Asthma can make your life difficult, frustrating and sad. Perhaps you find your daily activities restricted by this condition. There’s no cure for asthma, and keeping it under control can be challenging. Follow the tips below to prevent asthma attacks and manage your symptoms.
Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
Stay away from smoking, or being around any smoke, vapors or fumes. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. 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.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. To determine the best options for you personally, consult your physician and an allergist.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. 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.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Do not smoke! Never breathe in chemical fumes or vapors. These can trigger a severe asthma attack that can be difficult to get under control. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Feather pillows can be bad for those with asthma. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. Your doctor may be able to prescribe more effective treatments and you may be suffering symptoms you’re not aware are related to your asthma.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. You’ll speed up the process of going through security if you have written proof that shows that the items are necessary.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. Protect yourself against allergens, dust mites and fungus to avoid exacerbating your asthma symptoms. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
Pay attention to how often you reach for your asthma inhaler each week. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
Asthma often takes time to develop, the symptoms appearing slowly. 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.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
Try using a inhaler that prevents asthma every day, but you should know that one of the side effects is mouth infections of teeth and gums. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
You should have a team of medical professionals to help you craft your asthma treatment. Your family doctor will be in charge of your asthma treatment, but seeing a specialist can provide you with invaluable help. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. It’s not enough to spray a little into your mouth and breathe softly. You must simultaneously inhale and spray the inhaler, then hold your breath for several seconds. When your doctor prescribes your inhaler, ask him for detailed instructions in using it correctly.
It is important to take this severe medical condition seriously. If you feel like you are losing control of the situation, go see a doctor. Let the above advice help you to minimize the effects of asthma on your day-to-day life.
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. A notebook is a good idea for finding specific triggers, so you can talk about them with your physician. Once they are known, do whatever it takes to prevent triggers from going off, and if possible, just wipe them out of your life and environment completely.