An oncoming asthma episode can be particularly frightening, and the idea that this is something that you will have to endure throughout your life can be overwhelming. If you are well educated in asthma, you can dramatically improve the quality of the life you live. Keep reading to discover ways you can manage asthma and live better for it.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Learning about your type of asthma will help you manage its impact on your life. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
What kind of asthma do you have? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is a huge health risk and directly plays a role in why people develop asthma. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
It is crucial for asthma sufferers not to smoke. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Some over the counter medications can irritate your asthma. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Make sure to take the right medication for controlling everyday asthma symptoms, but also have quick relief medication with you in case of an attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Breathe out fast and hard. You want to force all of the air from your lungs. Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Inhibiting this chemical can lead to a decrease in asthma symptoms. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You can choose to ingest this vitamins by eating foods that are rich in the vitamins or through a supplement. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, be sure to get flu shots every year. This is doubly important for asthmatic children. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do 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.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Also, you should keep food confined to the kitchen, and opt to smoke outdoors only. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. Your doctor could add another treatment into your regimen until the illness is better.
Asthma Attacks
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
You should know how to live with asthma if you suffer from it. Asthma may feel like a burden, but it will get much easier as you understand more about it and how you can successfully deal with symptoms. The understanding and treatment of asthma has advanced and information in this article will help improve the quality of your life.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. These generally include dust, mold and spores. 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. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.