Are you someone who suffers from asthma and found yourself wishing you knew more? You’re not the only one. Lots of people would like to get more knowledge on asthma but don’t know where to go. This article has some information that you may find surprising.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. There are many all-natural organic cleaning products available that may help eliminate asthmatic problems.
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.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. Tell your doctor if you are an asthmatic and you are using these medications.
What type of asthma do you suffer from? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. For example, if your asthma is brought on by bronchitis, you should keep your rescue inhaler with you during times when you are sick. Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
If someone in your home has asthma, make sure to keep a clean house, especially their bedroom so that the risk of an attack is reduced. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Organic cleaning products should be selected due to their lack of irritating chemicals.
Asthma Attacks
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. 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.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. A new flare-up may be just around the corner, or your doctor may have news of a more effective new medication you can try.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Asthma can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should stay far away from smoke of any kind, chemicals and vapors. All of these will increase your asthma symptoms. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. When you are using a heater in winter time, you can run a dehumidifier for help controlling humidity. In the summer, running your air conditioner will allow you to keep your humidity down.
Consider using more than just one doctor. While your asthma treatment should start with your primary care doctor, visiting one or two asthma specialists can make a real difference in how well you understand and manage your condition. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
Use your inhaler when you need to, but be aware that this product can cause infections near your gums and teeth. Brushing or gargling immediately after use can help reduce the risk of infection and other problems.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. How often an inhaler is used can help to monitor the environment.
Get a breathing mask before painting in your house, so you can avoid breathing the fumes. Paint can irritate asthma a great deal, so a mask will create a protective shield to combat this issue. Avoid specific chemicals and substances that could worsen your asthma.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
In wrapping up, asthma sufferers often are interested in learning more about this medical condition that they deal with everyday. The purpose of the article above, was to give you crucial asthma information that you can use, to help ease the stresses of having this condition. Make use of this information in your everyday life, and you will soon realize that asthma is not such a difficult thing to deal with after all.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.