For the many people who have breathing problems related to asthma, everyday tasks can be daunting. There are many treatments available that can make life easier. These tips can help you manage your asthma and help you learn more knowledge about your condition.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
If you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be near vapors or other types of fumes. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. Cleaning products may contain chemicals which can trigger an asthmatic episode, such as ammonia. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
Cleaning Products
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. You should not smoke! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. Doing so can cause an asthma attack you might not have the ability to stop. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Use your inhaler as directed. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections 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.
Increase Asthma
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. Organic products are preferable to more chemically loaded, commercially produced cleaning products.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Asthma can be quite debilitating, especially if the asthma is severe, and this condition can interfere with daily life. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
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 best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. 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.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. 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 are taking your prescriptions with you on a flight, make sure to take your prescription. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
Stay Indoors
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
Visit at least two different doctors. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. 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.
Now you have a good understanding about a simple way to deal with asthma, you can be happy and confident. Whether you use this advice for yourself or for a loved one with the condition, you should take comfort in knowing that a diagnosis of asthma is not the end of the world.
Don’t smoke. If you have asthma, you could have serious health complications from smoking. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.