Having asthma can be scary because it can make you unable to breathe freely. You could get an asthma attack at any time and must always be prepared. This article provides a wealth of information about why asthma attacks occur, and it gives you some tips for coping with it and lessening the limits it might put on you.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. 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.
Actually Trigger
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. This will force the air from your lungs. After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. 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 pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. By bringing down the humidity level, it will reduce dust mites and reduce asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Asthma Symptoms
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. 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 can also irritate the airway. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Be knowledgeable about the factors that cause asthma attacks in order to avoid the triggers or develop a plan for managing the symptoms of asthma. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. These can very easily cause an attack. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Cold air can be a nuisance and breathing it has actually proven to trigger asthma attacks. This is especially true for younger children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. Most with asthma share common triggers, like pet dander, pollen or smoke. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
Using your preventative inhaler should be done daily. It’s important to know, though, that it can cause sores and infections near your gums and teeth. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. Having evidence from a doctor that the medication is necessary for your health will greatly help with security at the airport.
Learn as much as you can about asthma. Education is a priceless tool in finding the proper treatment for your asthma. Stay current with treatment technology and get yourself the best care that you can. The best way to ensure this is to know as much as you can about asthma and your options for treatment.
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. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Keeping your home neat, clean, and regularly swept can really help to reduce the number of asthma attacks you have. Wash your bedding, including pillows, regularly. Washing your bedding regularly keeps dust mites away; dust mites are a trigger of attacks for many asthmatics. When you have a build-up of dust in the air, your lungs will suffer and that can set off an attack.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. 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, use a damp cloth, as feather dusters just move dust around.
Closely monitor the frequency of your asthma attacks. If you have more than two asthma attacks in a week, it may be time to change medications. Doctors and nurses alike are in agreement that if you suffer from two or more attacks per week, you are at unnecessary risk.
Avoid Smoke
If someone in your household is an asthma sufferer, do not smoke in your home, car, or anywhere around them. People who smoke need to do it away from the vicinity of the house, and especially away from a person with asthma. A heavy smoker can trigger someone’s asthma attack simply because they are carrying a heavy smoke scent on their clothing.
Avoid smoke to prevent asthma and asthma attacks. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
Make sure to get vaccinated yearly for the flu. It is still recommended that you get vaccinated even if you aren’t regularly affected by the cold seasons or flu. You have an easier chance of catching a flu virus, or sinus and respiratory infections if you suffer from constant asthma attacks.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
If you’ve got a child under 5 with asthma, take special note of symptoms of asthma that would require professional emergency treatment. Some symptoms are gasping to breathe, difficulty speaking due to lacking air, etc. If you recognize any of these signs, then you must get medical attention for your child immediately.
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. It can irritate sensitive lungs. People with asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also avoid other people while they are smoking.
For those with asthma, do warm-ups before exercising. You should also do cool downs after exercising. Doing both of these things will help prevent you from having a serious asthma attack during your exercise or after it.
If you’re finding that you need to use your inhaler 3 or more times a week, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching medications. This can indicate that the inhaler you are using is not working for you. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
Fresh air in your home is essential if someone in the household has asthma. Try opening doors and windows when you can to have more airflow in your home. Well-ventilated homes have much less allergens than insulated ones. Clear the air regularly by ventilating your home.
Untreated or unmanaged, this condition can turn fatal. If you follow the guidelines from this article, you will be better prepared to effectively manage the condition. Ultimately, you will be able to breathe easily and live a healthy life.
An allergen free home is essential to reduce symptoms of asthma and feel better. You can help keep your asthma symptoms at bay by vacuuming your home frequently, this will reduce the number of allergens you are exposed to, making an attack less likely. The ideal home, for an asthma sufferer, would have a central vacuuming system so that the particulates are blown directly outside of the home while vacuuming.