Asthma is a very serious issue in people of all ages, from teenagers to seniors. On top of appropriate medical advice and frequent doctor visits, you must remain aware of warning signs and things that could trigger attacks. The information provided in this article should help you learn to live a more fulfilled life with less asthma attacks.
Ensure your child is never around smoke to handle their asthma. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. You should not smoke yourself! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. Truly pump all air from your lungs! 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. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. 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. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Keep the air inside your home clean and fresh, and free of any asthma triggers.
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
Asthma Treatment
The development of asthma symptoms can occur over time and they can be difficult to pinpoint and diagnose. In some serious cases, people have dropped dead due to an asthma attack without ever knowing they had asthma in the first place. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Because asthma does not get cured, those afflicted with it must continue to take their regular medication and use their rescue inhaler when needed.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. 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.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, make sure to have with you any written doctors prescriptions, especially when carrying some large asthma equipment like a nebulizer. Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. If there are always fresh linens on your bed, you are much more likely to sleep restfully without unexpected asthma attacks.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
Avoid smoke if you want to prevent asthma. Smoke can cause you to have an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. Things like this can make your asthma worse. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
If you experience a sudden asthma attack, staying calm is extremely important. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If you do this and you notice that your attack is worsening then you need to get help. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
You should have a team of medical professionals to help you craft your asthma treatment. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. You should not just stick it between your lips and spray. You must breathe deeply for at least a few seconds when using your inhaler. Proper use of your inhaler is key when you have asthma.
Your asthma should not ever be downplayed or taken lightly. Some asthma attacks may be lethal, you should take proper measures to lower the chances of your asthma getting out of control. You should never leave home without your inhaler just in case an emergency should arise. You should also attempt to reduce how much allergens and dust is in your home. Apply these tips to gain control over your condition.
When you have asthma, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. Taking on the responsibility of scheduling these regular appointments will help your doctor help you to stay healthy.