Millions of people, no matter what their age, suffer with asthma everyday. Are you somebody who is dealing with this issue? The article below contains simple tips to help you manage your asthma symptoms.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
Ensure your child is never around smoke to handle their asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. 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.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. The complex list of ingredients on many cleaning products makes it difficult know which ones have the chemical compounds that might aggravate asthma symptoms or even initiate an attack. Use natural cleaners instead of chemical cleaners to reduce your chances of asthma attacks after cleaning.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. While inhaling air, spray required dosage in your mouth. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
Social Worker
Asthma is a disease that is ongoing and must be attended to every day. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Speak to your physician and allergist to find out what medications are right for you.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. 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.
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. Don’t smoke! It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
It is always a problem if you have asthma and don’t have health insurance, but talking to a social worker may help you resolve this issue. Asthma medications are never cheap, but it’s vital that you receive them and that is the social worker’s goal. He or she will deal with the clinics directly in efforts to remedy the situation.
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. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in 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.
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.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. 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.
Join an online or offline support group. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. While an allergy to animal hair or dander is a possible asthma complication, even those sufferers free of such allergies can experience an asthma attack caused by the dust and pollen all animals tend to carry along with them.
Pay attention to how often you reach for your asthma inhaler each week. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. The frequency of your inhaler use is a good way to remember to check out your environmental surroundings and be mindful of all factors relating to your asthma regimen.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
Bed Linens
Asthma sufferers should definitely stay indoors more when pollen increases. Asthma is not considered an allergy, but elements that cause allergies usually trigger asthma attacks too. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. Every single time that you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you must, for a couple of seconds, breathe deeply. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.
The above article contains many tips to help you control asthma. However, none of these tips will be effective if you do not apply them properly. If you stop following your good habits, your asthma symptoms will come back. Keep yourself well-protected against the dangers of asthma by applying the advice of this article.
If you decide to paint a room in your house, purchase a mask in order to keep yourself from inhaling fumes. Not surprisingly, paint fumes are a known irritant for asthma. Specially designed masks can filter out these fumes. In general practice, in fact, it is best to avoid fumes that will likely trigger an attack.