Living with asthma may be difficult, but if you manage it properly, it doesn’t have to prevent you from being happy, healthy and active. With the right information, you can learn to avoid the asthma attacks that interfere with your daily routine. Read on to find some helpful tips and techniques to take back your life despite the diagnosis of asthma!
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
If your child has asthma, do not smoke cigarettes near them. Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
If you have asthma and do not have health insurance, you should consider seeing a social worker. If you cannot afford medicine for asthma, your social worker can help you locate someone that can help.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. When you inhale tobacco smoke, the lung’s function can be decreased, and you will increase the chance you have an asthma attack. Smaller areas without proper ventilation make you even more susceptible to an attack.
If you are going to be flying and are bringing your asthma medicine with you, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. When you travel, you sometimes strain your body a little more than you think, which can make you a bit more susceptible to having asthma attacks. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping can stir up some asthmatic triggers that will exacerbate your symptoms. When you dust, try dampening a rag, instead of a feather duster, to avoid spreading things that can trigger your asthma.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
If you have allergies and asthma, you need to avoid using a humidifier or a vaporizer unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. Permitting bacteria to grow inside the appliance will result in irritants being dispersed into the air you breathe.
Preventative Inhaler
If you find you need your inhaler too often, more than two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your prescription. It means the medication used to calm acute attacks is either ineffective or not effective enough. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
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. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
Asthmatics should always wear a mask when dealing with the harsh chemicals in fresh paint. Wearing the mask will keep the irritants away from your lungs and esophagus, keeping your asthma under control. Substances and chemicals which have the power to trigger asthma should be widely avoided.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
Support groups or talking with others who have asthma, can help you learn to live with your asthma. They can provide you with valuable tips and lessons on how to fight against asthma in many different situations. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
Eat a lot of foods that have vitamin B6. Research has shown that by increasing the amount of vitamin B6, sometimes referred to as pyridoxine, individuals can reduce how often they suffer asthma attacks. At minimum, it can help lower the intensity of attacks. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. Bananas contain B6, as do many other delicious foods.
Asthma Attack
You need to identify your particular triggers so that you can prevent an asthma attack. Write down anything that triggers an asthma attack, then share what you’ve written with your asthma specialist. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. Any inhalant, which is irritating, can trigger an asthma attack! If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
Asthma is sometimes caused by genetics, and sometimes by environmental causes. If someone closely related has asthma, you need to pay special attention to asthma-like symptoms your or your children have. Asthma sufferers need to be especially careful to avoid smoke, dust mites, extremely high air pollution levels and allergens.
As this article shows, you can control the symptoms of asthma and keep on with your daily routine. Having asthma doesn’t need to be the end of the world; if you are well-educated on living with asthma, your quality of life will improve.
Sweep and clean your home regularly. Also, make sure to wash your pillows, blankets and sheets often. This will eradicate dust mites, which can cause asthma attacks. As dust builds in the air, it becomes more irritating to those that suffer from asthma, and increases the chances of an attack.