Having asthma can completely change your life. At its worst, this condition can be life-threatening. And, even having mild asthma can greatly restrict the things you love to do in life. You should be sure to get the tools to fight this disease. You can manage your asthma and reduce your symptoms by applying the tips below.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Stay away from smoking, or being around any smoke, vapors or fumes. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, however it is especially bad for asthmatics. Your lungs are already compromised from the asthma and adding smoke to that will cut off the vital oxygen supply your lungs need to breathe.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
It is crucial that you stay away from all types of cigarette smoke if you suffer from asthma. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Do not breathe in the vapors or any other chemical fumes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. If people smoke around you, you should get away form that area.
If you are suffering from asthma, stay away from any type of cigarette smoke. Avoid smoking altogether. Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. This can move the dust around and can trigger an attack easily. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
If the room you are in appears to be dusty, refrain from turning on any fans. Dust blown around by fans can cause your asthma to rear up. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. If you have asthma, it’s important to prevent all respiratory infections, if at all possible. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for asthma sufferers. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, fill the air with irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
Asthma Treatment
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Asthma sufferers generally have different triggers in common like pollen, pet dander and smoke. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Sufferers from asthma should stay indoors when the pollen count rises. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. Now that local air quality information is available in most areas, asthma sufferers can minimize their outdoor exposure when potential irritants are in the air.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Asthma Information
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Take in every piece of asthma information available to you. Education is a priceless tool in finding the proper treatment for your asthma. You will know that you are using the most effective methods if you stay current with asthma information. To know these things, you must keep learning about your disease and the options available for treatment.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. Always consult with a doctor to see if a persistent cough or difficulty breathing is a sign that you require treatment for asthma. There may even be things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
If you have asthma, schedule checkups ever few months with your doctor to stay on top of your condition. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. You are the one who needs to make sure that these appointments happen to stay healthy.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
You must use a protective mask when you paint, so make sure you have one before you start your project. You can bother your asthma a lot by painting, if you use a mask it can help protect you. Don’t use certain chemicals and substances that could aggravate your asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Sometimes smoke can cause an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. Things like this can make your asthma worse. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
Joining a support group, or finding friends with a similar condition, can help you. People who have experience with the same disease as you can often provide a number of suggestions or tricks that work in specific situations – all of which can make your battle with asthma a little earlier. Support given by those around you who are also afflicted with asthma can really make all the difference.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. Frequent need of an inhaler is an indication that the medication prescribed is not the right strength. Also, if you refill the inhaler more than 2 times each year, there is the same result, which means making an appointment with your doctor.
Vitamin B6
Make sure your doctor sees you every two or three months for a check up to see how you are managing with your asthma condition. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and make any changes as they see fit. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.
Include more vitamin B6 foods in your diet. Recent research has shown that vitamin B6 , widely known as pyridoxine, is effective at reducing the occurrence of asthma attacks. It seems to work by producing molecular elements that aid it relaxing the tissues of your bronchial system. A banana is a great food that is rich in vitamin B6.
Aim to maintain a clean home. Keeping your bedding clean and washed regularly can really make a difference when trying to control your asthma. By doing this, it prevents dust mites and dust from building up. Both dust and dust mites can trigger asthma attacks. Built up dust makes the air irritating and increases the chances of an asthma attack.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
Get those flu shots. It’s a good idea to be prepared and vaccinated, even if you normally sail through cold and flu season without incident. It is easy for an asthma sufferer to develop a sinus or respiratory illness, which can create serious complications.