Asthma is a serious medical condition that can have a huge impact on your life. You need to be able to take the right steps so that you are in control of your asthma, which will help you greatly when having to deal with this illness. This article provides many tips and approaches to help deal with your asthma.
Ensure your child is never around smoke to handle their asthma. Secondhand smoke is a huge health risk and directly plays a role in why people develop asthma. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. 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.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. It is important to determine what triggers your asthma attacks so you can try to avoid those things.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Do not smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
Asthma Attack
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Products that contain strong scents, like incense, perfume, or air freshener can trigger an asthma attack just by lingering in the air. In addition, paint that is fresh or carpet that is new release odors that can cause breathing irritations that lead to an asthma attack. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. A flare-up can occur at any time, and your physician may have learned of a prescription medication that can treat your symptoms more safely and effectively.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
Support Group
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
You can join an online or offline support group. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full life. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
If you have asthma, don’t stop using your inhaler unless your doctor tells you to. However, watch for infections in your gums or other mouth discomfort after using your inhaler. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. How frequently you need to use the inhaler can help you recognize any environmental changes you need to make.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. Most people know how dangerous smoking is, but for someone afflicted with asthma, the dangers are ten times more serious. Smoke is very irritating to sensitive lungs, so take care not to smoke or be around others who are.
You should get a second opinion. Your primary physician should always be your first stop when dealing with asthma, but you may find it helpful to add a specialist’s knowledge. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Asthma is not considered an allergy, but elements that cause allergies usually trigger asthma attacks too. 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.
Visit the doctor if you know your symptoms are worsening. Apply these tips where you can and you are sure to keep your negative symptoms away and improve your way of life.
You need to know how to properly use your inhaler if you have been diagnosed with asthma. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s as easy as pumping lightly into your mouth. You must breathe deeply for at least a few seconds when using your inhaler. A rescue inhaler will not help you if you aren’t breathing it in correctly.