From food gurus to holistic health coaches, Kamilah Howard shares four people who motivate her to manage her asthma. 

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), approximately 25 million Americans have asthma. I'm one of them. While symptoms and management plans vary from person to person, I'd like to imagine that one thing remains the same: we all want to see the best version of ourselves with the disease.

Not only does it take time to learn what works for you, but it also takes persistence. For me, asthma has been something I manage in several ways: with the proper treatment provided by my doctor, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. While these methods are standard and effective, it helps to have others along with you for the journey – whether that's friends or family or simply someone or something that inspires you.

Over the years, I've improved my asthma care, and I've also taken my overall health and wellness to greater heights. While doing the very best I can, it often helps to see others living their best, healthiest lives (with or without asthma) or simply striving for more when it comes to overall wellness.

These four people inspire me to live my best life with asthma.

Michael Pollan

I started following Michael Pollan a few years ago after watching a documentary he appeared in called Food, Inc. 

The film changed my perspective on food and where it's sourced. After that, I sought out Pollan's documentaries and bought many of his books.

"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants" is the advice he gave in his book "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual." It has become one of the pillars of approaching and consuming food. It's helped me navigate the grocery store and even dinner outings. 

He treats food with respect and encourages you to listen to your body, especially if it doesn't agree with a decision you made.

Thinking more deeply about the food I consume has also helped me be more mindful in other areas of life — including how I manage my asthma.

I've asked myself: Can I keep going during a workout, or is it better to rest for 15 seconds? 

It's a judgment call, but an important one since overdoing it could worsen my symptoms or put me at risk for an attack. Taking the time to check in with my body and listen to what it's telling me has been a massive part of my asthma care.

I'd recommend checking out his work. It's given me a different perspective on food and wellness. It's helped me make the best lifestyle decisions while improving asthma's effect on my life.

Christy Harrison

When I'm not reading Pollan's books, I'm likely listening to one of Christy Harrison's podcasts or reading her latest newsletter. She believes in health at every size and intuitive eating, which have helped me feel better about my food decisions.

Not only is she realistic about food and what it can do for you, but she's also found other body-positive influencers to include in her podcast series. 

Many of them are healthcare professionals, bloggers, and chronic-illness warriors. The podcasts cover various topics, from living with health conditions to current events and how the news affects our health.

It's truly food for thought. Body positivity and the concepts that Christy believes in have helped me put more faith in my body's capabilities. 

While asthma is a factor I have to consider, I've learned to give myself room to breathe, pushing through invisible barriers. I've also learned to trust myself to know when something is wrong, but more importantly, when something feels right.

Will Smith

There are so many people to follow on social media, but I've made it a point to follow those who inspire me or make me laugh. Will Smith is an incredibly talented actor who uses his various platforms to do the former.

He's become a strong presence in the wellness space by posting thought-provoking videos and being vulnerable about his struggles, hopes, dreams, and fears.

He's been incredibly open with his Bucket List series. It's comical, but it also shows real moments of growth for him, which is inspiring.

Will showing his vulnerabilities and sharing what he's learned has given me more perspective on what it means to use what you have and to lean into your true self, which involves self-acceptance.

When it comes to living with asthma, it's easy to want to hide and present the best version of yourself — whatever that looks like for you. But what if you stopped hiding? That's something I've tried to improve in the last few years.

That's included using my inhaler out in the open or speaking up when I'm experiencing symptoms. Managing your asthma symptoms is essential, but you need other tools to help you when the unexpected happens.

Jay Shetty

I've only recently started following Jay, but I love his message. He's constantly posting positive content that resonates with me. His videos also make me stop and think about how I'm treating myself, ultimately revealing what's important. 

Am I being kind to myself? Am I being gentle with myself? His message is one of love, patience, discipline, and honesty. These things have served me well in managing my asthma and overall health. A lot of the work he engages in helps me keep things in perspective. 

Sometimes having asthma can be discouraging, but that doesn't have to be the case. It's an opportunity to dig deeper, get creative about what works for you, and find the silver lining. Your perspective can either propel you forward or hold you back. 

The takeaway

Taking care of yourself when you're living with asthma is important because this disease can affect other areas of your life. It's about finding those small heroic moments when you feel your best and repeating them over and over again. 

Trust me; consistency can have a considerable impact on your health. Finding your routine and your motivation can be vital in managing this disease.

For more information on managing asthma, reach out to your doctor or healthcare team. 

The individual(s) who have written and created the content in and whose images appear in this article have been paid by Teva Pharmaceuticals for their contributions. This content represents the opinions of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect those of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, Teva Pharmaceuticals does not review, control, influence or endorse any content related to the contributor's websites or social media networks. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice or recommendations. Consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and before beginning or changing any treatment regimen. 

NPS-ALL-NP-00537 MARCH 2022