Asthma is a hard condition to have to live with. Even taking a short walk in the morning can trigger asthma; you may have difficulty with this and other tasks that are routine for people who don’t have this disease. In addition, there is no cure for asthma, and its symptoms are very difficult to manage. Follow the tips below to prevent asthma attacks and manage your symptoms.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. Certain asthma sufferers experience attacks when they around around allergy triggers, such as dust or pollen. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Really expel the air from your lungs! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. It may cause you to cough or even generate sputum, but that’s fine, you goal is for your breathing to get back to normal.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
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. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. These vitamins have been known to improve the function of the lungs and reduce some asthma symptoms. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
Always use your inhaler in the proper manner. Discover a location that is peaceful, and ensure you follow all the instructions that are given by the manufacturer. Your inhaler will only help if you breathe very deeply. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
Be prepared for your asthma treatment to be increased if you have a cold or hay fever. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for asthma sufferers. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
It’s been proven that you should use no more than four cleaning products in the home. If you do it can increase the risk of asthma attacks. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Hay Fever
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Even if you seem to be fine, see your doctor regularly for your asthma checkups. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. Grab your inhaler and use it, then wait to see if it helps. If not, then use it again in thirty seconds. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Breathing in cold air tends to start asthma attacks, especially with younger children that have severe or moderate asthma.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Keep up with trends and new treatment methods, and ensure that the medical professionals on your team are working hard to help you. You can only achieve this by researching your condition, as well as, the treatment options available to you.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
If you are going to be painting in your house, wear a mask, as it will protect you from harmful fumes. The fumes from paint are very irritating to the lungs of asthma sufferers, but a mask goes a long way towards filtering out these irritants. Substances and chemicals which have the power to trigger asthma should be widely avoided.
For asthma sufferers having contact with pets or other animals need to be minimized. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. You may even want to keep an asthma trigger journal so you can discuss this with your doctor. Take active steps to minimize coming into contact with elements that trigger your asthma, to help reduce your attacks.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. While asthma and allergies are separate illnesses, you’ll find that the triggers for one tend to be mirrored in the other. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
Make sure your space is clean. Also, make sure to wash your pillows, blankets and sheets often. Washing your bedding regularly keeps dust mites away; dust mites are a trigger of attacks for many asthmatics. Built up dust makes the air irritating and increases the chances of an asthma attack.
As you read in the beginning, asthma is an extremely severe medical problem that needs to be taken seriously. Take all appropriate steps to reduce and prevent symptoms, and seek professional help when you think symptoms are getting out of control. Let the above advice help you to minimize the effects of asthma on your day-to-day life.
Keep track of any allergy symptoms you suffer and talk to your doctor if you have more than 2 attacks in any given week. Doctors agree that having more than two attacks a week can be dangerous.