For the many sufferers of asthma, just the slightest activity can result in a serious and sudden loss of their very ability to breathe. The good news is that there are many effective ways to treat asthma symptoms and restore the joy in living a full life. The ideas here for how to handle asthma can give you some piece of mind.
You should not smoke or be anywhere near smoke if you suffer from asthma. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
Do not smoke around a child with asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. For others, it may be linked to physical exertion. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
Asthma Attack
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other 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.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Really force that air out of your lungs! Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If you see people smoking in your vicinity, you should get away from them as soon as possible.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. Inhibiting this chemical can lead to a decrease in asthma symptoms. The prescription will help to decrease home much leukotriene is in your system and therefore, the number of asthma attacks you have.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. The inhaler only can help if it’s medicine reaches the lungs. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
If allergies lead to constant attacks from your asthma, there has been a recent solution that is administered via injection that provides long term care! An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
You should ensure that every family member in your household gets a flu vaccine yearly. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
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. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. During the cold, winter months, a dehumidifier can help. In the summer, an air conditioner naturally takes out a lot of the humidity in the air.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Go to several doctors. Your family doctor will be in charge of your asthma treatment, but seeing a specialist can provide you with invaluable help. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
If you have allergies and asthma, you need to avoid using a humidifier or a vaporizer unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
If pollen is present in the air, anyone with asthma should stay inside. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. Given the widespread availability of air quality indices for local communities, anyone who is afflicted with asthma can easily avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure when the atmosphere has likely exacerbants floating around.
You need to know how to properly use your inhaler if you have been diagnosed with asthma. You can’t just spray into your mouth and softly inhale. Every time you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe the mist in deeply and hold it for a a few moments. Holding it in will allow the medicine to open up your bronchial passages and relieve your attack.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. Bacteria can breed inside the moist machine and you would be releasing them along with the humid air.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. If that’s the case, the medication in the inhaler isn’t working right. This also applies to anyone who needs to refill their inhaler more than two times in a single year.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Try taking inhaled medication to get your asthma back under control. Breathe the medication in as deeply as you can. Take two doses, timed 30 seconds apart, before determining whether the medication is working. If the attack gets worse doesn’t get better, then get help immediately. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.
Going to an asthma support group or just talking to people who also have asthma can really help out. Other sufferers can help you learn how to manage and live with your asthma, by offering tips and advice. Having support from other people in the same situation as you are is an amazing help to your treatment and state of mind.
Understanding asthma and how it effects the respiratory system can really help you to identify the signs of an attack quickly. This advice demonstrates that you or someone you love can live a a full and happy life despite having asthma.
Asthma can stem from environmental causes, genetics or other health issues. If asthma has occurred in your family, be aware of any symptoms of asthma you or your children may exhibit. The air is full of pollutants and other debris that can trigger an asthma attack in you or your affected children, so be very careful to protect your family from these factors.