Asthma can be very limiting, especially if you do not have a proper way to prevent attacks. Do your best to manage your condition. You can use the following tips to take control of your life and not let asthma control it any longer.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect 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. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Never breathe in chemical fumes or vapors. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. If you wish to have a breeze, open a window instead of running a fan.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Know how to use your inhaler properly! Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The inhaler only can help if it’s medicine reaches the lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. You should keep your breath held for 10 seconds at a minimum to let the medicated mist fill up your lungs.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Hold in your breath for 10 seconds so the medicine works properly.
Cannot Afford
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. If you cannot afford medicine for asthma, your social worker can help you locate someone that can help.
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.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. Asthma sufferers generally have different triggers in common like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated by using a regular medicine supplemented with a rescue medicine, like an inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.