Asthma is no joke. It can kill you if it is left untreated. The best way to take care of your asthma is to take the necessary steps to make sure it does not become out of control and very severe. Advice for management of your asthma is contained in this article.
If your child or another loved one suffers from asthma, you should be sure to never smoke cigarettes when you’re near them. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
Figure out what type of asthma you are suffering with. Being aware of your particular asthma condition can help you to effectively treat it on a daily basis. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. This will force the air from your lungs. Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. You should not smoke yourself! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. This can set off an Asthma attack that you might not be able to stop. If people smoke around you, you should get away form that area.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
To cut the risk of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as you can, particularly the bedroom of the person with asthma. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
Asthma Attack
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
You can join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be quite debilitating, especially if the asthma is severe, and this condition can interfere with daily life. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
A handful of primary initiators of asthma, and its attack triggers, lie right in your residence. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. An annual visit by a professional inspector can help keep your home free from these agents, and reduce the likelihood of an attack. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Your home might harbor several of the major triggers of asthma attacks. These generally include dust, mold and spores. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
Rescue Medication
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Nutritionists, allergists, and pulmonologists are just some of the advisers who can change your life for the better.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma is generally treated with a rescue medication, usually an inhaler, in addition to a regularly-taken maintenance medication. Asthma is not curable, so it is very important that you take your medication properly and only use your rescue medication if you need it.
People with asthma should not smoke. While smoking is a dangerous habit in general, it is far more damaging to those who have asthma. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
When you have asthma, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. Your doctor should be recording your current state as a benchmark, and making necessary changes to improve your situation if needed. You should always keep your appointments so that your doctor can follow up on your treatment plans, and work with you to maintain your health.
Always consult with your primary care physician if your symptoms worsen. Use these tips when you can to reduce your symptoms and better your life.
Identify your asthma triggers to help yourself prevent asthma attacks. A journal is a good way to identify what has triggered an attack and provides you with a simple way to keep your doctor informed. After you figure them out, try to stay away from your triggers, and take them out of your environment if you can.