Asthma is a chronic condition that leads to difficulty breathing and can limit the types of activities you can participate in. Yet, you should keep in mind that there is much you can do to manage your asthma if you combine certain medications along with key coping strategies that you learn. Do some research and talk to your doctor about effective strategies for controlling asthma.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. This means you should stay away from all tobacco products and carefully consider the jobs you apply to, especially in factories, as you may be exposed to harmful smoke or vapors.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. If you cannot afford medicine for asthma, your social worker can help you locate someone that can help.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
Annual Flu
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Avoid smoking altogether. Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections if you have asthma. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. 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 using chemical to clean, air out the house.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Even if your asthma seems like it is under control, always keep your asthma appointments with the doctor. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
Avoid pillows stuffed with goosedown or other feathers if you have an asthma problem. Feathers can trigger asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. A support group will help you have a good time and forget about your condition once in a while, as well as as keep you informed about the latest innovations.
Asthma typically develops over a long time, and sometimes the symptoms aren’t very obvious. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
Bed linens often collect asthma aggravators, such as pollen, dust and allergens. Use fresh linens to make up your bed on a regular basis. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Avoid Smoking
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
Asthmatics should avoid smoking tobacco products whenever possible. Most people know that smoking is dangerous, but if you have asthma there are more serious consequences. It can irritate sensitive lungs. People with asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also avoid other people while they are smoking.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. Bacteria could breed in this moist environment and get into the air once you turn the humidifier on.
For those struggling with their asthma, avoiding regular contact with pets is important to control symptoms. Some asthma sufferers are allergic to animal fur or dander on top of their asthma, but even those who don’t have such an allergy can bring on an attack if they breathe in too much of these irritants.
Make sure you keep calm if you are having an asthma attack. Grab your inhaler and use it, then wait to see if it helps. If not, then use it again in thirty seconds. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Get a second opinion. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
Do not smoke cigarettes. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke is very irritating to sensitive lungs, so take care not to smoke or be around others who are.
Asthma can get worse and possibly life-threatening if not taken care of. You should protect yourself by always carrying an emergency inhaler, and watching out for excessive air pollution or allergens. Use this advice to treat your asthma symptoms, ensuring that they do not take over your life.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Use the inhaler, wait thirty seconds, and use once more. If the attack gets worse doesn’t get better, then get help immediately. Have someone take you to a hospital, or if necessary call an ambulance. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.