Asthma can be a difficult condition to have to deal with. It can affect your ability to participate in even the most basic of activities, such as going for a short walk. Even worse, the disease can not be cured and the symptoms can be hard to control. This article will discuss several ways to help prevent your asthma symptoms from getting to severe.
If you suffer from asthma, you should not smoke or expose yourself to any type of vapors or fumes. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Figure out what sets off your asthma so you can avoid it.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Force all the air out of the lungs! Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. For example, Omalizumab can be used to keep your allergic reactions to a minimum and your asthma under control.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. This prescription will prevent the product of leukotrines and help to abate the symptoms of asthma. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections if you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
Asthma Attacks
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. This type of inhibitor is designed to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. 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.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Hay Fever
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. When possible, stay away from triggers of asthma symptoms in an effort to prevent a severe attack.
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. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. 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.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These include mold, dust 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. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
When flying and bringing along asthma medications and equipment, be sure to pack your prescriptions. This is especially true for large items like a nebulizer. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. Such irritants include mold spores, dust, smoke and chemical fumes. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. Conscientious house-cleaning can help prevent buildup of substances in your home that might trigger an asthma attack.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
To improve your asthmatic condition, use a clean humidifier or vaporizer while you sleep. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Asthma Symptoms
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. When dusting, use a damp cloth, as feather dusters just move dust around.
As said previously, asthma should not be deal with lightly. Do everything you can to keep your asthma symptoms under control. If you’re having frequent asthma attacks or are otherwise bothered by your asthma, see your doctor as soon as possible for additional help. Use these suggestions to help you prevent asthma symptoms all of your life!
Being around animals should be avoided. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.