If you’ve just been given an asthma diagnosis, you may not know what to do. There is not a cure for asthma; it is a lifelong condition. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. This article is like a virtual library full of information on asthma symptoms and treatments.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma and you are a smoker, it is time to quit. Smoking is a terrible habit but it’s even worse for someone who suffers from asthma as it decreases the amount of oxygen that gets to your lungs.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
Asthma Symptoms
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. Don’t smoke! Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. You should not smoke yourself! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The only way the inhaler will work is if your lungs get the proper amount of medication. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. It is impossible to predict the next attack. Furthermore, newer or safer asthma medications may be approved in the time since you last visited your doctor.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. 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.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These include mold, dust and spores. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. 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.
If you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well humidifiers and any associated apparatus. 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 crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. Asthma is generally treated with a rescue medication, usually an inhaler, in addition to a regularly-taken maintenance medication. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. It is not as simple as spraying it into your mouth and breathing in. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. Using the inhaler in a proper manner can make all the difference for those who deal with asthma.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can trigger your asthma. When you need to dust, do so with a damp rag instead of a feather duster so that you reduce spreading around anything that will trigger your asthma.
If you’re finding that you need to use your inhaler 3 or more times a week, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching medications. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
Anyone with asthma should stay far away from smoke. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. It is up to you to schedule these visits with the doctor so he or she can monitor your progress, and work to keep you healthy.
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. Simply spraying it into your mouth with just a light inhale will not get the job done. Each time you spray your inhaler, breath in deeply for a few seconds. If you have asthma, there’s no way around it: you need to get familiar with the right method of using your inhaler.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Stay away from any chemicals or substance that could worsen your condition.
As you can read, the trick of managing asthma is preparing well. Knowing the flavor of asthma from which you suffer, as well as practicing a good treatment regimen, is the easiest way to stop attacks from happening before they start. The tips in this article will help you to build the knowledge base that you need to make positive changes in your life!
Vitamin B6 intake should be increased in order to help control asthma. Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 has been demonstrated to reduce the number of asthma attacks in various studies. Pyridoxine is very important in the production of certain molecules that will help relax bronchial tissues. One common source of vitamin B6 are bananas.