Living with asthma may be difficult, but if you manage it properly, it doesn’t have to prevent you from being happy, healthy and active. You can keep your asthma in check and prevent it from lowering your quality of life through a variety of methods, techniques and treatments. This article provides ways to make the most of life with asthma.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications to manage common symptoms of asthma. In case of an attack, you need to have in your possession a medication that will provide almost instant relief. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
If your child has asthma, do not smoke cigarettes near them. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
When suffering a mild or even moderate asthma attack, attempt to push all air from your lungs. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! 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 will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. 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.
Cleaning Products
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
A leukotriene inhibitor can be helpful if you have asthma. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. The prescription will help to decrease home much leukotriene is in your system and therefore, the number of asthma attacks you have.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Your inhaler will only help if you breathe very deeply. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. 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.
Flu Shot
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. 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. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
Asthma sufferers should avoid close contact with all animals. While allergies to dander or animal hair can possibly complicate your asthma, even those with no such allergies can have asthma attacks by inhaling the pollen and dust animals usually carry about with them.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
Visit at least two different doctors. Your usual doctor will be able to help you, but you should also consider seeing a specialist. Asthma centers, allergists, pulmonologists, and nutritionists can all help ensure you are attacking your asthma on all fronts.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, try and keep the home dry. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. These days, information about the quality of local air is readily available, so people with asthma can avoid spending time outside when the air is full of things that irritate their lungs.
Using a preventative inhaler is important, but you need to know the side effects it can cause such as mouth infections. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
If you suffer from asthma and have to use your inhaler in excess of two or three times per week, you should see a doctor and ask about changing your medication. Frequent need of an inhaler is an indication that the medication prescribed is not the right strength. Having to restock your inhaler more frequently than once every six months is also a concern.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
Asthmatics should always wear a mask when dealing with the harsh chemicals in fresh paint. Paint can trigger asthma-related issues, but wearing a mask will provide a protective barrier to circumvent these issues. Avoid specific substances and chemicals that will worsen your asthma.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. While allergies from animals can complicate asthma, those without allergies can get asthma attacks from dust or pollen that the animals carry.
The etiology of asthma is both genetic and environmental. If you have a family member with asthma, watch your children and yourself for asthma symptoms. All sorts of environmental factors can cause asthma, and they include smoke, pollution, excess dust and mold spores. It is best to avoid these hazardous situations, especially if there are children present.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. To slow down your breathing along the way, breathe into a paper bag.
Over time you should work to strengthen your body and increase the capacity of your lungs. Don’t exercise too hard all at once or you’ll end up quitting your workouts due to your asthma.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. It is not as simple as spraying it into your mouth and breathing in. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Neglecting to learn how to use your inhaler correctly will cause your symptoms to worsen significantly.
If you are in the middle of an asthma attack without your emergency inhaler, try to get some caffeine quickly. Caffeinated chocolate, coffee or black tea can facilitate symptom reduction when an asthma attack strikes. What happens is that your airways open by your blood vessels constricting.
Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. This might mean that your inhaler isn’t working enough for you. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
If your child is under 5 and suffers from asthma, keep an eye out for any attack signs that might send you to an emergency room. ER symptoms include: sucking in their abdomen under their ribs while attempting to breath, difficulty speaking because of shortness of breath, or gasping for air. These signs mean that your child needs medical attention right away.
By now, you have learned a number of techniques that can reduce your asthma to a mere annoyance. Having asthma does not mean that your life has ended; if you develop a strategy on how to cope with it, you will live a much more satisfying life.
Exercising in cold, dry air can be very dangerous if you are afflicted with asthma. If your bronchial airways experience this type of weather, it can trigger an asthma attack. Thus, if you want to exercise outdoors, ensure it is humid and a little warm before you begin.