Do you suffer with asthma but don’t know a lot about the subject? You aren’t the only one! There are lots of people who want the straight dope about asthma, but aren’t sure what information is authoritative. The things that you will read about asthma in this article might be a surprise for you.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. This will force the air from your lungs. Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Learn how to use an inhaler in the correct manner if you do not already know. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. Inhale air while spraying the necessary amount of medication into your mouth. Hold in your breath for 10 seconds so the medicine works properly.
Asthma Attacks
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
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. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products which don’t contain irritating chemicals.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. New carpet and fresh paint can also emit odors that can irritate the airways. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. If you have asthma, it’s most likely triggered by things such as being around animals or pollen. Most asthmatics also can’t tolerate smoke. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
Tobacco Smoke
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. These generally include dust, mold and spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. You might even get a new treatment added onto our existing program until the illness subsides.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
Support Group
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. When you are sweeping with a broom, you stir up triggers like dirt and dust mites that can cause you to go into an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full life. A support group will help you have a good time and forget about your condition once in a while, as well as as keep you informed about the latest innovations.
When pollen counts are high, people who have asthma should stay inside. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. You should immediately use your inhaler and use the inhaler again 30 seconds later. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. If there is someone nearby, have them call an ambulance or drive you to the nearest hospital. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you use it very often, you may not have it under control. 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.
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 should not just stick it between your lips and spray. Every time you spray the inhaler, deeply inhale for a couple seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. You are the one who needs to make sure that these appointments happen to stay healthy.
Stay away from smoking. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Smoking is very bad for people who suffer from asthma, be sure not to smoke, but not to be around people that smoke.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, you need to find out what triggers them. Write down potential asthma triggers in a journal and talk to your doctor about them. By identifying the causes of your asthma symptoms, you can then work to eliminate these triggers from your life completely.
If you do have an asthma attack, make sure to stay calm. Calmly use the inhaler. Use it again after 30 seconds has elapsed. If the inhaler does not provide immediate help, get medical help right away. Ask someone to drive you to the closest hospital or call an ambulance. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.
Asthma may be caused by environmental factors, genetics, or possibly both. Common allergens often trigger an asthma attack and create the wheezing breathing
that is characteristic of the disease. Keep an eye out if you have any other family members who have asthma. 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.
You have to know the proper way to use an inhaler if you suffer from asthma. It is not as simple as spraying it into your mouth and breathing in. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. Holding it in will allow the medicine to open up your bronchial passages and relieve your attack.
Ensure your house is clean and tidy. Additionally, you will want to wash your blankets, pillows and sheets often. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. When there is a lot of dust in your house, the air will be irritating to any asthma sufferer, and they will be at a higher risk for having an attack.
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. If you know a lot about asthma, you can work towards fixing it. Keep up on what the most effective treatments are and ensure you are receiving the best treatments possible. The best way to ensure this is to know as much as you can about asthma and your options for treatment.
If you or another member of in your household is experiencing asthma, see to it that you ban smoking both in your car and inside the house. Smokers should only smoke outside and away from the loved one who suffers from asthma. Heavy smokers may trigger an asthma attack just by carrying the scent of smoke on their clothing.
In conclusion, asthma patients are usually curious about their disease since it affects their daily life. The reason for this article’s creation, is to help you and other asthma sufferers to learn more about their condition. Use the advice, and you can see improvements in your asthma.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you need to avoid doing exercise out in the dry, cold air. The bronchial tubes can become irritated by the temperature and low humidity, causing an asthma attack. Outdoor exercise is best done when the weather is warmer and the humidity higher.