You have just been diagnosed with asthma, and you are panicking. There is no known cure for asthma. An asthma diagnosis is definitely not the end of the world, though. This article offers ways in which you can effectively and safely manage asthma.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
Asthma is a disease that is ongoing and must be attended to every day. Make certain you are doing the most you can each day to keep your symptoms under control. Take the proper medications needed for everyday symptoms, and always have quick relief medication by you at all times in the event an attack occurs. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Cleaning Products
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. The breathing rhythm that you create by doing this will cause you to be aware of every breath you take. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. Use natural cleaners instead of chemical cleaners to reduce your chances of asthma attacks after cleaning.
It is crucial that you stay away from all types of cigarette smoke if you suffer from asthma. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
Heart Disease
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Talk to a social worker if you’re not eligible for any health insurance and you’re an asthma sufferer. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
An increased propensity for asthma attacks has been linked with the utilization of multiple cleaning products. The more you use, the greater the risk of an attack. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Asthma sufferers generally have different triggers in common like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. It is impossible to predict the next attack. Furthermore, newer or safer asthma medications may be approved in the time since you last visited your doctor.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. If you are utilizing your inhaler more than two times per day, you might not be controlling asthma as well as you think you are! How frequently you need to use the inhaler can help you recognize any environmental changes you need to make.
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. Dust will adhere to a wet towel instead of being loose in the air like feather dusters do where it can aggravate your asthma.
You should not use a vaporizer or humidifier if you have asthma or allergies unless you are sure that it is clean. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You can cut down on these irritants or eliminate them altogether by washing your bedding and pillow cases in very hot water once a week. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. Use the inhaler, wait thirty seconds, and use once more. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. Have someone call an ambulance for you, or have them bring you to a hospital. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.
If you find you need your inhaler too often, more than two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your prescription. Frequent use may be a signal that the medication is not effective. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
As seen here, it is important that you are prepared in order to manage asthma. When you know everything you can about your specific asthma triggers, you can use that knowledge to avoid potential triggers. This guide is your initial step in building your knowledge on how to combat asthma effectively.
Don’t skimp on vitamin B6. Research has shown that pyridoxine, commonly referred to as vitamin B6, can lower the number of asthma events and lessen their intensity. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. Bananas contain B6, as do many other delicious foods.