You can still live the active life you want, despite having asthma, as long as you find the information you need to face the daily challenges asthma presents. There are lots of ways to prevent or control asthma from messing up your life. Read on for tips and suggestions to make the most of your life and struggles with asthma.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
What type of asthma do you suffer from? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
Asthma Symptoms
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Organic products are preferable to more chemically loaded, commercially produced cleaning products.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. Dust blown around by fans can cause your asthma to rear up. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. Your physician may even recommend that you take additional medication until you recover.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
Even if your asthma seems like it is under control, always keep your asthma appointments with the doctor. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. It is impossible to predict the next attack. Furthermore, newer or safer asthma medications may be approved in the time since you last visited your doctor.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. To reduce asthma attacks and stay healthy, have an inspector remove any harmful agents yearly. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Support Group
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. 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.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. 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.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Try using a inhaler that prevents asthma every day, but you should know that one of the side effects is mouth infections of teeth and gums. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. 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.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. Though dander allergies are often seen in conjunction with asthma, even asthmatics who are not allergic may have attacks that are triggered by the ancillary irritants transported by animals, including pollen and dust.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
As seen here, there are lots of ways that you can stop or control asthma from messing up your life. Asthma does not have to be a death sentence, so if you can make a plan on how to live with asthma, you will have a much more fulfilling life.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.