Going through life with asthma can be challenging. It can affect your ability to participate in even the most basic of activities, such as going for a short walk. The worst part, though, is that there is no cure, and asthma is difficult to manage. Keep reading for advice that will help you make the most of life with asthma.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. It can’t be said too strongly: you must 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 will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Do not smoke yourself, either! Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy unscented products. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. An inhaler is most effective if used in a relaxed location and according to the maker’s instructions. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Only permit food in designated eating areas, such as the kitchen or dining room, and don’t allow smoking inside the house at all. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Lowering the level of humidity present in your home can reduce the numbers of dust mites, a prime trigger of asthma. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Cleaning Products
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Organic cleaning products should be selected due to their lack of irritating chemicals.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma, especially the more severe forms, cause many problems that interfere with the quality of life and present many challenges. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Some of the most notorious causes of asthma attacks exist in normal households. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Food should not be eaten outside of the kitchen, and there should be no indoor smoking. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. A dry home will help you out a lot more. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. Typical asthma treatment includes regular medicine supplemented by a rescue inhaler. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
As was previously stated, asthma is a condition whose affects should not be taken lightly. Take all appropriate steps to reduce and prevent symptoms, and seek professional help when you think symptoms are getting out of control. Make sure to use the information from this article to help you make your symptoms better and to avoid asthma from commanding your life.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.