Do you suffer from asthma and wish you could learn more about it? You are not isolated with your health issues. A lot of people want to learn more about asthma; however, they do not know how to go about it. Once you finish reading this article, you might be surprised how easy it is to manage your asthma.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? 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. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
Cleaning Products
Always use your inhaler in the proper manner. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. If you smoke, try quitting. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
Asthma Attacks
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. It works to prevent leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Be sure to take plenty of Vitamins C and E if you have asthma. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. Asthma suffers can now minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants and irritants by checking online for current air quality in their areas.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. To avoid those complications, be sure to brush teeth, gargle, and rinse mouth completely right after you have used the inhaler.
If you need to use your inhaler more often than twice each week, this means your asthma isn’t adequately controlled and a medication change is required. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. This is also true if you are refilling your rescue inhaler prescription more than twice a year.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Educate yourself to the maximum regarding asthma. The greater your knowledge base regarding asthma, the more involved you can be in determining treatment plans. Remain current on the latest treatment techniques and be certain to receive the very best professional assistance you can. Make sure to explore new and different options to keep the symptoms of your condition under control.
Someone suffering from asthma should avoid animals. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Avoid specific substances and chemicals that will worsen your asthma.
Bed Linens
If you get at least two attacks a week, it might be time to try a different medication. Doctors agree that suffering from more than two asthma attacks every week is not only dangerous, but avoidable.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.
If an asthma attack occurs, and you do not have your controller medications with you, try to ingest something that contains caffeine. It’s best to use a fast acting inhaler to end your asthma attack but caffeine can relieve asthma symptoms until you are able to get to your inhaler. Caffeine is a stimulant that dilates your airways, giving you temporary relief from asthma symptoms.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. Bacteria can breed inside of the machine due to the moisture, which can exaggerate your allergies or asthma.
If you or anyone in your house suffers from asthma, you need to ban smoking from inside your home, car, or anywhere near the asthma sufferer. People who want to smoke should do so outside, away from the house and away from the person with asthma. Heavy smokers can cause a person with asthma to have a full blown asthma attack, because they still carry the smell of smoke in their clothes.
In summary, it is commonplace for asthma sufferers to want to know more about the condition which harms their everyday life. The valuable information in the above article will help you feel more confident in dealing with your asthma, and start feeling better fast. By implementing the advice you’ve read here, you’ll find that your life is a lot more enjoyable!
The cleaner your home is, the less asthma attacks you’re likely to have there. You also need to make the air in your home as dry as possible. Using a dehumidifier will control moisture levels in your house. If you strive to keep the levels of humidity in your residence consistent, you will not have as many asthma attacks.