Asthma is a malady that may be uncontrollable if left untamed. Attacks from asthma have been known to be fatal. You should always consult medical specialists, but when their advice is inadequate, you should take matters into your own hands. These tips can help you better and relieve your asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, you should not smoke or expose yourself to any type of vapors or fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. If your child is in an area where people are smoking, remove him quickly to avoid an asthma attack.
Know how to use your inhaler properly! Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. The only way the inhaler can help is if the medication can reach your lungs. While inhaling, spray the dosage in your mouth. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Though it is easy to postpone or avoid, get those annual flu vaccinations. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Actually Trigger
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Decreasing the humidity in the house decreases dust mites, which decreases asthma flare ups. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. Open a window instead to get the air flowing.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
If your kid or you suffer from asthma, you should get a yearly flu shot. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. 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. 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.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, you should always strive 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.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. Because asthma can be a lifelong issue, it is vital to take both regular and rescue medications according to the instructions.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
When you are removing dust or crumbs from your floor, you should use a vacuum or damp mop to avoid scattering dust in the air. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. You want to see your primary doctor for asthma help, though you should also see some specialists. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Make sure your doctor sees you every two or three months for a check up to see how you are managing with your asthma condition. Frequent check-ups help your doctor evaluate the effectiveness of your current treatment plan and revise the plan as needed. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.