You have just been diagnosed with asthma, and you are panicking. There is not a cure for asthma; it is a lifelong condition. Although there is no cure for asthma, treatments and medications exist to help asthma sufferers enjoy normal activities. This article will show you some ways you can manage your asthma in a safe manner.
Are you informed about what type of asthma you suffer from? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. You can never tell when an attack will strike, or when your physician may have some better or safer advice for you to follow.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
Join an online or offline support group. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Asthma Triggers
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. Having your house inspected yearly is a good way to reduce the presence of these asthma triggers. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. 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.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. Typical asthma treatment includes regular medicine supplemented by a rescue inhaler. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. 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.
Bed linens can collect dust, pollen and other allergens, all of which can further aggravate asthma. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and also nutritionists can assist you in exploring every avenue of treatment for your asthma.
Do not smoke! The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Sensitive asthmatic lungs are easily irritated by smoke, so they need to avoid smoking and to avoid situations where there are people who smoke.
If pollen is present in the air, anyone with asthma should stay inside. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. Air quality levels for specific pollutants are now readily available and it is possible to use this information to limit exposure on high level days.
It’s important to know absolutely everything you possibly can about your disease. The more educated you are about your asthma, the more proactive you can be about your treatment. Keep current with recent developments in asthma treatment and research so that you can maintain cutting edge care in your personal case. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about asthma and its treatment.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Immediately use your inhaler, then wait a half a minute and do so again. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
If you are going to paint your home, purchase a mask beforehand so that you will not breath the fumes. You can bother your asthma a lot by painting, if you use a mask it can help protect you. Avoid chemicals, substances and scents that aggravate your asthma.
As seen here, it is important that you are prepared in order to manage asthma. Knowing all that you can about your particular type of asthma, and the different ways to address it is the best preventative course of action you can take. This article is stop number one for increasing your knowledge about asthma treatments!
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Vitamin B6, known as pyridoxine, reduces the risks of getting an asthma attack. Pyridoxine improves the flow of blood and oxygen to your bronchial tubes. One common source of vitamin B6 are bananas.