Asthma is a chronic condition that challenges your ability to live your life. It takes away your ability to do simple every day tasks, like going for a walk outside. To make matters worse, there is no cure for asthma, and it is hard to manage the symptoms. The following article offers some great advice on how you can prevent your asthma symptoms from becoming out of control.
If you have asthma, you should definitely avoid smoking or being exposed to any kind of fumes or vapors. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
What kind of asthma do you have? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
If you suffer from asthma, strong cleaning products should be avoided. A lot of these products contain harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These chemicals wreak havoc on you and can trigger an attack. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
If the room you are in appears to be dusty, refrain from turning on any fans. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Clean your indoor air and keep it as fresh as you can.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier for your home. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
Annual Flu Shot
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you are utilizing your inhaler more than two times per day, you might not be controlling asthma as well as you think you are! Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
Asthma Attacks
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Make sure to stay away from chemical fumes and cigarette smoke whenever possible. These things can cause your asthma symptoms to greatly increase. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Breathing in cold air tends to start asthma attacks, especially with younger children that have severe or moderate asthma.
Those with asthma should minimize time with pets and animals. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
Allergens, pollen and other irritants can collect in your linens and aggravate your asthma. You can get rid of these by washing your sheets and other linens in very hot water each week. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
Do not treat your asthma lightly. Find out what symptoms may be specific to you, and begin learning how you can manage it every step of the way. Be certain to integrate these ideas into your life so that you can not only improve your life but free it from being ruled by your condition.
Consult with more than one physician. While your asthma treatment should start with your primary care doctor, visiting one or two asthma specialists can make a real difference in how well you understand and manage your condition. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.