Asthma may be a frightening experience, especially when it limits your ability to freely breathe. Asthma attacks come with no warning, and the condition can shorten your life or even bring it to an abrupt halt. The information here can help make it clear what triggers asthma attacks, and it can provide you with ways to manage it and keep its effects limited.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. This can vary from person to person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
If you’re someone who gets an asthma attack related to allergy like symptoms, there’s medication you can use to help. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. You should not smoke! Avoid fumes and vapors of any kind. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Hay Fever
You should ensure that every family member in your household gets a flu vaccine yearly. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
Understand what things make your asthma flare and avoid these things or manage the symptoms. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These generally include dust, mold and spores. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Try using a inhaler that prevents asthma every day, but you should know that one of the side effects is mouth infections of teeth and gums. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Typical asthma treatment includes regular medicine supplemented by a rescue inhaler. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If you use it very often, you may not have it under control. 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.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. Any inhalant, which is irritating, can trigger an asthma attack! If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. 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.
Asthma sufferers need to know which types of animals and breeds won’t trigger their asthma attacks. A lot of times the hair or dander will cause an asthma attack, but even if you do not have an allergy to the pet itself they often carry pollen and dust with them.
If you do not take the steps necessary to control your asthma, it can potentially be fatal. The information in this article should have shed some light on what methods of management are available to asthmatics and what you need to do to be able to live a healthy and happy life with asthma.
Avoid smoking. People know that smoking is dangerous, but it is even more dangerous to those with asthma. Smoke can severely irritate an asthma sufferer’s lungs; so, if you do suffer from asthma, stay away from both smoking and being around smoke in general.