ASTHMA DIETETIC RULES

Dietetic Rules - Apart from what the patient eats, what is important for an Asthmatic is how he eats and when he eats. The present day civilization has made the life of man rather mechanical. He eats and drinks at irregular intervals. Meal times are not fixed. Sometimes because of the pressure of work he is unable to eat his meals on time; at other times, because of social obligations he has to eat or drink even though he does not want to. food in the form of snacks, and beverages is consumed at all hours, irrespective of whether the hour, or the occasion demands it. This is very injurious even for normally healthy persons. For Asthmatics, irregular meals and snacks should be totally avoided. 

How the patient eats is equally important. At the dining table, where the entire family is supposed to eat together, particularly during breakfast and dinner, a peaceful atmosphere seldom prevails. The eating place is generally the place of discussion for everything in the world right from politics to social crimes. These discussions effect both the participants and non-participants because of the effect it produces on the mind. The digestion and metabolic processes are seriously affected. This is responsible for several human diseases. Therefore, a healthy person and even more so an Asthmatic, should always try to maintain a peaceful atmosphere at the dining table. It is best to eat silently and keep apart some time for discussions with friends and family members on matters of  business and domestic or social problems.

Television, radio and the telephone have aggravated this problem. It has become customary to watch TV or listen to the radio and attend to telephone calls while eating. The dining room should be absolutely free from these gadgets of civilization. Patients suffering from Asthma should strictly avoid them and arrange to attend telephone calls only after the meal is over.