There is no joking when it comes to asthma and the damage it can cause upon its victims. It may not be something you can simply get rid of, but with a little work it becomes manageable. Learning ways to manage your asthma will keep your condition from becoming a potentially life-threatening issue. This article has many tips on managing your asthma.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. If you smoke, try quitting. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
If the room you are in appears to be dusty, refrain from turning on any fans. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. This prescription will prevent the product of leukotrines and help to abate the symptoms of asthma. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. For example, Omalizumab can be used to keep your allergic reactions to a minimum and your asthma under control.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Using products with scents, like perfume, incense and air fresheners, boosts the amount of air pollution indoors and can bring on an attack. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
A leukotriene inhibitor can be helpful if you have asthma. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers work by taking the humidity out of the air.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Dusting can actually just move the dust around, sending particles into the air, and into your lungs triggering an asthma attack, so try wiping things down with a damp cloth to minimize the amount of allergens you are exposed to.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
Proper use of an inhaler is crucial if you suffer from asthma. It is not as simple as spraying it into your mouth and breathing in. Every time you take a puff, hold in your breath for at least three seconds and then exhale. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.
If you suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. They can provide you with advice and tips on how to better deal with fighting asthma. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
Asthma Attacks
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Vitamin B6 — also called pyridoxine– can reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Pyridoxine is very important in the production of certain molecules that will help relax bronchial tissues. A banana is a great food that is rich in vitamin B6.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. A good way to do this is to keep a small journal or notebook. Record each asthma attack and what was happening when it occurred. Discuss this information with your doctor, and he will help you to identify triggers. Once you know your triggers, you can avoid and eliminate them as much as possible.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
Asthma is sometimes caused by genetics, and sometimes by environmental causes. If a loved one in your household suffers from asthma, be mindful of any signs in others. Environmental conditions like mold spores, extra dust, pollution and smoke may cause asthma, so protect yourself and your kids from these hazards.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Keep your living area swept and clean. You need to also wash your pillows, blankets, and sheets on a regular basis. By keeping these items clean, you avoid any dust buildup which attracts dust mites, a typical trigger of asthma attacks. Of course you sleep with your face literally touching your bedding, so a build up of dust can quickly trigger an attack, which is why it is so important to keep your bed dust-free.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. So, if you have a lingering cough or instances of troubled breathing, you should see a doctor to see if you might have asthma and determine whether you may need medication to either prevent or treat asthma.
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. 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. He may have difficulty saying anything, as well.
Smoking is particularly bad for people with asthma. While smoking is a dangerous habit in general, it is far more damaging to those who have asthma. Smoke is very irritating to sensitive lungs, so take care not to smoke or be around others who are.
If you’re having asthma attacks without control medications at hand, get a shot of something caffeinated. Strong black tea, coffee or chocolate can aid in mitigating asthma attack symptoms. This opens up your airways.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. Bacteria breeds in moist environments and can build up in dirty machines, pumping allergens into the air.
Watch your children carefully for food allergy signs. If your children get a rash, or have difficulty breathing after eating some foods, then they may have a food allergy. Food allergies are sometimes related to asthma.
Treatment Plan
Keeping your home clean and dry will help you to avoid asthma attacks. A dehumidifier can be very useful to keep the moisture at acceptable levels if used on a daily basis. If you keep humidity steady, you will be able to lessen the number of attacks that occur seasonally.
When you have asthma, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. At your doctor’s visit, the doctor will evaluate your asthma and make any changes to your treatment plan if they are required. It is up to you to work with your doctor at regular appointments to keep your treatment plan working.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you need to avoid doing exercise out in the dry, cold air. The reason is because the cold and dry air in the bronchial airways may trigger an asthma attack. Before participating in any forms of vigorous exercise, makes sure that is humid and a bit warm outside.
Keep track of any allergy symptoms you suffer and talk to your doctor if you have more than 2 attacks in any given week. Having an asthma attack twice a week is a danger to your health, and that frequency can be prevented.
If you are an asthmatic, it is doubly important to practice proper warm-up and cool down protocol when doing strenuous exercise. By doing these things, you will help prevent suffering from a big attack in the middle of your workout or immediately afterwards.
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. Lips and fingernails that are grey-blue in color and a lack of response to medication increase are both signs that the attack is a serious one. Also, you kid might have difficulty with speech.
Dust is the enemy of the asthmatic, so keep your home environment as clean as possible. Allergens in your environment can be contained or eliminated with consistent vacuuming. For an asthmatic, the ideal house has a central system, so particulates get blown outside when vacuumed.
If you feel like your symptoms are taking over your life, speak with your doctor. As much as possible, take steps to use these tips to manage your symptoms, and improve life quality.
Get new pillows or clean the ones you have on a regular basis. Purchase 100-percent-cotton towels and pillowcases since dust mites don’t penetrate these materials as readily as artificial materials. Avoid dust mites to help decrease the chance of aggravating your asthma and triggering an attack.