When asthma makes it hard to breathe, the impact on your ability to participate in your regular activities is enormous. Living a normal, safe life is extremely possible, and you shouldn’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Read the helpful advice from this article for a better understanding of how to live your life with asthma in the best way possible.
It is vital that neither you, nor anyone else, smoke around a child with asthma. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. While making sure to never light up around your children, it is also vital that you make sure your kids are not around others who do not show the same courtesy.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. Some people have allergies that cause asthma, and allergens such as dust and pollen can cause an attack. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. This will force the air from your lungs. Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. 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.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. You should not smoke yourself! Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If people smoke around you, you should get away form that area.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
Learn how to use an inhaler in the correct manner if you do not already know. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
Cleaning Products
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. When you sweep, you are stirring up asthma triggers that can cause you to have an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
Allergens and asthma triggers, such as dust and pollen can cling to your bed linens. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke yourself. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy unscented products. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Clean your indoor air and keep it as fresh as you can.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. You should use your inhaler immediately upon the first signs of an attack. Once you have used it, use it again 30 seconds later. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
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 into your mouth with just a light inhale will not get the job done. Every time you use your inhaler, be sure to breathe deeply and slowly. If you have asthma, there’s no way around it: you need to get familiar with the right method of using your inhaler.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Learn as much as possible about asthma. The more you know, the more proactive you’ll be in your own treatment. Keep up with the latest asthma news and see to it that you’re getting the best possible care. You can do this by educating yourself on your condition and the treatment options that are available to you.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. Paint fumes can be irritating to asthma sufferers, but a mask creates a protective shield. Avoid substances and chemicals which can worsen your asthma.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Eat foods high in vitamin B6. Studies have shown that pyridoxine, also known as vitamin B6, can reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. It does this by producing molecules to relax your bronchial tissue. Bananas are a wonderful source of Vitamin B6.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
Genetics and/or environmental factors can cause asthma. If someone in your family has asthma, pay extra attention to any asthma-like symptoms from yourself and your children. There are many environmental factors, like mold, great deals of dust, smoke and pollution that can lead to asthma, so it’s important to keep both yourself and your children away from these things.
Living with asthma is a challenge but you can manage this condition by following good advice. With modern technology and asthma treatments on the rise, it will only be a matter of time before it can be handled with ease.
It is important to know the warning signs of an impending asthma attack so you can get medical help for your child if one strikes. Two common symptoms of an unusually serious asthma attack are asthma medication having no effect and lips and extremities that are blue or gray in color. Your child may also experience trouble speaking.