Asthma can put you in critical condition very quickly if you aren’t careful. Asthma attacks may be very serious or fatal. Consulting a medical professional is the first step in any treatment plan. Beyond that, however, you must take an active role in maintaining your health. With these easy to follow pieces of advice, you can live a healthier life with asthma.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. Spray the dosage into the mouth while you inhale air. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Make your exhalations quick and forceful. Force all the air out of the lungs! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
If you suffer from asthma, make sure that you consume enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Be aware that fresh paint and new carpet also can emit harmful odors that irritate sensitive airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
Asthma Attacks
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. 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.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! You should do your best to maintain a dry home. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
When flying and bringing along asthma medications and equipment, be sure to pack your prescriptions. This is especially true for large items like a nebulizer. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
Asthma often takes time to develop, the symptoms appearing slowly. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. If you often have difficulty breathing or a persistent cough, it would be wise to make an appointment with your physician, so he or she can confirm whether you have asthma. If you do, your doctor can then prescribe medications to manage or treat it.
Asthma sufferers should avoid close contact with all animals. While allergies to dander or animal hair can possibly complicate your asthma, even those with no such allergies can have asthma attacks by inhaling the pollen and dust animals usually carry about with them.
When taking asthma medications on a plane trip, bring written medical prescriptions provided by your doctor. Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
Rescue Inhaler
Learn all that you can learn about the condition you have. You can take faster, more effective action to treat your asthma condition the better you understand it. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. You need to learn about asthma and the treatment options available.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Speaking to your peers, who also suffer from asthma, can be an eye-opening and life-changing experience. People who have experience with the same disease as you can often provide a number of suggestions or tricks that work in specific situations – all of which can make your battle with asthma a little earlier. Gaining support from the people you love and those who care is vital to the process.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
Identifying your personal triggers is one of the best ways you can learn to stop an asthma attack before it occurs. Think about maintaining an ashtma journal so you can record possible triggers as they come up, and then discuss them with your doctor. When you know what they are, do everything possible to keep away from these triggers, and get rid of them from your surroundings whenever you can.
Consult with multiple doctors. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
Be mindful of any allergy attacks that you suffer. If you experience these attacks more than twice each week, you need to switch medications. Medical professionals generally agree that when asthma is under control, there should be no more that two attacks in one week.
To improve your asthmatic condition, use a clean humidifier or vaporizer while you sleep. Bacteria can breed in moist parts of the machine, and if it is unclean when you turn it on, it will just pump out allergens.
Attempt to build strength, and capacity in your lungs, gradually. Don’t start strenuous exercise if you know that your asthma wont let you finish!
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.
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. Two common symptoms of an unusually serious asthma attack are asthma medication having no effect and lips and extremities that are blue or gray in color. If your child is having difficultly talking normally, this may also be an indication of a life threatening attack.