It’s obvious that lungs are critical for functional bodies, and when a condition like asthma has taken hold, it has an enormous effect on your life. There are still ways to manage a normal life and remain safe, so do not think asthma means the end to fun and good health. Read the good advice in this article, and learn how to make life with asthma doable.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. 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. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
If you suffer from asthma, strong cleaning products should be avoided. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your 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.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. 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.
Asthma Triggers
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
Feather pillows can be bad for those with asthma. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
If you are having an asthma attack, it is crucial that you remain calm. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Go to the emergency room, or call an ambulance if it’s extreme. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.
Written Prescription
If you suffer from asthma attacks, familiarize yourself with how to properly use your inhaler. Spraying it into your mouth and then inhaling doesn’t work. Every single time that you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you must, for a couple of seconds, breathe deeply. Proper techniques with your inhaler will keep your symptoms from increasing out of control.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
When you have asthma, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. Your physician must check you out regularly to see if you need to do anything differently with your treatment. You are responsible to schedule these appointments so you can stay healthy.
Someone suffering from asthma should avoid animals. While an allergy to animal hair or dander is a possible asthma complication, even those sufferers free of such allergies can experience an asthma attack caused by the dust and pollen all animals tend to carry along with them.
Make sure that you protect yourself if you’re planning on doing anything like painting your home. You should purchase a protective mask to cut back on fume inhalation. Paint could irritate asthma greatly, but using a mask will act as a protective shield needed to fight this issue. In general practice, in fact, it is best to avoid fumes that will likely trigger an attack.
Consult with more than one physician. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. A pulmonologist, allergist, nutritionist and the staff at asthma centers can discuss a variety of treatments with you, to help you be sure you are following up on every possible good treatment available.
Consume more foods which contain vitamin B6. Recent research has shown that vitamin B6 , widely known as pyridoxine, is effective at reducing the occurrence of asthma attacks. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. Bananas are a wonderful source of Vitamin B6.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
It is important to keep the space you are living in clean and well kept. Additionally, wash sheets, pillows and blankets frequently. Cleaning will prevent dust and mites from building up, lessening the risk of asthma attacks. As dust builds in the air, it becomes more irritating to those that suffer from asthma, and increases the chances of an attack.
Fighting asthma is a life long battle, but it can become easier with each day if you follow good advice, such as that given here or from your doctor. There are always breakthroughs in medicines and methods so soon, there will be an easy treatment for asthma.
Target gradual strength training and increase the capacity of your lungs. Don’t bring on an asthma attack by beginning a strenuous workout that you can’t complete due to asthma.