Asthma is an illness that can spiral out of control when left unchecked. Attacks can be serious, even fatal, unless they are controlled. It is important to talk to your doctor about it, as well as take time to research to learn more, too. This article provides easy tips to help alleviate some asthma symptoms and to help you to better treat your asthma.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
Cleaning Products
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab can effectively control allergy symptoms you may be experiencing and can be suggested by your local allergist if it fits your needs.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
Keep away from any and everything that you know triggers your asthma attacks. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
When suffering a mild or even moderate asthma attack, attempt to push all air from your lungs. Make your exhalations quick and forceful. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. Do not be alarmed if you cough or generate excess mucous; this is perfectly normal. Your only concern is to return your breathing to normal.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. If you have asthma, it’s important to prevent all respiratory infections, if at all possible. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
Cigarette Smoke
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. These can trigger a severe asthma attack that can be difficult to get under control. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, and have many attacks that are related to your allergy symptoms, there is a medication that is injected and provides long term effects. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
If someone in your home has asthma, make sure to keep a clean house, especially their bedroom so that the risk of an attack is reduced. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
Make sure if you have an inhaler that you are using it the right way. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure you consume lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
During the week, you should take note each time your rescue inhaler is used. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, even if it’s secondhand. The functionality of your lungs can be dramatically impaired if you inhale tobacco smoke, especially in areas with little ventilation, and you run a greater risk of attack.
Anyone with asthma needs to avoid all types of smoke when trying to decrease asthma attacks. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Keep your home meticulously clean to reduce attack potential if there is an asthma sufferer living there, especially the bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Asthma is in no way an allergy, but a lot of the same burdens that bother allergy suffers also affect people who suffer from asthma. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. In general practice, in fact, it is best to avoid fumes that will likely trigger an attack.
Asthma sufferers should avoid close contact with all animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Asthma has numerous potential causes, including both genetic and environmental factors. If your family has a history of asthma, pay special attention to any respiratory symptoms that may indicate that you or a family member is developing asthma. Air pollutants like smoke and mold spores can trigger an asthma attack, so keep your home clean to avoid irritation.
Asthma Treatment
Maintain a living area that is swept and well cleaned. You need to also wash your pillows, blankets, and sheets on a regular basis. If you do this, it keeps dust mites and dust from building up and triggering asthma attacks. Dust build-up causes the air to become more irritating to people who have asthma, which therefore increases the risk that your airways will be compromised.
You should have a team of medical professionals to help you craft your asthma treatment. Your family doctor will be in charge of your asthma treatment, but seeing a specialist can provide you with invaluable help. A pulmonologist, allergist, nutritionist and the staff at asthma centers can discuss a variety of treatments with you, to help you be sure you are following up on every possible good treatment available.
Get your yearly flu vaccination. Even if you rarely seem to catch the flu, you still need the shot as a smart precaution against an illness that can be a real problem for you. If you are asthma attack prone, you are also more likely to have suffer from any sinus or respiratory infection, particularly those that are flu-related.
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.
For those with asthma, do warm-ups before exercising. You should also do cool downs after exercising. Doing both can prevent serious attacks during or after exercising.