If you have been afflicted with asthma, it can be extremely terrifying. Learn more about asthma so you can manage this condition. Learn about when and what to expect, and be sure to use these tips too.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
Asthma Symptoms
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. Smoking is off limits. Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. If you wish to have a breeze, open a window instead of running a fan.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. Loading up on these vitamins will energize your immune system, aiding your body in preventing the illnesses that worsen or trigger asthma.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
Cleaning Products
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Strive to maintain an indoor environment that is free from these pollutants, keeping the air fresh.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
Be prepared for your asthma treatment to be increased if you have a cold or hay fever. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Make sure you are aware of what triggers your asthma so you can avoid it or prepare properly. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. These are dust, mold and spores. Having your house inspected yearly is a good way to reduce the presence of these asthma triggers. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoke is one of the primary triggers of asthma. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. Sweeping can stir up some asthmatic triggers that will exacerbate your symptoms. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. It isn’t as simple as spraying your mouth with it and lightly inhaling air. Breath deeply each time you push your inhaler button. A rescue inhaler will not help you if you aren’t breathing it in correctly.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. Use your inhaler, wait 30 seconds and use it again. If your attack worsens, call for help. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
Find out as much as possible about your condition. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Stay up to date with current treatments and make sure you have the best care possible. The only way you can do this is by arming yourself with condition and treatment knowledge.
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. Frequent need of an inhaler is an indication that the medication prescribed is not the right strength. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. Your physician must check you out regularly to see if you need to do anything differently with your treatment. You need to stay on top of scheduling doctor visits. Otherwise, your condition might deteriorate suddenly.
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. They can provide you with valuable tips and lessons on how to fight against asthma in many different situations. It is essential that you have a strong support network.
Joining a network of those who suffer from asthma, or simply talking to others who suffer from the condition, can have a positive impact on you. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. Having support from other people in the same situation as you are is an amazing help to your treatment and state of mind.
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. Write down potential asthma triggers in a journal and talk to your doctor about them. Take active steps to minimize coming into contact with elements that trigger your asthma, to help reduce your attacks.
Asthma can be the result of genetics, environment or a combination of both. If someone in your family has asthma, pay extra attention to any asthma-like symptoms from yourself and your children. Asthma can also be caused by repeated exposure to certain air quality problems, such as pollen, dust, mold, smoke and pollution. Stay away from such environmental contaminants and keep your children away from them, too.
Keep a close watch on your allergy attacks and switch up your medication when experiencing several attacks per week. Doctors and nurses alike are in agreement that if you suffer from two or more attacks per week, you are at unnecessary risk.
If you have two or more attacks in a week, it is probably time to change your medication. Doctors and nurses agree that two attacks per week or more can be dangerous, not to mention avoidable.
Watch your children for symptoms of food allergies. If you see any development of hives, or difficulty in breathing after they have consumed a specific food, you should have the doctor test them for allergies. These allergies could be indicative of a predisposition to asthma.
If you suffer from an asthmatic condition, it is vital for you to know what triggers your attacks, and how to improve your symptoms. The tips in this article are just a few that will help you to manage your asthma, or someone else who is suffering from it. When you work together, you can make asthma only a small part of your life.
If a child younger than five is in your home and suffers from asthma, keep a watchful eye out for pending attacks that could mean a sudden trek to the emergency room. These signs include: having difficulty when speaking because air intake is insufficient, sucking in the stomach in an attempt to breathe and gasping for air. A single one of these symptoms signals an immediate need for medical care.