If you have asthma, life can be a challenge. But there are plenty of options for managing the condition, and having a happy and healthy lifestyle. There are many ways to control or prevent asthma from interfering with your life. Read on to find some helpful tips and techniques to take back your life despite the diagnosis of asthma!
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke can actually cause asthma to appear. It’s best to also keep your child away from places in which others will be smoking.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. Omalizumab, an antibody medicine, might be suggested by an allergist and controls allergic reactions.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Never smoke yourself! Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
Use the inhaler the right way. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. In addition, paint that is fresh or carpet that is new release odors that can cause breathing irritations that lead to an asthma attack. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a comfy spot, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for asthma sufferers. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
If you have asthma, avoid people who are smoking. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. A dry home will help you out a lot more. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
Asthma Treatment
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
You need to know how to properly use asthma medications that are prescribed to you, especially your rescue medication, so that you are prepared if you need to use it during an emergency. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
Using your preventative inhaler should be done daily. It’s important to know, though, that it can cause sores and infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
As you see, you can use several methods in controlling or preventing asthma from overtaking your life. Having asthma isn’t a death sentence, but you need to have a plan for how you are going to live with it, so you have a more fulfilling life.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.