Asthma, when left uncontrolled, has the ability to limit the way you live your life, making even a simple walk outside a dangerous prospect. It is extremely important that you carefully manage your asthma, and take appropriate measures to protect your health. You can manage your asthma and reduce your symptoms by applying the tips below.
There are many different types of asthma. Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. This can vary from person to person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
Exhale Forcefully
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Exhale with maximum force! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. You can ward off a great number of these infections by having annual vaccinations.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
Support Group
Bed linens attract things that cause asthma attacks. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
Stop smoking. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. An asthmatic’s lungs are more vulnerable than those of a healthy individual, which makes it especially important to abstain from smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
Most of the triggers for attacks, and causes of asthma, are found inside the home. These include dust, mold and spores. An annual visit by a professional inspector can help keep your home free from these agents, and reduce the likelihood of an attack. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Air quality levels for specific pollutants are now readily available and it is possible to use this information to limit exposure on high level days.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Because asthma does not get cured, those afflicted with it must continue to take their regular medication and use their rescue inhaler when needed.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Locate your inhaler, inhale deeply with the spray, and allow 30 seconds to pass before you reuse it. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Go to the hospital. If the attack is particularly bad, have a friend take you or call 911. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Having evidence from a doctor that the medication is necessary for your health will greatly help with security at the airport.
If you are suffering from asthma, you should learn how to utilize your inhaler the right way. In order for the inhaler to work, you must carefully follow the directions. Make sure when you spray your inhaler that you take in deep breaths for short periods of time. Using the inhaler in a proper manner can make all the difference for those who deal with asthma.
Asthma Attack
Finding out as much as you can about asthma is a good way to help you manage your asthma. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. You will know that you are using the most effective methods if you stay current with asthma information. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
When cleaning your house, clean floors with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering an asthma attack. Dusting can actually just move the dust around, sending particles into the air, and into your lungs triggering an asthma attack, so try wiping things down with a damp cloth to minimize the amount of allergens you are exposed to.
Schedule regular appointments with your physician to keep tabs on your asthma. Your physician needs to evaluate how you are right now, and decide if any changes need to be made. You need to stay on top of scheduling doctor visits. Otherwise, your condition might deteriorate suddenly.
Avoid smoke, if you don’t want to have an asthma attack. Cigarette smoke will often trigger an asthma attack. Vapors, cigarette smoke, and chemical fumes should be avoided. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. Paint chemicals are a powerful irritant that can cause an asthma attack if inhaled without a mask. Do not go use certain chemicals that will make your asthma worse.
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.
Identify your asthma triggers to help yourself prevent asthma attacks. You need to think about maintaining a journal that can assist you in determining potential triggers of asthma. Talk to your doctor about these results. By identifying the causes of your asthma symptoms, you can then work to eliminate these triggers from your life completely.