Asthma affects many different ages of people. Look for things that could make your condition worse, and always keep your appointments to see your doctor. The tips in this article will help you find a way to control your asthma.
What kind of asthma do you have? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Some things, such as physical exertion, can cause an asthma attack. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. For example, if your asthma is brought on by bronchitis, you should keep your rescue inhaler with you during times when you are sick. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
Social Worker
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy unscented products. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Avoid smoking inside, and only let people eat in the kitchen. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
Even if your asthma seems like it is under control, always keep your asthma appointments with the doctor. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
Anyone with asthma needs to avoid all types of smoke when trying to decrease asthma attacks. Cigarette smoke will often trigger an asthma attack. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Allergens, pollen and other irritants can collect in your linens and aggravate your asthma. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
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. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
Visit at least two different doctors. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and nutritionists can help you take advantage of the many treatments available to those with asthma.
You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent any of these mouth issues by brushing your teeth and gargling mouthwash as soon as you use the inhaler.
If pollen is present in the air, anyone with asthma should stay inside. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. Air quality levels for specific pollutants are now readily available and it is possible to use this information to limit exposure on high level days.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your 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. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
Always use an appropriately-designed mask when painting to guard against breathing paint fumes. The fumes from the pain can irritate your asthma. By using a mask, you will keep yourself from inhaling the majority of these fumes. Use proper safety equipment to protect yourself from chemicals that can agitate your asthma condition.
For asthma sufferers having contact with pets or other animals need to be minimized. A lot of times the hair or dander will cause an asthma attack, but even if you do not have an allergy to the pet itself they often carry pollen and dust with them.
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 constricts blood vessels so that your airways can open.
Bed Linens
Make sure you ban any type of smoking inside your home, or any place that can harm someone in your household who suffers from asthma. You will want to be certain that the people you know understand that you have a policy against any smoking in your home. 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.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
Be on the lookout for symptoms of allergic reactions to food in your kids. If you notice breathing issues or hives when they have eaten something, you may want them tested for allergies. Food allergies can be a precursor to asthma.
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, avoid using a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is consistently and thoroughly cleaned. If it is not clean you end up getting bacteria growth in the damp interior of the machine, and that ends up flooding the air you want to humidify with allergens.
Keeping your home clean and dry is a good way to reduce attacks. A dehumidifier can come in handy to keep moisture levels stable. Maintenance of steady humidity levels throughout your home cuts down on the seasonal attacks you might suffer.
Asthma is not a subject to fool around with. Asthma attacks can accelerate and spin into life-threatening situations, even with an inhaler in hand, so you should take every precaution to prevent them in the first place. For example, always carry a rescue inhaler and reduce the airborne allergens and dust in your home. If you apply the tips you’ve read here to your daily life, you should be better able to control your asthma and live more freely.
If you are an asthma sufferer, always keep away from exercising outdoors when the air is dry and cold. You can induce an asthma attack if you bronchial airways are dry and cool. So, if you want to exercise, do it inside unless the weather is humid and warm.