Do you have asthma and feel like you wish you knew more about this condition? You are not the only one. Many people want more information about asthma. Read the article below for lots of asthma information.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? 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 are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Speak to your allergist and doctor to see what they recommend for you.
The symptoms of asthma might not always be apparent, but for those that suffer from the disease, the condition never goes away entirely. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Talk to your doctor and allergist to see what is the best idea for you.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
Know how to use your inhaler properly! Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The only way the inhaler can help is if the medication can reach your lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Hold in your breath for 10 seconds so the medicine works properly.
Though it is easy to postpone or avoid, get those annual flu vaccinations. 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 taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
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. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
You must have regular asthma reviews, even if you are not having any problems. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Avoid these things when you can to breathe easier.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These can include dust, mold and spores. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! So try your best to make 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.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. You can prevent any of these mouth issues by brushing your teeth and gargling mouthwash as soon as you use the inhaler.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
Sufferers from asthma should stay indoors when the pollen count rises. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
The only way that you should use a vaporizer or humidifier when you have asthma or allergies is if it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can build up in the moisture of these machines, and get relayed into the very environment that you are attempting to make more conducive to your condition.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. If there is someone nearby, have them call an ambulance or drive you to the nearest hospital. To slow down your breathing along the way, breathe into a paper bag.
In summary, it is certainly normal to be inquisitive about a condition that has such a dramatic impact on your life. The purpose here was to show you critical asthma advice that you can hopefully use, to alleviate the stress that this condition provides. If you use the tips suggested here, you might discover that asthma is easier to live with than you think.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. This might mean that your inhaler isn’t working enough for you. This is also true if you find yourself refilling the inhaler prescription more than twice in a calendar year.