For the many sufferers of asthma, just the slightest activity can result in a serious and sudden loss of their very ability to breathe. Luckily, there are many ways to treat asthma today that can make this fear a thing of the past. The insights here can help you understand your respiratory system and leave you well equipped to deal with asthma in your life.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. Smoking is off limits. Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Figure out what type of asthma you are suffering with. One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. If you wish to have a breeze, open a window instead of running a fan.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Continue holding your breath for approximately 10 seconds. This way, the medication will soak into the cells of your lungs.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. Lowering the level of humidity present in your home can reduce the numbers of dust mites, a prime trigger of asthma. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
Use your inhaler as directed. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Scented products should be avoided, such as air fresheners, perfume, and incense. These can increase the amount of air pollution in the home and even trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Keep the air inside your home clean and fresh, and free of any asthma triggers.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. You might even get a new treatment added onto our existing program until the illness subsides.
Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. It is impossible to predict the next attack. Furthermore, newer or safer asthma medications may be approved in the time since you last visited your doctor.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. When you need to dust, do so with a damp rag instead of a feather duster so that you reduce spreading around anything that will trigger your asthma.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
Consider using more than just one doctor. 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. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. These include mold, dust and spores. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. You should immediately use your inhaler and use the inhaler again 30 seconds later. If your attack worsens, call for help. Have someone phone an ambulance or drive you to a hospital. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
You have to know the proper way to use an inhaler if you suffer from asthma. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. Holding it in will allow the medicine to open up your bronchial passages and relieve your attack.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. It means the medication used to calm acute attacks is either ineffective or not effective enough. Having to restock your inhaler more frequently than once every six months is also a concern.
Bed Linens
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. You can bother your asthma a lot by painting, if you use a mask it can help protect you. Use proper safety equipment to protect yourself from chemicals that can agitate your asthma condition.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Knowing what triggers your asthma is an extremely important thing to know in order to prevent your attacks. If you aren’t sure what causes your asthma to act up, keep a journal. Write down what you were doing and where you were just prior to each attack. Bring your journal to your doctor’s office during each appointment so that she can help you figure out your asthma triggers. After you figure out what your triggers are, do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.
During spring or other high-pollen times, don’t go outside unless you have to so that you can avoid a pollen-triggered asthma attack. While asthma is different than allergies, often the same types of things that bother those with allergies trigger irritation in asthmatics as well. Given the widespread availability of air quality indices for local communities, anyone who is afflicted with asthma can easily avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure when the atmosphere has likely exacerbants floating around.
If you’re attacked by your asthma and are without your medications, try and consume some caffeine asap. Strong black tea, coffee and chocolate can help reduce attack symptoms. Caffeine closes the blood vessels, which makes it easier for you to breathe.
With what you learned in this article, you should have a good understanding of how to handle asthma respiratory symptoms which will leave you more confident with the topic in general. You can use this information for you or someone you care about, and you should realize that the diagnosis of asthma does not mean your life as you know it is over.
If your child is younger than five and has asthma, always watch to see if an attack will require that you take them to the ER. These symptoms include: gasping for air, sucking the abdomen in under the ribcage while trying to breath, and difficulty in speaking due to an inability to draw in enough air. If you see any of these symptoms, your child is in need of immediate medical care.