If left unchecked, asthma is a condition that can spiral out of control. An extremely severe attack can even lead to death. Although you should try to obtain guidance from health professionals, in some cases, it is simply not enough. In such instances, it is up to you to do something about it. The following tips will help you manage your asthma symptoms and live an active lifestyle.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or 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.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
Cleaning Products
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. The complex list of ingredients on many cleaning products makes it difficult know which ones have the chemical compounds that might aggravate asthma symptoms or even initiate an attack. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Force all the air out of the lungs! Breathe in by taking three quick breaths, followed by one very deep breath. Doing this will fill your lungs completely, and allow you to expel the air forcefully again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies that result in attacks, you can get injections of long-lasting medication for relief. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. You should not smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier for your home. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. Dehumidifiers eliminate your home’s humidity, leaving dry air.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. This can move the dust around and can trigger an attack easily. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. It is impossible to predict the next attack. Furthermore, newer or safer asthma medications may be approved in the time since you last visited your doctor.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. Asthma sufferers generally have different triggers in common like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
You can join an online or offline support group. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. Your doctor may be able to prescribe more effective treatments and you may be suffering symptoms you’re not aware are related to your asthma.
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. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.