Asthma is a hard condition to have to live with. It can keep you from accomplishing even simplest tasks, such as going for a nice walk outdoors. There’s no cure for asthma, and keeping it under control can be challenging. Follow the tips below to prevent asthma attacks and manage your symptoms.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
It is crucial for asthma sufferers not to smoke. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Really force that air out of your lungs! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
If you suffer from asthma, and have many attacks that are related to your allergy symptoms, there is a medication that is injected and provides long term effects. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. You want to force all of the air from your lungs. Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. Regardless of whether spetum is generated, it will aid in returning breathing back to a normal state.
Having a fast acting inhaler is vital to save asthmatics from experiencing severe symptoms. Talk to your physician and find out if a leukotriene inhibitor would be right for you. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Do not smoke! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
If you suffer from asthma and you are not eligible for health insurance, speak with a social worker. If you cannot afford medicine for asthma, your social worker can help you locate someone that can help.
Asthma Patients
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
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 is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. Lowering the level of humidity present in your home can reduce the numbers of dust mites, a prime trigger of asthma. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
If you are taking your prescriptions with you on a flight, make sure to take your prescription. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Smoke can cause you to have an asthma attack. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. These can increase symptoms of asthma. If someone smokes around you, ask them politely if they could smoke when you are not around.
Support Group
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. These can very easily cause an attack. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. 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 know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s as easy as pumping lightly into your mouth. When you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe in as deeply as you can for two to three seconds. Failure to properly use your inhaler can lead to deadly effect.
Asthma Attack
If you find you need your inhaler too often, more than two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your prescription. Increased reliance on your inhaler may be an indication that the medication is no longer working well enough. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous 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.
If you have asthma, visit your doctor every three or four months so that they can help you monitor your health. Your physician can assess if there’s been any changes in your condition, and adjust your treatment plan accordingly. It is up to you to be proactive about your health and set up regular appointments with your asthma doctor to allow him or her to work with you to keep you healthy and feeling well.
As stated earlier, asthma must be taken seriously. It is a medical condition with symptoms that can potentially be catastrophic. When you feel your symptoms are spiraling out of control, look to a doctor for advice. Until then, take appropriate measures to prevent symptoms from worsening. Use the information here, and you can prevent asthma from taking over your life.
If you are going to paint your home, purchase a mask beforehand so that you will not breath the fumes. Paint can trigger asthma-related issues, but wearing a mask will provide a protective barrier to circumvent these issues. Take similar steps to avoid any chemical or other substance that tends to trigger your asthma attacks.