If you have recently been handed a diagnosis of asthma, you may find yourself in a panic. Asthma is a chronic condition, meaning there is no cure. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. Here you will see some simple methods to manage your asthma to keep you safe and healthy.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Refrain from smoking! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If people are smoking around you, remove yourself from that area quickly.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies that result in attacks, you can get injections of long-lasting medication for relief. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Exhale with maximum force! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
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. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
Use the inhaler properly. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The inhaler only can help if it’s medicine reaches the lungs. Spray the dosage into the mouth while you inhale air. Hold your breath at least ten seconds, so that the medicated mist can fill your lungs.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to a social worker. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Asthma Symptoms
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. When possible, stay away from triggers of asthma symptoms in an effort to prevent a severe attack.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. Brushing or gargling immediately after use can help reduce the risk of infection and other problems.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. While allergies to dander or animal hair can possibly complicate your asthma, even those with no such allergies can have asthma attacks by inhaling the pollen and dust animals usually carry about with them.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. 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. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s as easy as pumping lightly into your mouth. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Using the inhaler in a proper manner can make all the difference for those who deal with asthma.
To improve your asthmatic condition, use a clean humidifier or vaporizer while you sleep. Bacteria can breed inside of the machine due to the moisture, which can exaggerate your allergies or asthma.
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. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Wait half a minute and try the inhaler one more time. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. To calm yourself on the drive, bring a paper bag and breathe into it, as this will slow your breathing.
Joining a support group, or finding friends with a similar condition, can help you. Other asthma sufferers often have the best tricks for dealing with dangerous situations, and fighting the battle against asthma. Support from those you are around is crucial.
If you are suffering from asthma, you should learn how to utilize your inhaler the right way. It is not as simple as spraying a little into your mouth and inhaling. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.
Try gradually strengthening yourself and increasing your lung capacity. Don’t exercise too hard all at once or you’ll end up quitting your workouts due to your asthma.
Talking to other asthma sufferers, or attending a formal support group, can be a very effective way to cope with asthma. They can help you with advice on what you can do in some situations, and they can also help you with information on how to to fight your asthma. It is essential that you have a strong support network.
Serious Asthma Attack
If you are having more than a couple of asthma attacks per week, you should go to your doctor and eliminate triggers. Asthma attacks are often preventable; there is no reason for anyone to have more than one attack per week, if any. These attacks can be fatal, so you want to reduce them as much as possible.
Watch for symptoms of a serious attack that require an emergency hospital visit. Two common symptoms of an unusually serious asthma attack are asthma medication having no effect and lips and extremities that are blue or gray in color. Children in the midst of a serious asthma attack may have trouble communicating their condition.
Make sure that you gradually increase you current lung capacity and build the muscles that you need. Avoid attempting a strenuous workout if you know that it will likely trigger an asthma attack.
As you can see, the trick to living with asthma is simply being prepared. By understanding this disease and how to manage it, you can keep it from escalating into a crisis situation. After reading this article, you should know how to manage your asthma better.
Get a flu vaccination every year. Even if you never get sick, or the flu doesn’t affect you, a vaccination is still preferred. If you are asthma attack prone, you are also more likely to have suffer from any sinus or respiratory infection, particularly those that are flu-related.