Asthma is a hard condition to have to live with. The fact that even something as simple as going for a walk can cause complications leaves you feeling incapacitated. The worst part, though, is that there is no cure, and asthma is difficult to manage. You can get some tips from this article on how you can prevent asthma symptoms from being too hard to deal with.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a huge health risk and directly plays a role in why people develop asthma. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
What type of asthma are you having to deal 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. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
When suffering a mild or even moderate asthma attack, attempt to push all air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and with power. Get the air all out of the lungs. Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma and have frequent attacks that are related to allergies, there are medicines that can be injected to provide you with long-term relief. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. You should not smoke! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
Make sure if you have an inhaler that you are using it the right way. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Scented products should be avoided, such as air fresheners, perfume, and incense. These can increase the amount of air pollution in the home and even trigger an attack. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
Asthma Attacks
Most of the triggers for attacks, and causes of asthma, are found inside the home. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
When the weather starts to turn colder, wear a scarf or shawl that covers your mouth and nose to help prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated by using a regular medicine supplemented with a rescue medicine, like an inhaler. 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.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Sometimes smoke can cause an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. Any inhalant, which is irritating, can trigger an asthma attack! If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.
Don’t use humidifiers or vaporizers in your home until they have been rigorously cleaned, if you suffer from either asthma, allergies or both. Bacteria will breed rapidly due to the moisture in the machine. If you continue to use one without cleaning it correctly, you will be pushing allergens around the home, instead of the soothing humidity that you are hoping for.
If you suffer from asthma attacks, familiarize yourself with how to properly use your inhaler. You cannot just spray it in your mouth and lightly inhale. You must breathe deeply for at least a few seconds when using your inhaler. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
When you suffer from an asthma attack, be sure to remain calm. You should immediately use your inhaler and use the inhaler again 30 seconds later. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.
As has already been mentioned, asthma is a severe medical ailment that should not be taken lightly. Take the steps you need to to prevent asthma symptoms and seek professional help when you are having a potentially dangerous asthma attack. Let the above advice help you to minimize the effects of asthma on your day-to-day life.
Take in every piece of asthma information available to you. The more you know about asthma, the more proactive a treatment you can devise for yourself. Keep current with recent developments in asthma treatment and research so that you can maintain cutting edge care in your personal case. The only way you can do this is by arming yourself with condition and treatment knowledge.