A simple physical task can feel overwhelming for someone who has difficulty breathing due to asthma. Different options are available to make living with asthma easier. The next few paragraphs will give you basic information about the nature of asthma, as well as how to treat it effectively.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, it may be linked to physical exertion. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
Heart Disease
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can cause asthma attacks by causing inflammation. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
Use your inhaler as directed. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
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.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. Reducing the amount of humidity in your home reduces the number of dust mites, which in turn reduces the chances of your asthma flaring up. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. A yearly vaccination will help minimize the number of infections your children have to deal with.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
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. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
If you suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
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. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
Join an online or offline support group. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
Asthma develops gradually, and its symptoms may not be very 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. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
When taking asthma medications on a plane trip, bring written medical prescriptions provided by your doctor. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
Be sure to thoroughly understand how to utilize asthma medication correctly, particularly any rescue medication. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. How frequently you need to use the inhaler can help you recognize any environmental changes you need to make.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. Don’t just breathe normally or shallowly after spraying inhaled medication into your mouth. Once you spray the inhaler you must take deep breaths for a couple of seconds. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.
Avoid smoke if you want to prevent asthma. The inhalation of smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
Asthma can be the result of genetics, environment or a combination of both. If someone closely related has asthma, you need to pay special attention to asthma-like symptoms your or your children have. Air pollutants like smoke and mold spores can trigger an asthma attack, so keep your home clean to avoid irritation.
Now that you know how to better handle your asthma, you can have a better quality of life. Whether you use this advice for yourself or for a loved one with the condition, you should take comfort in knowing that a diagnosis of asthma is not the end of the world.
Keep an eye on your allergy attacks and consider switching your prescription if you suffer from more than two asthma attacks a week. Medical professionals generally agree that when asthma is under control, there should be no more that two attacks in one week.