Asthma is a serious health condition present in all age groups and all different backgrounds. Going to the doctor is, of course, the appropriate first step, but you should also be vigilant about paying attention to signs that may mean your condition is worsening. This article will give you some suggestions on how to make your asthma easier to deal with.
It is vital that neither you, nor anyone else, smoke around a child with asthma. Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
What triggers your asthma? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
It is crucial for asthma sufferers not to smoke. 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.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking is bad in general for everyone, but it is particularly worse for asthma suffers because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the lungs, putting you at higher risk for asthma attacks.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Some people have allergies that cause asthma, and allergens such as dust and pollen can cause an attack. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! 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. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Asthma is nothing to kid around about. Asthma attacks can sometimes be lethal, so make sure you are taking measures to decrease the possibility of your asthma getting out of control. For example, always carry an emergency inhaler with you, and make an effort to limit the allergens and dust in your home. It is possible to keep asthma under control with proper medication and the avoidance of certain substances.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. By bringing down the humidity level, it will reduce dust mites and reduce asthma flare-ups. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.