More and more people have asthma conditions to deal with today. Many new and interesting products and medicines for asthma have been released recently. Now you can find something to help with your asthma. Below are some starting tips to help you on your journey.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. You must abstain from using any tobacco products. Also, when job hunting, you need to take into consideration whether or not you will be exposed to anything detrimental to your condition while on the job.
Chemical Cleaners
What triggers your asthma? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. Use natural cleaners instead of chemical cleaners to reduce your chances of asthma attacks after cleaning.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. The complex list of ingredients on many cleaning products makes it difficult know which ones have the chemical compounds that might aggravate asthma symptoms or even initiate an attack. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. This can move the dust around and can trigger an attack easily. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. Refrain from smoking! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can set off an Asthma attack that you might not be able to stop. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
Always use your inhaler in the proper manner. Find a comfy spot, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The only way the inhaler will work is if your lungs get the proper amount of medication. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Continue holding your breath for approximately 10 seconds. This way, the medication will soak into the cells of your lungs.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. 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.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Hay Fever
It is always a problem if you have asthma and don’t have health insurance, but talking to a social worker may help you resolve this issue. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. Many things in the home release chemicals that irritate the lungs, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. 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.
Make sure you get a flu shot each year if you have asthma or if your child does. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
It is essential that you learn the proper ways to use all of your asthma medications, especially those used in rescue situations. Asthma is a condition traditionally treated with a combination of a regular medicine and an emergency medicinal inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. In a lot of cases, people die from an asthma attack because they didn’t know they had the condition. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. These can very easily cause an attack. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
If you are flying with your asthma medications, especially a large piece of equipment such as a nebulizer, be sure to bring along a written prescription from your doctor. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
The above advice should have reinforced the idea that there are a variety of asthma treatments out there. Look for a treatment adapted to your situation. Study information on different treatment options, and try to determine which treatments will benefit you the most. By following these tips, you are well on your way to improving your breathing capacity.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.