If you’ve just been given an asthma diagnosis, you may not know what to do. Asthma has no cure, which makes it a chronic condition. But there is no cause to believe that you need to surrender to asthma, or that it has to take over your life. This article contains simple tips to manage asthma effectively.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Secondhand smoke can actually cause asthma to appear. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Figure out what sets off your asthma so you can avoid it.
Suffer from asthma? It is vital that you not smoke tobacco; if you do, quit. Smoking is detrimental to anyone’s health, but those with asthma suffer especially because cigarettes lessen the oxygen supply that is crucial for the lungs to function properly and prevent an asthma attack.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Keep away from any and everything that you know triggers your asthma attacks. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin is a common medication that can affect asthma sufferers. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out hard and fast. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. The breathing rhythm that you create by doing this will cause you to be aware of every breath you take. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
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.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. 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. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. 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.
A handful of primary initiators of asthma, and its attack triggers, lie right in your residence. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. Having your house inspected yearly is a good way to reduce the presence of these asthma triggers. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
Rescue Medication
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
If you are working to prevent asthma, it is best not to smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. These can aggravate your asthma symptoms. If someone starts smoking near you, politely inquire whether they can smoke in your absence.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
Preparation and forethought are at the foundation of any asthma plan. 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. Gain as much knowledge as possible about asthma to help manage your symptoms.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.