For the millions of men, women, and children who have difficulty breathing as a result of asthma, even the simplest physical task may seem daunting. But do not lose heart; there are proven methods for alleviating the confusion and fear cause by asthma. The following article offers you a good selection of tips that will help you manage your asthma while educating you on the condition.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. An asthma attack can be easily triggered by the moving dust. It would be better to just open a window if you are needing to get some airflow.
Asthma Symptoms
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for asthma sufferers. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. It would be better to just open a window if you are needing to get some airflow.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These include dust, mold and spores. 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. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
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. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can trigger your asthma. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
Asthma aggravation, such as dust and pollen, can collect in your bed sheets and pillowcases. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. 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.
Get a second opinion. While your asthma treatment should start with your primary care doctor, visiting one or two asthma specialists can make a real difference in how well you understand and manage your condition. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and nutritionists can help you take advantage of the many treatments available to those with asthma.
When housecleaning, it is better to clean your floors with a damp mop than sweeping them with a broom. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. When dusting, use a damp cloth, as feather dusters just move dust around.
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Go to the emergency room, or call an ambulance if it’s extreme. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
Take the time to learn all there is to know about your affliction. The more educated you are about your asthma, the more proactive you can be about your treatment. 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 for you gain this knowledge would be to learn what your type of condition is and the treatment options.
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. Paint can trigger asthma-related issues, but wearing a mask will provide a protective barrier to circumvent these issues. Refrain from using any substance or chemical that aggravate your asthma.
When painting, you should buy a protective mask if you suffer from asthma. Paint can irritate your asthma a lot, so this mask acts like a protective barrier to prevent this. Do not go use certain chemicals that will make your asthma worse.
A support group for those with asthma can really help, and so can simply talking to people about your condition. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. You need a strong support system!
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. They are there to help you win this battle with asthma through great tips and well planned ideas. Support from those you are around is crucial.
Vitamin B6
Eat more foods rich in vitamin B6. In many studies, it has been shown that vitamin B6 (which is also called pyridoxine) decreases the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Pyridoxine produces molecules that facilitate the relaxation of bronchial tissues. Bananas are a great vitamin B6 source.
Vitamin B6 intake should be increased in order to help control asthma. B6, another name for pyridoxine, has been proven to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks related to asthma. Vitamin B6 is essential for producing chemicals that cause lung tissue to relax. People who need additional vitamin B6 should eat bananas.
If you are experiencing 3 or more asthma attacks per week, it is a serious signal that you may need to adjust your medication. Doctors agree that suffering from more than two asthma attacks every week is not only dangerous, but avoidable.
Knowing what triggers your asthma is an extremely important thing to know in order to prevent your attacks. If you don’t know what yours are, keep a journal to potentially show you what they are. Take active steps to minimize coming into contact with elements that trigger your asthma, to help reduce your attacks.
Gradually increase your strength, and lung capacity. Avoid attempting a strenuous workout if you know that it will likely trigger an asthma attack.
Now that you know more about how to handle your asthma, you can confidently handle it, and support others with the condition. This advice demonstrates that you or someone you love can live a a full and happy life despite having asthma.
Watch for symptoms of a serious attack that require an emergency hospital visit. Increased usage of medication to no avail of relief and fingernails and lips turning bluish-gray are indications of a severe asthma attack. Your child might also find it difficult to speak.