Diagnoses of asthma are increasing as pollution levels and other environmental irritants are on the rise. This surge in demand for asthma treatment strategies has brought some innovative, lesser-known treatments and therapies to light. It’s now the time to discover what works for you as you battle asthma. Below are some starting tips to help you on your journey.
If you suffer from asthma, you should not smoke or expose yourself to any type of vapors or fumes. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
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 something that can lead to serious asthma. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. When you are tidying your home consider using natural products that are effective for cleaning rather than traditional cleansers.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. Breathe out hard and fast. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
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. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. This type of inhibitor is designed to prevent leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke yourself. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. You should keep your breath held for 10 seconds at a minimum to let the medicated mist fill up your lungs.
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
Be prepared for your asthma treatment to be increased if you have a cold or hay fever. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Join an online or offline support group. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal 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.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Dust will adhere to a wet towel instead of being loose in the air like feather dusters do where it can aggravate your asthma.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
Watch the pollen counts and adjust your activity accordingly to protect yourself from seasonal asthma issues. Asthma is in no way an allergy, but a lot of the same burdens that bother allergy suffers also affect people who suffer from 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.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
As this article has demonstrated, there are many methods for treating asthma and its accompanying symptoms. Not all asthma treatments will work for every individual, so it is important to talk to your doctor about what will work for your situation. There is a ton of information that can help you see what benefits certain treatments can yield. By using these tips, you’re close to improving your asthma situation.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.