When asthma makes it hard to breathe, the impact on your ability to participate in your regular activities is enormous. You can still live a normal and manageable life in a safe way, so do not believe your asthma is the end of the world when it comes to having fun and being in good health. You can control your asthma with medication, treatments and by listening to the advice of your doctor.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
You should avoid smoking at all costs and being exposed to vapors and perfumes if you suffer from asthma. 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.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. Move to a quiet area, and then simply follow manufacturer’s instructions. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Be sure to take plenty of Vitamins C and E if you have asthma. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. Open some windows if you want fresh air.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Asthma Attacks
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Make sure you get a flu shot each year if you have asthma or if your child does. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Your home might harbor several of the major triggers of asthma attacks. These culprits include dust, spores and mold. 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, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. They are a nuisance for people with asthma; the asthma attacks they trigger require you to eliminate them. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. To best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Inhaling smoke makes it harder for you to breathe and might result in an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma symptoms. When anyone lights up a cigarette or cigar in your presence, politely inform them that you have asthma and ask them not to smoke beside you.
Fighting asthma is a life long battle, but it can become easier with each day if you follow good advice, such as that given here or from your doctor. Because of a constantly evolving set of treatments, asthma and the suffering related thereto will soon be a thing of the past.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. A lot of the same things that can bother people with allergies will bother people with asthma as well. Air quality readings are often available locally, and utilizing this information is key in minimizing exposure to harmful airborne irritants.