Your lungs are one of the most vital organs in your body, so when you receive a diagnosis of asthma, it can impact your lifestyle and routine hugely. Don’t give up, though; there are ways to participate in many activities while keeping your asthma control. Read the helpful advice from this article for a better understanding of how to live your life with asthma in the best way possible.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly 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 will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. This includes all tobacco products, and you also need to be careful if you are going to apply for a job in a factory or where you have the potential to be exposed to vapors and harmful smoke.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Smoking is off limits. Avoid breathing in any of the vapors or other chemical fumes. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. If you see people smoking in your vicinity, you should get away from them as soon as possible.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. 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 avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
Asthma Triggers
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers work by taking the humidity out of the air.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. Continue holding your breath for approximately 10 seconds. This way, the medication will soak into the cells of your lungs.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. Decreasing the humidity in the house decreases dust mites, which decreases asthma flare ups. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Hay Fever
You can join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be quite debilitating, especially if the asthma is severe, and this condition can interfere with daily life. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
During the months that are colder, wear a shawl, muffler or scarf that will cover your nose and mouth to help you avoid asthma attacks. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
Asthma is a disease that can develop slowly over time, making it sometimes difficult to spot the symptoms. Sometimes, a person can die from their first asthma attack without actually knowing they had the disease to begin with! Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.
Refrain from smoking. Smoking is one of the worst things a person with asthma can do. Smoke is an irritant to sensitive lungs, ans asthmatics should neither smoke nor be around people who’re smoking.
Educate yourself to the maximum regarding asthma. The more you know about the condition, the better you can help yourself. Do your research, and keep current on available treatment information so you can be sure you’re doing all you can to feel well. You need to learn about asthma and the treatment options available.
If you are having an asthma attack, it is crucial that you remain calm. Use your inhaler, wait 30 seconds and use it again. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.
Knowing your catalysts for asthma attacks is the first step to preventing them. A journal is a good way to identify what has triggered an attack and provides you with a simple way to keep your doctor informed. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.
Finding out as much as you can about asthma is a good way to help you manage your asthma. The more you understand about the condition, the more effective you’ll be in taking steps to manage your asthma. Stay as current as you can to ensure you get the best possible care. You can do this only if you learn all about your condition plus the treatment options available to you.
Asthma can be the result of genetics, environment or a combination of both. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Asthma sufferers need to be especially careful to avoid smoke, dust mites, extremely high air pollution levels and allergens.
Consume more foods which contain vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. Vitamin B6 is essential for producing chemicals that cause lung tissue to relax. You can find a good supply of vitamin B6 in natural foods such as bananas.
If you are willing to adhere to the treatment plan established by your physician and follow sound medical advice, you will find that living with asthma is by no means impossible. Constant innovations in treatments and therapy are always making it easier to overcome the effects of medical conditions like asthma.
Once you know what sets your asthma off, you can keep attacks from happening as frequently. Start an attack journal to help identify these triggers, and share what you record with your doctor. When you know what they are, do everything possible to keep away from these triggers, and get rid of them from your surroundings whenever you can.