Asthma is scary, regardless of who is affected by it. It is important to be knowledgeable about asthma and the symptoms associated with it so you can better manage the effects. Always know what could possibly happen, learn to spot the warning signs, and be prepared to react if you can’t prevent them.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
It is vital that neither you, nor anyone else, smoke around a child with asthma. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. While making sure to never light up around your children, it is also vital that you make sure your kids are not around others who do not show the same courtesy.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
Asthma is a disease that is continuous. As such, it requires long-term health management. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
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 is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. For example, Omalizumab can be used to keep your allergic reactions to a minimum and your asthma under control.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Many chemicals that are in these products can cause the triggering of asthma attacks. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
Social Worker
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to a social worker. It is essential that you can buy your asthma medicine, and a social worker might help you find a hospital or clinic that can provide your medicine at reduced cost, or free.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is a common medication that can affect asthma sufferers. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Organic products are preferable to more chemically loaded, commercially produced cleaning products.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. Talk to your doctor and allergist to see what is the best idea for you.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. These can very easily cause an attack. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. A treatment made up of a daily medication plus a rescue inhaler can help to keep asthma under control. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
If you’re someone who gets an asthma attack related to allergy like symptoms, there’s medication you can use to help. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
If you are going to be flying and are bringing your asthma medicine with you, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. Therefore, try and keep the home dry. During winter time, use a dehumidifier if necessary to control humidity while running your heater, and use your air conditioner during summer months to keep air dry.
See more than one doctor. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and nutritionists can help you take advantage of the many treatments available to those with asthma.
If you have asthma, don’t stop using your inhaler unless your doctor tells you to. However, watch for infections in your gums or other mouth discomfort after using your inhaler. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Stay Indoors
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Have someone call emergency services or drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathe into a paper bag, which will reduce your breathing rate during the trip.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
Educate yourself about asthma. If you educate yourself properly, you will be able to find a good treatment. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. The best possible way to really understand your condition and treatment options is to educate yourself.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. This level of frequency can mean your medication is ineffective for your needs. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. Your physician must check you out regularly to see if you need to do anything differently with your treatment. You need to stay on top of scheduling doctor visits. Otherwise, your condition might deteriorate suddenly.
If you are going to be painting in your house, wear a mask, as it will protect you from harmful fumes. Paint could irritate asthma greatly, but using a mask will act as a protective shield needed to fight this issue. Learn what type of chemicals trigger your asthma and try to stay away from them.
Keep your home clean and well swept. Keeping your bedding clean and washed regularly can really make a difference when trying to control your asthma. Cleaning will prevent dust and mites from building up, lessening the risk of asthma attacks. Dust in the air is irritating to those with asthma and increases the chance of an attack.
As was earlier stated, there is plenty of information you have to know about asthma. This article has only some of the tips that you can use to manage your asthma, or help others cope with this condition. You can reduce the difficulty of asthma with loved ones, and improve their life quality.
If you experience three or more allergy attacks in a week, it’s likely that the medication you’re taking isn’t proper. Having an asthma attack twice a week is a danger to your health, and that frequency can be prevented.