Are you someone who has to deal with asthma? This article has easy tips that you can follow to control the symptoms of your asthma.
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.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you need to avoid smoking and exposure to fumes or vapors of any kind. 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.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air 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.
Actually Trigger
If you suffer from asthma, ensure you consume lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Tell your doctor if you are an asthmatic and you are using these medications.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Get the air all out of the lungs. Inhale three times with short breaths, and then on the fourth one take a deeper breath so your lungs are full of air but still comfortable. Then breath out as hard as you can again. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. Inhaling smoke from tobacco products can compromise your lung function, which then makes you more susceptible to an attack. The risk of an attack from cigarette smoke is increased as the space you are in decreases.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Asthma Patients
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins have been known to improve the function of the lungs and reduce some asthma symptoms. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
When you need to take your asthma supplies on an airplane, it is a good idea to bring your doctor’s prescription with you. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
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 restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
Asthma Attacks
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. The fumes from chemicals, or smoke from cigarettes, should be avoided at all costs. All of these will increase your asthma symptoms. If you in the company of someone who smokes, politely ask him to refrain when you are near.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
Asthma aggravation, such as dust and pollen, can collect in your bed sheets and pillowcases. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
People who suffer from asthma should stay inside as much as they can when the pollen count is up. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. When you are sweeping with a broom, you stir up triggers like dirt and dust mites that can cause you to go into an asthma attack. Dusting with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster can be a considerable help in reducing the amount of dust and other things that might start an attack.
If you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well humidifiers and any associated apparatus. 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.
Bed Linens
It’s important to know absolutely everything you possibly can about your disease. The more you know about asthma, the more proactive a treatment you can devise for yourself. Keep up to date on the different treatments and always be sure to have the best possible care for yourself. The best way to ensure this is to know as much as you can about asthma and your options for treatment.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. You can eliminate or reduce these inducers by washing your pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. Wearing the mask will keep the irritants away from your lungs and esophagus, keeping your asthma under control. In general practice, in fact, it is best to avoid fumes that will likely trigger an attack.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. Bacteria can breed in moist parts of the machine, and if it is unclean when you turn it on, it will just pump out allergens.
Know what symptoms indicate a serious asthma attack that requires immediate medical intervention is occurring. Two common symptoms of an unusually serious asthma attack are asthma medication having no effect and lips and extremities that are blue or gray in color. Also, your child could have difficulty talking.
Th above article provided you with advice to keep your asthma at bay. But, you must be persistence in using them. Your symptoms will quickly return if you fail to maintain a regimen of prevention and maintenance, even if it is only briefly. Use what you have learned to guard against the symptoms of asthma.
Caffeine can be used in a pinch if you find yourself having an attack without access to your asthma medications. Caffeine containing products aren’t a cure, but they can help reduce the symptoms you experience. Caffeine is a stimulant that dilates your airways, giving you temporary relief from asthma symptoms.