Life as an asthmatic can be frustrating, but once you find methods to manage asthma you can live an active, healthy life. There are a lot of ways you can prevent your asthma from having any interference in your life. The following hints and tips can help you maximize your enjoyment of life, while minimizing the effects of your asthma.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
Smoke Yourself
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Exhale quickly and forcefully. You have to force the air out. Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
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. You should not smoke yourself! Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Leave a room if people smoke, or ask them to stop.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Smoking is off limits. Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. Spray the dosage into the mouth while you inhale air. Hold in your breath for 10 seconds so the medicine works properly.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to a social worker. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Organic products are preferable to more chemically loaded, commercially produced cleaning products.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. 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.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. Some people have even died from having an asthma attack, and they didn’t even know they had asthma. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Using a preventative inhaler is important, but you need to know the side effects it can cause such as mouth infections. You may be able to avoid this problem by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth thoroughly after each use of the inhaler.
Asthma Issues
You should get a second opinion. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.
Watch the pollen counts and adjust your activity accordingly to protect yourself from seasonal asthma issues. Even though asthma isn’t an allergy, they share many things in common. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.
The only way that you should use a vaporizer or humidifier when you have asthma or allergies is if it has been cleaned thoroughly. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
So, as you have read, your options for a great lifestyle are not limited. Asthma does not need to become the be all and end all of your life. Learn of ways to control it and your life will be most enjoyable.
Talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication if you find yourself using the inhaler 3 or more times per week. If that’s the case, the medication in the inhaler isn’t working right. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.