Asthma is a condition that will give you a lifelong struggle. 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. But, to make things worse, the disease is incurable and the symptoms are very hard to control. Read the tips in this article to learn how to handle your asthma.
You should avoid smoking and any type of fumes if you suffer from asthma. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
If you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be near vapors or other types of fumes. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. If your child is in an area where people are smoking, remove him quickly to avoid an asthma attack.
Cleaning Products
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Asthma can cause increased sensitivity to the ingredients contained in many cleaning products. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Products with a fragrance raise the air pollution indoors, and increase the risk of an attack being triggered. Some of these products include incense, scented body sprays and air fresheners. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Keep your indoor air as clean as you can.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Knowing exactly what sets off your asthma is thus, very important.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. Make a special effort to avoid agents that bring on even minor asthma symptoms, much less a major attack.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. You have to force the air out. Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Avoid pillows stuffed with goosedown or other feathers if you have an asthma problem. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily 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.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
If you are taking your prescriptions with you on a flight, make sure to take your prescription. Having proof that it belongs to you and is medically necessary will make the security check easier.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. When you are sweeping with a broom, you stir up triggers like dirt and dust mites that can cause you to go into an asthma attack. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. Ask your family to smoke outside, and consider moving if they refuse.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Go to several doctors. Although your primary doctor can treat your asthma, a specialist may be able to provide further help. Asthma centers, allergists, pulmonologists, and nutritionists can all help ensure you are attacking your asthma on all fronts.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. When you are using a heater in winter time, you can run a dehumidifier for help controlling humidity. In the summer, running your air conditioner will allow you to keep your humidity down.
Avoid smoking. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Smoke irritates the lungs of an asthma sufferer, so avoid the presence of people who smoke if you have asthma.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
Be proactive in controlling your asthma with regular visits to your doctor. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should stay far away from smoke of any kind, chemicals and vapors. These can aggravate your asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. Paint can trigger asthma-related issues, but wearing a mask will provide a protective barrier to circumvent these issues. Avoid chemicals, substances and scents that aggravate your asthma.
Allergens, pollen and other irritants can collect in your linens and aggravate your asthma. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
Asthma has numerous potential causes, including both genetic and environmental factors. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Asthma can also be caused by repeated exposure to certain air quality problems, such as pollen, dust, mold, smoke and pollution. Stay away from such environmental contaminants and keep your children away from them, too.
Do not treat your asthma lightly. Take the appropriate steps to prevent and reduce symptoms, and consult professional help if you think that the symptoms are starting to get out of control. Let the above advice help you to minimize the effects of asthma on your day-to-day life.
Make sure to get vaccinated yearly for the flu. Even if you have never been affected by the cold or flu in the past, it is still recommended you get it just in case. Flu, colds and sinus infections, which you are more vulnerable to being asthmatic, can affect your ability to breathe.