Simple everyday activities can be a problem for the countless people of every age who suffer from the symptoms of asthma. Luckily, there are many ways to treat asthma today that can make this fear a thing of the past. The advice below will provide helpful information that can help you manage this respiratory condition.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you don’t smoke. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. You have to force the air out. Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. It may cause you to cough or even generate sputum, but that’s fine, you goal is for your breathing to get back to normal.
Cleaning Products
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. This type of inhibitor is designed to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. Don’t smoke! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Use the inhaler the right way. Find a spot that is out of the way, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
When flying and bringing along asthma medications and equipment, be sure to pack your prescriptions. This is especially true for large items like a nebulizer. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
Understand what things make your asthma flare and avoid these things or manage the symptoms. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. Your primary physician should always be your first stop when dealing with asthma, but you may find it helpful to add a specialist’s knowledge. Asthma centers, allergists, pulmonologists, and nutritionists can all help ensure you are attacking your asthma on all fronts.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be quite debilitating, especially if the asthma is severe, and this condition can interfere with daily life. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
If you find yourself relying on your rescue inhaler more often than twice weekly, it may be necessary to speak with your doctor about changing medication. Frequent need of an inhaler is an indication that the medication prescribed is not the right strength. Also, if you refill the inhaler more than 2 times each year, there is the same result, which means making an appointment with your doctor.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma, schedule checkups ever few months with your doctor to stay on top of your condition. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. You should always keep your appointments so that your doctor can follow up on your treatment plans, and work with you to maintain your health.
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. Dusting can actually just move the dust around, sending particles into the air, and into your lungs triggering an asthma attack, so try wiping things down with a damp cloth to minimize the amount of allergens you are exposed to.
Make sure that you protect yourself if you’re planning on doing anything like painting your home. You should purchase a protective mask to cut back on fume inhalation. Paint could irritate asthma greatly, but using a mask will act as a protective shield needed to fight this issue. In general, you should avoid anything that will trigger an asthma attack or worsen your asthma symptoms.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.
Once you know what sets your asthma off, you can keep attacks from happening as frequently. A journal is a good way to identify what has triggered an attack and provides you with a simple way to keep your doctor informed. Once they are identified, you should make every attempt to avoid the triggers and remove them from the environment that you live in when at all possible.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. Since data on air quality is now widely published, those with asthma have the ability to avoid being outside when concentrations of irritants are high.
Make sure to regularly clean and sweep your living area. Additionally, you will want to wash your blankets, pillows and sheets often. When you do, you prevent dust mite and dust buildup, which can both trigger your asthma attacks. When the dust has a chance to build up, the air can irritate asthma sufferers and put them more at risk of having an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. It is not as simple as spraying a little into your mouth and inhaling. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. Proper use of your inhaler is key when you have asthma.
Keep track of allergy attacks; if you have more than two a week, see a doctor about changing your medicine. Doctors and nurses alike are in agreement that if you suffer from two or more attacks per week, you are at unnecessary risk.
Now that you understand a few effective and simple ways to handle asthma, you can be more confident about your ability to live a good life and support others. Asthma is not a terminal illness nor is it guaranteed to cause you suffering, so work hard on controlling it and enjoy your life!
Attempt to build strength, and capacity in your lungs, gradually. Do not try to push yourself to the limits, especially at first. This can cause an asthma attack.