If you have recently been told you have asthma, you may feel anxious and unsure. There is no known cure to asthma, and this condition will flare up regularly. It doesn’t mean your life has to stop because of being diagnosed with asthma. This article will show you some ways you can manage your asthma in a safe manner.
You should avoid smoking at all costs and being exposed to vapors and perfumes if you suffer from asthma. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. 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.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Speak to your allergist and doctor to see what they recommend for you.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Get the air all out of the 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 will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. Do not be alarmed if you cough or generate excess mucous; this is perfectly normal. Your only concern is to return your breathing to normal.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. Do not be alarmed if you cough or generate excess mucous; this is perfectly normal. Your only concern is to return your breathing to normal.
Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Asthma Attacks
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Having a fast acting inhaler is vital to save asthmatics from experiencing severe symptoms. Talk to your physician and find out if a leukotriene inhibitor would be right for you. This type of inhibitor is designed to prevent leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
While everyone appreciates the look and feel of a clean house, asthma sufferers in particular benefit from a healthy environment as it can decrease the risk of asthma attacks, especially in a sleeping area. 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.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Think about the benefits of joining an online or in-person support group. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
Rescue Medication
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
When the weather starts to turn colder, wear a scarf or shawl that covers your mouth and nose to help prevent asthma attacks. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
You should use your inhaler everyday regularly; however, be forewarned that the medicine can potentially lead to mouth infections, especially around your gums and teeth. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
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. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Bed Linens
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.
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.
Be prepared to live with arthritis! When you know everything you can about your specific asthma triggers, you can use that knowledge to avoid potential triggers. After reading this article, you should know how to manage your asthma better.
Avoid smoke, if you don’t want to have an asthma attack. Smoke is one of the primary triggers of asthma. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. All of these air-borne pollutants can greatly increase your asthma symptoms. Ask your family to smoke outside, and consider moving if they refuse.