As asthma is more and more common, the need for efficient treatment is on the rise. The demand for new treatments has lead to recent innovations and breakthroughs which can make your life easier. It’s very important that you try to find a medication option that works to treat your asthma. The following advice will give you an idea of what sort of treatments might work for you.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Tell your doctor if you are an asthmatic and you are using these medications.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies that result in attacks, you can get injections of long-lasting medication for relief. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. 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. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
Never use a fan in a dirty, dust-filled room. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. Open a window instead to get the air flowing.
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers eliminate your home’s humidity, leaving dry air.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a type of chemical substance which may cause inflammation and could cause an attack. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, even if it’s secondhand. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. The inhaler only can help if it’s medicine reaches the lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Products that contain strong scents, like incense, perfume, or air freshener can trigger an asthma attack just by lingering in the air. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Aim to keep the air as fresh as possible indoors.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. These can include dust, mold and spores. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. 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.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. 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 use is a good way to remember to check out your environmental surroundings and be mindful of all factors relating to your asthma regimen.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. How often an inhaler is used can help to monitor the environment.
If you are working to prevent asthma, it is best not to smoke. Inhaling smoke makes it harder for you to breathe and might result in an asthma attack. Make sure to stay away from chemical fumes and cigarette smoke whenever possible. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
If you are working to prevent asthma, it is best not to smoke. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If there’s smoke around you, ask politely for the person to stop smoking.
If you have asthma, don’t smoke. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Sensitive asthmatic lungs are easily irritated by smoke, so they need to avoid smoking and to avoid situations where there are people who smoke.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. It is not as simple as spraying it into your mouth and breathing in. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
Any time that pollen counts go up, anyone suffering from asthma would be wise to keep their outdoors time to a minimum. The same pollens and other irritants that cause trouble for allergy sufferers are also concerns for asthma sufferers, even though the two are quite distinct conditions. You can get the information about air quality in the area you are in; people who suffer from asthma should stay indoors if their air quality is low.
If you’re finding that you need to use your inhaler 3 or more times a week, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching medications. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. Simply spraying it and then inhaling in a shallow manner will negate the inhaler’s benefits. Every single time that you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you must, for a couple of seconds, breathe deeply. Using the inhaler in a proper manner can make all the difference for those who deal with asthma.
Make sure your space is clean. Additionally, you will want to wash your blankets, pillows and sheets often. Doing this eliminates the dust and dust mites that can cause asthma attacks. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.
If you find yourself relying on your rescue inhaler more often than twice weekly, it may be necessary to speak with your doctor about changing medication. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. This also applies to anyone who needs to refill their inhaler more than two times in a single year.
Asthma Attack
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Learn what type of chemicals trigger your asthma and try to stay away from them.
If you are in the middle of an asthma attack without your emergency inhaler, try to get some caffeine quickly. Coffee, strong black tea, or chocolate can reduce your asthma attack symptoms. This opens up your airways.
Eat more foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Studies have found that vitamin B6, which is sometimes referred to as pyridoxine, can make asthma attacks less frequent and less intense. Pyridoxine is instrumental in producing certain molecules that help to relax bronchial tissue. Bananas are a wonderful source of Vitamin B6.
Watch carefully for any signs of food allergies in your children. If you see any development of hives, or difficulty in breathing after they have consumed a specific food, you should have the doctor test them for allergies. These allergies could be indicative of a predisposition to asthma.
Identifying your personal triggers is one of the best ways you can learn to stop an asthma attack before it occurs. A good way to do this is to keep a small journal or notebook. Record each asthma attack and what was happening when it occurred. Discuss this information with your doctor, and he will help you to identify triggers. Once they are known, do whatever it takes to prevent triggers from going off, and if possible, just wipe them out of your life and environment completely.
Be aware of the signs of an asthma attack, if you have an asthmatic child less than 5 years old, in order to know when professional medical care will be necessary. Some symptoms to watch for include: an inability to inhale adequate air, difficulty making sounds and speaking, extreme concavity of the abdomen while inhaling and gasping for breath. If you see any of these symptoms, your child is in need of immediate medical care.
Know what asthma symptoms are an indicator of a life threatening attack that requires a trip to the hospital emergency room for your child. Signs that an asthma attack is underway can include blue or gray tints to the lips and fingernails. It is also possible your child will not respond to heightened doses of medication during an attack. Also, the person suffering the attack may be having issues talking.
By now, you know that you have many options for treating asthma. You have to find the method that is appropriate for your specific needs. There is an abundance of information to help you find the best treatments for your needs. By applying the tips laid out here, you will be able to improve your breathing capacity.
If your child is younger than five and has asthma, always watch to see if an attack will require that you take them to the ER. Asthma symptoms include: air gasping, sucking in your stomach when you are trying to take a breathe, and a hard time talking because you cannot get enough air. A single one of these symptoms signals an immediate need for medical care.