Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Your Loved One With Asthma

Still looking for gift ideas for your family member or friend who has asthma? Here are some ideas to help you out...

1. Quit smoking. If you currently smoke, quitting smoking can be a dual gift. It will certainly make you healthier. But it will also help out all those around you by protecting them from secondhand smoke inhalation, especially if they have asthma. Secondhand smoke is a powerful asthma trigger and can also raise risk for developing asthma in babies and children. Giving this gift of yourself and a smoke-free holiday will be much appreciated!

2. Membership in a health club or weight loss program. This is only good if you know the person is ready to lose weight and you can afford it. It's important to know though that losing weight is one of the best gifts a person with asthma can give themselves, as it will help greatly with asthma control. If you can't afford to give a gift like this, then think about offering to be the main support person for your friend as s/he works on losing weight. Be a workout buddy, help with planning low-fat, low-calorie healthy meals, and so on.

3. A "puffer" pouch or case. People with asthma usually have to keep an asthma inhaler with them at all times, in case of an asthma attack. For men or women who don't use a purse, the inhaler, or "puffer" as some call it, can be a bulky addition to a pocket or difficult to carry along when running, etc. And even if you carry your inhaler in a purse or belt pack, it can get dirty, become dislodged from the device or lose its cap. So having a small case that it fits in can be a great gift! And this is a great gift for a teen, who may be embarrassed to carry an inhaler. Trick one out with crystals or glow in the dark plastic and you'll have a winner. One choice is the Respire brand case pictured above, a metal case that fastens magnetically, which looks stylish too. Or, I found a canvas case with a carabiner that clips onto my belt loop or purse handle. Others have belt clips. Even some cell phone cases might work. Just "Google" the term "inhaler case" and you'll see lots of options. Even Walgreens sells one!

4. Battery-operated candles. Most people like candles, especially at the holidays or when trying to set a relaxing or romantic mood. But the smoke from candles, as well as the fragrance, can be irritating to inflamed airways in people who have asthma. Battery-operated candles may come with scent, but they can be used with or without the fragrance pack. I have one of these, and I love it!

5. Maid service. Keeping your home as dust-free as possible is a great way to keep the common asthma trigger of dust mites down to a minimum. But getting there -- in other words, doing the cleaning -- can stir up dust and make asthma symptoms worse. So, having someone else come in a do the cleaning can really help out a person with asthma, in both attaining and keeping a clean house. If you can't afford to give maid service, then offer to do the cleaning yourself, at least occasionally. Your efforts will go even farther if you use dust-mite cleaning products and a vacuum with a HEPA filter to get rid of allergens.