Millions of people have to be careful about their daily activities because they suffer from asthma. You can live your life to the fullest by understanding the different treatment options available to you. This article will give you some great tips to help you better understand asthma and how it affects you.
Are you informed about what type of asthma you suffer from? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
A great idea to help your child with asthmatic problems is to avoid smoking in any areas they frequent. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you don’t smoke. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Some people have allergies that cause asthma, and allergens such as dust and pollen can cause an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
When you have asthma, it is vital that you avoid cleaning products. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
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. Breathe out fast and hard. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. 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. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
Be knowledgeable about the factors that cause asthma attacks in order to avoid the triggers or develop a plan for managing the symptoms of asthma. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. 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. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.
Asthma Attack
Do not smoke! Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
When pollen counts are high, people who have 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 readings are often available locally, and utilizing this information is key in minimizing exposure to harmful airborne irritants.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you are sure it’s been thoroughly cleaned. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
If you are going to be flying and are bringing your asthma medicine with you, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. Simply spraying it and then inhaling in a shallow manner will negate the inhaler’s benefits. Every time you use your inhaler, be sure to breathe deeply and slowly. Neglecting to learn how to use your inhaler correctly will cause your symptoms to worsen significantly.
This article has surely helped you understand the many ways asthma can be treated and dealt with; you are now ready to offer support to others who may be experiencing the same things as you. Whether it is you or your loved one who has been diagnosed with asthma, take comfort in the fact that this diagnosis is not as life-altering as it can seem.
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.