Asthma is considered to be a very serious medical condition which can hinder your ability to enjoy and live your life. At the same time, you should understand that the symptoms are manageable if you are willing to make certain changes and take the proper medicines. Read on to learn some coping strategies for asthmatics.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. Smoking is a terrible habit but it’s even worse for someone who suffers from asthma as it decreases the amount of oxygen that gets to your lungs.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Cleaning Products
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Knowing exactly what sets off your asthma is thus, very important.
It’s been proven that you should use no more than four cleaning products in the home. If you do it can increase the risk of asthma attacks. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. 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. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. A new flare-up may be just around the corner, or your doctor may have news of a more effective new medication you can try.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
Asthma Attacks
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. If the machine stays wet, it can breed bacteria and you’ll end up pumping harmful allergens out into the air.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. On your way to the hospital, breath in and out in a paper bag in order to help calm yourself and get your breathing down to a normal pace.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. Simply spraying it into your mouth with just a light inhale will not get the job done. You must simultaneously inhale and spray the inhaler, then hold your breath for several seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
Once you know what sets your asthma off, you can keep attacks from happening as frequently. Think about using a journal to write down the things that you think might be triggering an attack, and talk about your notes with your health care professional. Once you know your triggers, you can avoid and eliminate them as much as possible.
As previously noted, the dangers of asthma loom heavy over anyone who suffers from this condition and cannot get it under control. Take standard precautions, including using an inhaler when necessary, and checking the allergy and pollution indices on a weather website. Use the tips laid out here to conquer your asthma, and stop it from cramping your freedom.
Asthma can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or a little bit of both. If anyone in your family history had asthma, pay attention to signs of it in you or your children. You should try to prevent yourself and your children from being exposed to potentially hazardous environmental elements that can trigger asthma attacks, such as smoke, pollution, dust and mold spores.