Asthma can limit you in your daily activities. That said, the good news is that most asthma symptoms can be brought under control so long as you take the right medication and make the proper lifestyle changes. This articles gives you tips on how to do this.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. 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.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Figure out what sets off your asthma so you can avoid it.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your asthma so that you do not take any medications that could be harmful to you.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. This will force the air from your lungs. Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. If you smoke, try quitting. Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. 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.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. 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 deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
Asthma Attacks
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. Those who experience asthma are susceptible to some common things like pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
Support Group
Make note of how often, on a weekly basis, you use your inhaler. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering an asthma attack. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
The more humid your home is, the easier it is for mildew and mold to grow. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. If it is not clean you end up getting bacteria growth in the damp interior of the machine, and that ends up flooding the air you want to humidify with allergens.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. On your way to the hospital, breath in and out in a paper bag in order to help calm yourself and get your breathing down to a normal pace.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. Simply spraying it and then inhaling in a shallow manner will negate the inhaler’s benefits. Once you spray the inhaler you must take deep breaths for a couple of seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
Get a second opinion. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. Frequent need of an inhaler is an indication that the medication prescribed is not the right strength. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. The fumes from paint are very irritating to the lungs of asthma sufferers, but a mask goes a long way towards filtering out these irritants. Substances and chemicals which have the power to trigger asthma should be widely avoided.
As mentioned, asthma is a serious disease that can endanger life if untreated and unmonitored. Take standard precautions, including using an inhaler when necessary, and checking the allergy and pollution indices on a weather website. These tips will help you to conquer asthma and restore to you a more normal life.
Don’t skimp on vitamin B6. This vitamin, with the chemical name pyridoxine, can be helpful in controlling asthma attacks. Studies have shown attacks are less intense and less frequent when pyridoxine is added to the diet. Pyridoxine can produce specific molecules which can relax your bronchial tissue. Bananas are a great source of Vitamin B6.