Asthma can get uncontrollable if it is left unchecked. Not only can asthma attacks prove severe, some are flat out fatal. It is important to consult with physicians, though there are additional things you can do to help your own situation. This article contains a number of tips that can assist you in taking control of your asthma.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
Do not smoke around a child with asthma. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Asthma Attacks
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Never smoke yourself! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If people are smoking around you, remove yourself from that area quickly.
When you have asthma, it is vital that you avoid cleaning products. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. Use natural cleaners instead of chemical cleaners to reduce your chances of asthma attacks after cleaning.
Always use your inhaler in the proper manner. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. 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. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Scented products should be avoided, such as air fresheners, perfume, and incense. These can increase the amount of air pollution in the home and even trigger an attack. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Chemical Fumes
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. If you smoke, try quitting. Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. If you often have difficulty breathing or a persistent cough, it would be wise to make an appointment with your physician, so he or she can confirm whether you have asthma. If you do, your doctor can then prescribe medications to manage or treat it.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
Use your inhaler when you need to, but be aware that this product can cause infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Decreasing the humidity in the house decreases dust mites, which decreases asthma flare ups. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. 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.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
See a specialist. It’s true your primary doctor should be your main source for all your asthma help, but it may be wise to see one or two asthma specialists. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
Hay Fever
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. A lot of the same things that can bother people with allergies will bother people with asthma as well. Air quality readings are often available locally, and utilizing this information is key in minimizing exposure to harmful airborne irritants.
Be prepared for your asthma treatment to be increased if you have a cold or hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need 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.
Remain calm if you do happen to come under an asthma attack. Try taking inhaled medication to get your asthma back under control. Breathe the medication in as deeply as you can. Take two doses, timed 30 seconds apart, before determining whether the medication is working. If this does not lessen the attack, get help quickly. Have someone call an ambulance for you, or have them bring you to a hospital. Slow your breathing by inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag while you are waiting for help.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. The more you understand about the condition, the more effective you’ll be in taking steps to manage your asthma. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. You can only properly treat the condition once you gain knowledge about it and the treatments that are available.
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.
Attending a support group of asthma sufferers, or just sharing with people who have this condition, can really benefit you. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. It is essential that you have a strong support network.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma, especially the more severe forms, cause many problems that interfere with the quality of life and present many challenges. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. Write down potential asthma triggers in a journal and talk to your doctor about them. After you identify substances that trigger your asthma symptoms, you can avoid those substances in your environment or ask your doctor whether there is a medication that will allow you to go into an environment with those triggers and remain free of asthma symptoms.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
If you experience three or more allergy attacks in a week, it’s likely that the medication you’re taking isn’t proper. That many attacks in a week can be dangerous, and does not even need to happen according to medical professionals.
Make note of how often, on a weekly basis, you use your inhaler. If you are utilizing your inhaler more than two times per day, you might not be controlling asthma as well as you think you are! This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Caffeine is a good thing to take if you happen to leave your asthma controller medication at home and then have an asthma attack. Strong black tea, coffee and chocolate can help reduce attack symptoms. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, and that helps open your airways.
Consider using more than just one doctor. Your usual doctor will be able to help you, but you should also consider seeing a specialist. Nutritionists, allergists, and pulmonologists are just some of the advisers who can change your life for the better.
If you’ve got a child under 5 with asthma, take special note of symptoms of asthma that would require professional emergency treatment. These symptoms include: gasping for air, sucking the abdomen in under the ribcage while trying to breath, and difficulty in speaking due to an inability to draw in enough air. If you recognize any of these signs, then you must get medical attention for your child immediately.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Don’t exercise in cold, dry air if you have asthma. If your bronchial airways experience this type of weather, it can trigger an asthma attack. That’s why you always need to be certain it’s humid and warm before you attempt any exercise outside.