Asthma is a medical condition that can take over your life if you do not treat it. Attacks can be serious, even fatal, unless they are controlled. Along with advice you get from medical experts, it is also important to do research on your own. Throughout the tips listed below, you will learn about a few great ways to deal with your asthma symptoms.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. If you have the job of cleaning your house, you should safer, natural products.
If your child or another loved one suffers from asthma, you should be sure to never smoke cigarettes when you’re near them. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. While making sure to never light up around your children, it is also vital that you make sure your kids are not around others who do not show the same courtesy.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. While inhaling, spray the dosage in your mouth. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
You should ensure that every family member in your household gets a flu vaccine yearly. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. In addition, paint that is fresh or carpet that is new release odors that can cause breathing irritations that lead to an asthma attack. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
Make note of how often, on a weekly basis, you use your inhaler. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Anyone with asthma should stay far away from smoke. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. So do whatever you can to stay away from vapors, chemical fumes and smoke from cigarettes. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. Ask your family to smoke outside, and consider moving if they refuse.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Bed linens attract things that cause asthma attacks. The easiest way to get rid of these triggering agents is by washing all of your bedding using your washer’s hot setting every Sunday. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
You should get a second opinion. It’s true your primary doctor should be your main source for all your asthma help, but it may be wise to see one or two asthma specialists. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
Written Prescription
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, avoid using a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is consistently and thoroughly cleaned. Bacteria breeds in moist environments and can build up in dirty machines, pumping allergens into the air.
If you are flying with your asthma medications, especially a large piece of equipment such as a nebulizer, be sure to bring along a written prescription from your doctor. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If this does not lessen the attack, get help quickly. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. Having to restock your inhaler more frequently than once every six months is also a concern.
Going to an asthma support group or just talking to people who also have asthma can really help out. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
Increase the amount of vitamin B6 in your diet. Known as pyridoxine, vitamin B6 has been proven to reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Pyridoxine is instrumental in producing certain molecules that help to relax bronchial tissue. You can find a good supply of vitamin B6 in natural foods such as bananas.
The cause of asthma can be hereditary or it can be induced by environmental factors. Sometimes both factors have a role in the disease. If there are members of your family with asthma, it is important to monitor yourself as well as your children for asthma-like symptoms. Air pollutants like smoke and mold spores can trigger an asthma attack, so keep your home clean to avoid irritation.
Dust Mites
Remain watchful toward allergy attacks and change your medication if you experience more than two attacks per week. Doctors agree that suffering from more than two asthma attacks every week is not only dangerous, but avoidable.
Keeping your home neat, clean, and regularly swept can really help to reduce the number of asthma attacks you have. Make sure you wash your bedding often. By doing this, it prevents dust mites and dust from building up. Both dust and dust mites can trigger asthma attacks. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.
Over time you should work to strengthen your body and increase the capacity of your lungs. Don’t start an intense workout that you know you can’t get through due to your asthma.
Make sure that you gradually increase you current lung capacity and build the muscles that you need. Never tempt an attack by starting a grueling workout when you know you cannot finish it because of asthma.
One common and easy way to prevent asthma symptoms in the home is to keep the environment clean and dry. A dehumidifier will control your home’s moisture. You can reduce the number of asthma attacks you suffer in the summer by controlling the humidity levels and keeping them steady.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
If your child is under age five and has asthma, know the warning signs that could require an emergency room visit. This includes: gasping, difficulty speaking and sucking in air beneath the ribcage in an effort to breathe freely. Any of these signs signifies that your child requires immediate medical attention.