Having asthma can be scary because it can make you unable to breathe freely. Since asthma attacks can occur without warning and can be fatal if not immediately treated, it’s easy to live in fear of asthma, rather than participating in daily activities. This article is filled with helpful information about the hows and whys of asthma and offers useful advice on living with the condition and its effects.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. Certain asthma sufferers experience attacks when they around around allergy triggers, such as dust or pollen. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Knowing exactly what sets off your asthma is thus, very important.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Make certain you are doing the most you can each day to keep your symptoms under control. Take the proper medications needed for everyday symptoms, and always have quick relief medication by you at all times in the event an attack occurs. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. 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 are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Breathe out fast and hard. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Asthma is a chronic condition, requiring constant health management. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. Talk to your doctor and allergist to see what is the best idea for you.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. Refrain from smoking! Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Move to a quiet area, and then simply follow manufacturer’s instructions. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. 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.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved 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.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
When dealing with hay fever or a cold, you will notice an increase in your asthma symptoms. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
Hay Fever
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. You can help keep your house safe from these harmful substances by regularly cleaning and dusting your home.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. Dusting with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster can be a considerable help in reducing the amount of dust and other things that might start an attack.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. Having to restock your inhaler more frequently than once every six months is also a concern.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Learn all you can learn about your condition. The more you understand about the condition, the more effective you’ll be in taking steps to manage your asthma. Remain current on the latest treatment techniques and be certain to receive the very best professional assistance you can. You can only achieve this by researching your condition, as well as, the treatment options available to you.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
Have your asthma situation checked out by a doctor every so often, so that you are not blindsided by changes in your condition. Your doctor will be able to assess the effectiveness of treatments, and adjust them, if necessary. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.
Asthma sufferers should have minimal contact with animals including pets. Though dander allergies are often seen in conjunction with asthma, even asthmatics who are not allergic may have attacks that are triggered by the ancillary irritants transported by animals, including pollen and dust.
When planning on painting an interior area of your home, make sure that you purchase a mask to protect your respiratory tract from the paint’s fumes. Paint can aggravate asthma, but a mask can combat the irritation because it forms a shield between your nose and the environment. Avoid specific chemicals and substances that could worsen your asthma.
Bed Linens
Going to an asthma support group or just talking to people who also have asthma can really help out. Your support group can give you some suggestions on how deal with certain situations, and help you to fight your asthma. Surround yourself with people who understand asthma and support your fight against it.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. The easiest way to get rid of these triggering agents is by washing all of your bedding using your washer’s hot setting every Sunday. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
The cause of asthma can be hereditary or it can be induced by environmental factors. Sometimes both factors have a role in the disease. If a loved one in your household suffers from asthma, be mindful of any signs in others. There are many environmental factors, like mold, great deals of dust, smoke and pollution that can lead to asthma, so it’s important to keep both yourself and your children away from these things.
If not properly treated and controlled, asthma can be fatal. The information in this article should have shed some light on what methods of management are available to asthmatics and what you need to do to be able to live a healthy and happy life with asthma.
Over time you should work to strengthen your body and increase the capacity of your lungs. A more strenuous exercise program may irritate your airways and bring on an asthma attack so you will want to proceed with caution.