Asthma can have a very large impact on someone’s life. You need to be able to take the right steps so that you are in control of your asthma, which will help you greatly when having to deal with this illness. This article has some tips and methods that will help you to better manage your asthma.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. For others, it may be linked to physical exertion. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. 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 these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Speak to an allergist and doctor to see what’s best for you.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. This will force the air from your lungs. Inhale three times with short breaths, and then on the fourth one take a deeper breath so your lungs are full of air but still comfortable. Then breath out as hard as you can again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
Social Worker
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
Talk to a social worker if you’re not eligible for any health insurance and you’re an asthma sufferer. It is essential that you can buy your asthma medicine, and a social worker might help you find a hospital or clinic that can provide your medicine at reduced cost, or free.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
Rescue Medications
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Cool air has been known to trigger an asthma attack, particularly in very young children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. An asthma attack is one possible outcome of a sweeping session that fills the air around you with allergens and dust. When you dust, try dampening a rag, instead of a feather duster, to avoid spreading things that can trigger your asthma.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
Avoid smoke if you want to prevent asthma. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Stay away from cigarettes, chemicals, and anything else that may emit smoke. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. Ask your family to smoke outside, and consider moving if they refuse.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
Always consult with your primary care physician if your symptoms worsen. Also, apply these tips as much as you can so that you can have fewer symptoms and have a higher quality of life.
See more than one doctor. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.