It is common to be scared when a doctor gives you a diagnosis of asthma. Asthma, being a chronic condition, has no cure. However, your life does not have to come to an end upon being told you have asthma. Here you will see some simple methods to manage your asthma to keep you safe and healthy.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Hold your breath for at least 10 seconds to allow the medicated mist to fill your lungs.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
Cleaning Products
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. Not only will you breathe in rhythm, but you’ll focus more intently on how you are breathing and become aware of breathing problems. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
Some of the most notorious causes of asthma attacks exist in normal households. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
Support Group
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. 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.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Asthma develops gradually, and its symptoms may not be very noticeable. There are many cases where people have died from their first asthma attack, without even being aware that they were at risk. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
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.
When you fly, make sure to take along prescriptions or doctors’ notes for all of your asthma equipment and medications, especially if they are unusual. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
You should use your inhaler everyday regularly; however, be forewarned that the medicine can potentially lead to mouth infections, especially around your gums and teeth. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
If you experience a sudden asthma attack, staying calm is extremely important. Try taking inhaled medication to get your asthma back under control. Breathe the medication in as deeply as you can. Take two doses, timed 30 seconds apart, before determining whether the medication is working. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. Breathe into a paper bag for assistance in slowing your breathing during the trip to the hospital.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
You need to know how to properly use your inhaler if you have been diagnosed with asthma. It is not as simple as spraying a little into your mouth and inhaling. Make sure when you spray your inhaler that you take in deep breaths for short periods of time. Neglecting to learn how to use your inhaler correctly will cause your symptoms to worsen significantly.
If you are working to prevent asthma, it is best not to smoke. The inhalation of smoke can easily 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. When anyone lights up a cigarette or cigar in your presence, politely inform them that you have asthma and ask them not to smoke beside you.
If you find it necessary to use an inhaler more than two times a week, you should talk to your doctor about changing your medication. If that’s the case, the medication in the inhaler isn’t working right. This is also true if your inhaler needs refilling more than two times annually.
As is evident by what you have read, preparedness is the key to managing asthma. Understanding the kind of asthma you have, and what you can do to care for it every day, is the perfect way to avert disaster. This article can help you build some knowledge to fight it.
A support group for those with asthma can really help, and so can simply talking to people about your condition. They can provide you with advice and tips on how to better deal with fighting asthma. Support from those you are around is crucial.