Are you someone who suffers from asthma and found yourself wishing you knew more? Many people have the need for some common sense tips about this illness. There are lots of people who’d like to learn about asthma, but they are unsure of where to look for information. What you’re going to read in this article might surprise you.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. Tell your doctor if you are an asthmatic and you are using these medications.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. You must abstain from using any tobacco products. Also, when job hunting, you need to take into consideration whether or not you will be exposed to anything detrimental to your condition while on the job.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. If your child is in an area where people are smoking, remove him quickly to avoid an asthma attack.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Exhale hard and fast. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It also will push all of your air out of the lungs so that you can get more air in. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
Avoid Cleaning
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. Smoking is off limits. Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. An asthma attack can be easily triggered by the moving dust. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. Figure out what sets off your asthma so you can avoid it.
Use the inhaler the right way. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, fill the air with irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Aim to keep the air as fresh as possible indoors.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could 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.
When housecleaning, it is better to clean your floors with a damp mop than sweeping them with a broom. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. Some asthma sufferers are allergic to animal fur or dander on top of their asthma, but even those who don’t have such an allergy can bring on an attack if they breathe in too much of these irritants.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Use the inhaler, wait thirty seconds, and use once more. If you do this and you notice that your attack is worsening then you need to get help. Have someone call emergency services or drive you to the nearest hospital. To slow down your breathing along the way, breathe into a paper bag.
Get a second opinion. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
Rescue Inhaler
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
Educate yourself to the maximum regarding asthma. By being educated, you can treat your symptoms much more effectively. Remain current on the latest treatment techniques and be certain to receive the very best professional assistance you can. There is no other way to get the best care possible than educating yourself on asthma, and staying informed about your treatment options.
Learn as much as you can about asthma. You can take faster, more effective action to treat your asthma condition the better you understand it. In order to ensure that you are always getting the best possible care, stay abreast of new developments and up-to-date treatments. To know these things, you must keep learning about your disease and the options available for treatment.
Get a breathing mask before painting in your house, so you can avoid breathing the fumes. Paint chemicals are a powerful irritant that can cause an asthma attack if inhaled without a mask. Avoid specific substances and chemicals that will worsen your asthma.
Get a breathing mask before painting in your house, so you can avoid breathing the fumes. Paint can aggravate asthma, but a mask can combat the irritation because it forms a shield between your nose and the environment. In fact, you should stay vigilant here and avoid any and all chemicals that may trigger an asthma attack.
You could gain some comfort from attending a support group geared toward asthmatics or even by just communicating with people with the same issues. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. Surround yourself with people who understand asthma and support your fight against it.
Try to maintain a clean home and well-swept floors. You need to also wash your pillows, blankets, and sheets on a regular basis. Doing this eliminates the dust and dust mites that can cause asthma attacks. When dust builds, the air becomes much more irritating to those with asthma and can raise the chances of an attack.
Vitamin B6 intake should be increased in order to help control asthma. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. It does this by producing molecules to relax your bronchial tissue. Foods that are rich in B6 include the easy-to-find banana.
Most people who suffer from asthma have lots of questions about their condition. This article has provided essential information about asthma so that now, you can ease the stress of having this disease with knowledge. When properly managed, asthma is not nearly as imposing.
If you do not have your inhaler with you and you are experiencing an asthma attack, take a quick caffeine shot! Strong black tea, coffee and chocolate can help reduce attack symptoms. The caffeine constricts your blood vessels, opening up your airway.