Your lungs are an essential organ, and if they’re impacted by an asthma condition, it can impact your lifestyle and routine hugely.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is critical that you not smoke. Smoking is bad in general for everyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
Keep away from any and everything that you know triggers your asthma attacks. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
There are some medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a common medication that can cause asthma problems.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
Asthma is a disease that needs ongoing management. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. Speak to an allergist or your doctor to see what’s best for you.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
It could be better to open a window when you need to get airflow.
A leukotriene inhibitor should be taken into consideration when asthma is a struggle. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
Learn how to use your inhaler.The inhaler only useful if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth as you inhale. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist fill up your lungs.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. 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 eliminate your home’s humidity, leaving dry air.
Hay Fever
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold.Many of these illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you typically need. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until the hay fever or cold passes.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Stave off these infections as possible by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine 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.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have an asthma problem. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary will make the security check point.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated by using a regular medicine supplemented with a rescue medicine, like an inhaler. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
When you clean house, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can set off an attack of your asthma. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster is the best choice for an asthma attack.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Asthma sufferers should have minimal contact with all animals.
Use a mop that’s wet to clean your floors instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
Bed Linens
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. The inhalation of smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. You should stay far away from smoke of any kind, chemicals and vapors. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
Bed linens often trap allergens, pollen and other allergens, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. You can get rid of these by washing your bed linens in very hot water at least once a week.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. An allergy to an animal will worsen asthma symptoms, and an animal can carry enough dust or pollen to trigger an attack.
People that experience asthma should stay indoors as much as they can when pollen is abundant. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers.
Asthma aggravation, such as dust and pollen, can collect in your bed sheets and pillowcases. Clean your linen and pillow case every week to prevent asthma attacks. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
If you have asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. Your physician needs to evaluate how you are right now, and decide if any changes need to be made. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.
If your attack worsens, get assistance right away. Have someone call for an ambulance or take you to the nearest hospital. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing.
You could gain some comfort from attending a support group geared toward asthmatics or even by just communicating with people with the same issues. Your support group can give you some suggestions on how deal with certain situations, and help you to fight your asthma. Having supportive people that care about you is imperative.
Your doctor and this article can provide some good ideas to help battle with asthma. Already you can deal very effectively with most asthma problems. The medical state-of-the-art advances every day, and someday, asthma may be even easier to treat.
Asthma can be the result of genetics, environment or a combination of both. Common allergens often trigger an asthma attack and create the wheezing breathing
that is characteristic of the disease. Keep an eye out if you have any other family members who have asthma. Keep yourself and your family away from environmental hazards like smoke, pollution, excess dust and mold spores.