For the many people who have breathing problems related to asthma, everyday tasks can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options that can take the fear out of everyday living. This selection of tips for managing asthma is sure to leave you more informed and aware of this respiratory condition.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. Because of this, you should avoid any kind of tobacco smoke and take any job that you want to apply for into consideration; factories could expose you to a variety of smoke, vapors and dust.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. For example, if your asthma is brought on by bronchitis, you should keep your rescue inhaler with you during times when you are sick. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Cleaning Products
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, however it is especially bad for asthmatics. Your lungs are already compromised from the asthma and adding smoke to that will cut off the vital oxygen supply your lungs need to breathe.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! 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 establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Now that you know the basic treatment options for asthma, you can either ask your doctor about them yourself or support a loved one in his or her search for effective treatment. Regardless of whether you are reading for yourself or someone close to you, be comforted in the knowledge that an asthma diagnosis is far from Armageddon.
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.