Healthy lungs are vital to a healthy body. For asthma sufferers, however, it can be very difficult to maintain good lung health. There are a lot of ways to control asthma and live a healthy life, so don’t think this is impossible. The article below has some sensible advice that will enable you to safely do what you want to do.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. 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. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Social Worker
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
If you deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
Keep your medication with you, especially 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. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
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 keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Avoid these things when you can to breathe easier.
Cigarette Smoke
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. 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’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should attempt to minimize your contact with cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, and noxious vapors. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
Being around animals should be avoided. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. One effective way in preventing these side effects and problems is to brush and gargle right away after you use your inhaler.
Educate yourself to the maximum regarding asthma. Education is a priceless tool in finding the proper treatment for your asthma. Do your research, and keep current on available treatment information so you can be sure you’re doing all you can to feel well. You can easily know this information by further developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering treatment options.
Smoking is particularly bad for people with asthma. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. Smoking is very bad for people who suffer from asthma, be sure not to smoke, but not to be around people that smoke.
If you have asthma, visit your doctor every three or four months so that they can help you monitor your health. This will allow your doctor to stay updated on your condition as it improves or weakens, and make the necessary changes to your treatments. You are the one who needs to make sure that these appointments happen to stay healthy.
Attending asthma support group meetings, or even talking to a few chosen people with the condition, can do wonders for you. They are there to help you win this battle with asthma through great tips and well planned ideas. Support from people who understand your situation is key.
If you are going to be painting in your house, wear a mask, as it will protect you from harmful fumes. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Avoid specific substances and chemicals that will worsen your asthma.
Consume more foods which contain vitamin B6. Studies have shown that pyridoxine, also known as vitamin B6, can reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. Bananas are also a wonderful source of vitamin B6.
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers. Start an attack journal to help identify these triggers, and share what you record with your doctor. Many people have success controlling their asthma by eliminating known asthma triggers.
If someone in your home has asthma, do not allow smoking in your vehicle or home. Smokers should smoke outdoors and a reasonable distance from your home. Heavy smokers can cause severe asthma attacks in people who suffer from this condition, as they carry the smell of smoke buildup in their clothing.
Serious Asthma Attack
In order to keep asthma attacks to a minimum, make sure that your home is both clean and dry at all times. A dehumidifier is an easy way to moderate the moisture in your air. Keeping your home humidity levels low all year is an easy way to reduce weather-related attacks.
It is important to know the warning signs of an impending asthma attack so you can get medical help for your child if one strikes. If your child is experiencing a serious asthma attack, you will see: increased use of medication with little or no effect, gray or bluish fingernails and/or lips. Children in the midst of a serious asthma attack may have trouble communicating their condition.
For those with asthma, do warm-ups before exercising. You should also do cool downs after exercising. By doing these things, you will help prevent suffering from a big attack in the middle of your workout or immediately afterwards.
Asthma can be a lifelong fight, but it can also get easier everyday as long as you follow sound advice from your doctor or the tips laid out here. New medications and treatments are always under development, and hopefully a cure for asthma is not far off.
Waking up with an asthma attack at night more than 3 times a week, or using your inhaler 3 or more times a week is a sign that your asthma medication needs to be evaluated. Talk to your doctor.