Asthma is a very serious illness than can restrain you from enjoying life. However, when you are treated properly and know how to deal with you asthma, you can manage it and live a fulfilling life. This article is packed with useful tips and advice for living with asthma.
It is crucial for asthma sufferers not to smoke. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. On smog-free, low pollen days, open your windows to improve airflow in the house.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full life. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Typical asthma treatment includes regular medicine supplemented by a rescue inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
Pay attention to how often you reach for your asthma inhaler each week. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. All of these air-borne pollutants can greatly increase your asthma symptoms. If someone smokes around you, ask them politely if they could smoke when you are not around.
As the above article has stated, asthma is very serious, and can threaten your life if you do not treat it. Take standard precautions, including using an inhaler when necessary, and checking the allergy and pollution indices on a weather website. These tips can free you from the fear of asthma and help you live a normal life.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. 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 doesn’t start to control your attack, get assistance right away. Have someone call emergency services or drive you to the nearest hospital. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.