mean that living with asthma has to be a perpetual downer. Learning to live with asthma can teach you a lot about yourself.
As you navigate your life with asthma, you will learn everything that triggers symptoms. You will get to know your body and understand your health. You'll learn to work with your body so that you can live life to the fullest without doing yourself unnecessary harm.
In addition to having a handle on your health, you'll also be an expert at self-care. Maybe you can't tolerate the fragrances in the bath bombs that magazines recommend for relaxation. Still, you can do things that really count. Exercise, diet, rest, and preventative healthcare are crucial to managing asthma. Staying on top of asthma will teach you to stay on top of other healthcare essentials like cancer screenings and regular physicals.
Not to mention, your cleaning and laundry skills will be on point! Keeping your home free of asthma triggers is very important to managing your symptoms.
If you have asthmas, you're not alone. There are millions of people around the world who share your diagnosis. Online communities and in-person support groups are a great way to meet people who understand your challenges. If you're the parent of a child with asthma, that support could help improve your child's life. You can share health tips and have a few laughs with people who really get it.
You may even get the chance to change the future for people with asthma. You may someday have an opportunity to join a clinical trial for a new treatment. Joining clinical trials isn't right for everyone, but people who do join trials make an important contribution to science. If you want to be a change agent for asthma, ask your doctor about the possibility of being a clinical trial subject.
Asthma doesn't have to define your life, but it will always be a part of who you are. You might face challenges and disappointments, but you can emerge stronger and wiser.
