Managing your asthma means that you can lead a full life despite your diagnosis. A number of methods exist to stop asthma from inhibiting you in life. Here you will find tips on making the most out of your life with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. If you’re the one who regularly cleans the house, look for natural cleaning products which are much safer to use.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
Avoid anything that can trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
The symptoms of asthma might not always be apparent, but for those that suffer from the disease, the condition never goes away entirely. 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.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. You have to force the air out. Inhale three times with short breaths, and then on the fourth one take a deeper breath so your lungs are full of air but still comfortable. Then breath out as hard as you can again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. Do not smoke! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. If people are smoking around you, remove yourself from that area quickly.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. Inhale air while spraying the necessary amount of medication into 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’re someone who gets an asthma attack related to allergy like symptoms, there’s medication you can use to help. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
Asthma Patients
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Fragrances are present in hundreds of common consumer products, including cleaning supplies, perfumes, detergents and room sprays. Any of these items could easily increase the of triggering an attack. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor could add another treatment into your regimen until the illness is better.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Only permit food in designated eating areas, such as the kitchen or dining room, and don’t allow smoking inside the house at all. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
You may want to think about joining support groups you can find both online and offline. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. When dusting, use a damp cloth, as feather dusters just move dust around.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Avoid triggers like vapors, chemical fumes, and cigarette smoke as much as you can. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. Ask your family to smoke outside, and consider moving if they refuse.
Do not smoke! A lot of people know smoking is bad, but with asthma, it can be even worse. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
Being around animals should be avoided. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
If you are using a vaporizer or humidifier, you should thoroughly clean it prior to use. Bacteria could breed in this moist environment and get into the air once you turn the humidifier on.
Bed Linens
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Every time you spray the inhaler, deeply inhale for a couple seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. 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. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
It can help out to meet and talk with others who have asthma. They will provide tips on how to deal with asthma, or what to do in certain situations that may be new to you. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. 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. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
If you get at least two attacks a week, it might be time to try a different medication. Both doctors and nurses claim having a larger number than two attacks each week can be very hazardous. This can be easily prevented.
The only way that you should use a vaporizer or humidifier when you have asthma or allergies is if it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria will breed rapidly due to the moisture in the machine. If you continue to use one without cleaning it correctly, you will be pushing allergens around the home, instead of the soothing humidity that you are hoping for.
Monitor your children closely for any indication of food allergies. If they develop hives or have difficulty breathing after consuming a specific food, have their pediatrician test them for that allergy. Food allergies can be a precursor to asthma.
You can rely on different methods to reduce your asthma attacks and live a normal life. Asthma need not be such an obtrusive force in your life. In fact, if you can formulate an effective strategy against it, life can be very rewarding and active for you.
Get a flu vaccination every year. Even if you have never been affected by the cold or flu in the past, it is still recommended you get it just in case. Flu, colds and sinus infections, which you are more vulnerable to being asthmatic, can affect your ability to breathe.