Living with asthma is a challenge you have to face everyday. You need the proper tools to do this. There are lots of ways to prevent or control asthma from messing up your life. Here you will find tips on making the most out of your life with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. The complex list of ingredients on many cleaning products makes it difficult know which ones have the chemical compounds that might aggravate asthma symptoms or even initiate an attack. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your asthma so that you do not take any medications that could be harmful to you.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. Talk to your doctor and allergist to see what is the best idea for you.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. 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.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Breathe out fast and hard. Truly pump all air from your lungs! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. 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.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. Smoking is off limits. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. As soon as you inhale any smoke from tobacco, your lungs become sensitive, which increases your risk of an attack. Just avoid any type of smoke, especially in small areas, and keep your lungs healthy to be safe.
If you have asthma and have frequent attacks that are related to allergies, there are medicines that can be injected to provide you with long-term relief. Omalizumab can effectively control allergy symptoms you may be experiencing and can be suggested by your local allergist if it fits your needs.
If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. You can ward off a great number of these infections by having annual vaccinations.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like 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.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
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. One effective way in preventing these side effects and problems is to brush and gargle right away after you use your inhaler.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
Asthma sufferers should avoid close contact with all animals. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
If you suffer from asthma attacks, familiarize yourself with how to properly use your inhaler. Spraying it inside your mouth and inhaling is not all it takes. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
Rescue Medication
If you find you need your inhaler too often, more than two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your prescription. This means that the medication in your inhaler is not working well enough. This also applies to anyone who needs to refill their inhaler more than two times in a single year.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. 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 lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. People who have experience with the same disease as you can often provide a number of suggestions or tricks that work in specific situations – all of which can make your battle with asthma a little earlier. As with anything else, having the right support system can make a difference in how asthma affects your life.
Inhalers are important to use every day, but be aware that inhalers have been known to cause infections near the teeth and gums. To avoid those complications, be sure to brush teeth, gargle, and rinse mouth completely right after you have used the inhaler.
Make sure you are getting enough vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, known as pyridoxine, reduces the risks of getting an asthma attack. Pyridoxine is instrumental in producing certain molecules that help to relax bronchial tissue. Bananas contain B6, as do many other delicious foods.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke can seriously affect the lungs and is a common asthma trigger. You should attempt to minimize your contact with cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, and noxious vapors. All of these air-borne pollutants can greatly increase your asthma symptoms. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
In order to ward off asthma attacks, it is crucial that you pinpoint your triggers. A good way to do this is to keep a small journal or notebook. Record each asthma attack and what was happening when it occurred. Discuss this information with your doctor, and he will help you to identify triggers. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.
Consult with more than one physician. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
Maintain a living area that is swept and well cleaned. Make sure you wash your bedding often. This can reduce dust buildup and dust mite populations, which are both known to cause asthma attacks. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.
By now, you have learned a number of techniques that can reduce your asthma to a mere annoyance. Asthma doesn’t mean the end of the world, so it you could create a plan in which you can live with asthma in a good way, you will experience a more fulfilling life.
If you have two or more attacks in a week, it is probably time to change your medication. Getting more than two attacks a week is dangerous for your health and you should take action.