Living with asthma, both daily and during an attack, can be frightening and draining. Knowing the right way to treat and manage your asthma can dramatically improve your life. This article will give you some great tips to help you understand, and manage your asthma.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Keep away from any and everything that you know triggers your asthma attacks. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Cigarette Smoke
Use your inhaler as directed. Move to a quiet area, and then simply follow manufacturer’s instructions. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. While inhaling air, spray required dosage in your mouth. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid fumes and vapors of any kind. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
If you suffer from asthma, you should refrain from sleeping on a pillow that contains feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. During the cold, winter months, a dehumidifier can help. In the summer, an air conditioner naturally takes out a lot of the humidity in the air.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. 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.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. The inhalation of smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarettes, chemicals, and anything else that may emit smoke. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
It is important to track how often you use your fast-acting inhaler each week. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma should strive to be knowledgeable about the nature of the condition. Once you are educated about asthma, you will be better able to manage your condition. Thankfully, you’ve learned a lot about asthma and this article’s advice can change your life.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can trigger your asthma. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.