Warriors of Reduction!

Yes, we are!  In my family, we don’t like taking medications that are not necessary  that can be reduced by avoiding whatever is creating the need for the medication in the first place. In yesterday’s blog, I chatted about becoming one with our medications and how my family members are warriors of reduction.  I thought the topic was worthy of more discussion!  We are warriors on two fronts: food allergic reaction and asthma attack prevention.  The harder we work towards preventing these two events the less medicine we will hopefully have to take!

 
Food Allergy Warrior of Reduction.  The term “managing food allergies” really can be translated into “reducing food allergic reactions” in my world.  We warrior on by sticking with our family’s protocol on reducing allergic reactions by following these brief rules of food allergy engagement:
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• No label, no eat.
• Don’t trust it, no eat.
• Nothing should go into your mouth or on your skin that you can’t account for (ingredients).
• Bring your own snack or food.
• Eat ahead of time so you don’t have to try to find safe foods.
• Keep safe foods in the car in case of emergency.
• Maintain a list of allergy friendly restaurants and items that can purchased in most grocery store.
• No risk taking, not worth it.
• Carry wipes and wipe down everything.
• Work with school, coaches, clubs, etc. to reduce exposure to allergens.
• Think about your day and what you may be exposed to and ask to make changes.
• Keep your fingers out of your mouth, nose or any other orifice, you could have touched an allergen and now  you are inviting it into your body!
• If the situation is dangerous leave.  Even if it is a classroom and your teacher doesn’t understand, Mom and Dad do and they will have your back.

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Asthma Warriors of Reduction.  Oddly enough, I feel much more in control with reducing asthma triggers than food allergic reactions, even though many asthma triggers are beyond my control, such as pollution, flu season, etc.  I think I get a sense of security since there are many factors I am able to control.  Most importantly, factors that I am able to actually see the positive result immediately.  So, here are our asthma reduction rules:
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• Take maintenance medications nightly.
• Carry rescue inhaler at all times.
• Know your triggers.
• Do absolutely everything to avoid those triggers!
• Run our super amazing Pure Air Catlytic air filters daily and move to different rooms as needed.
• Take puffers of inhaler before sports.
• Avoid homes with animals and lots of carpet (a bad mix for our family)-invite to our house instead!
• Avoid any businesses where smoking is allowed.
• It’s okay to ask someone to not smoke if you love them.
• Stay away from folks with colds, even if you look silly and over protective.
• Wash your hands like crazy.
• Get your flu shot.
• During flu season, protect your sleep time as if it is gold, eat super well and no over doing it!
• Exercise!

[/unordered_list] We enjoy having folks over so it is welcomed when we invite friends over who have homes with various animals that could bring on asthma issues.  Many times, my son has ended up taking rescue puffs on his inhaler due to a combination of playing on carpet with dogs or cats in the house. The carpet really holds onto all that lovely animal hair that triggered his asthma.  During  the recent fire by fire place damper blew open and smoke poured into the living room.  Once I closed the flue, I moved two of these air filters into the living room and within a couple of  hours the smoke smell was completely gone!
I hope you are a prevention Warrior too!  Have a wonderful Tuesday-[typography font=”Lobster” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]Caroline[/typography]             [fbshare url=”http://www.gratefulfoodie.com/warriors-of-reduction/” type=”button” float=”left”]