Are you a person who, among millions of others, suffers from asthma? Read this article to learn more about asthma symptoms and how you can control them.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
If you have asthma, avoid people who are smoking. When you inhale tobacco smoke, the lung’s function can be decreased, and you will increase the chance you have an asthma attack. Smaller areas without proper ventilation make you even more susceptible to an attack.
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. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, fill the air with irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
If you have asthma, avoid people who are smoking. When you breathe in smoke, particularly in an enclosed area, your lungs cannot function as well, and it increases your risk of having an asthma attack.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
While everyone appreciates the look and feel of a clean house, asthma sufferers in particular benefit from a healthy environment as it can decrease the risk of asthma attacks, especially in a sleeping area. Avoid smoking inside, and only let people eat in the kitchen. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Keep yourself safe from these outbreaks by getting a yearly shot.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These include dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
You must have regular asthma reviews, even if you are not having any problems. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
Bed linens can collect dust, pollen and other allergens, all of which can further aggravate asthma. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! You’ll speed up the process of going through security if you have written proof that shows that the items are necessary.
Consult with more than one physician. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
Bed Linens
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. You can get the information about air quality in the area you are in; people who suffer from asthma should stay indoors if their air quality is low.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. Use fresh linens to make up your bed on a regular basis. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you are sure it’s been thoroughly cleaned. Bacteria breeds in moist environments and can build up in dirty machines, pumping allergens into the air.
You can find many helpful suggestions in dealing with asthma symptoms from this article. The most important step is to take this advice and use it. Make sure to always be on top of your asthma because if you aren’t, it can quickly return. The above article outlined ways in which you can protect yourself and control asthma symptoms.
If you use your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, see a doctor to have your medication adjusted. This might mean that your inhaler isn’t working enough for you. Also, if you have to refill your inhaler more than twice in one year, then a visit to the doctor for a medication change is also in order.