Have you been diagnosed with asthma? This article provides many easy tips that will help you be better able to control asthma symptoms.
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.. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
You should not smoke or be anywhere near smoke if you suffer from asthma. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. Force all the air out of the lungs! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Exhale quickly and forcefully. You have to force the air out. Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. 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.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you breathe in smoke, particularly in an enclosed area, your lungs cannot function as well, and it increases your risk of having an asthma attack.
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.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. If you are using scented products like perfume, incense, or air fresheners you should up the level of air pollution in your home. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
You must have regular asthma reviews, even if you are not having any problems. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These are dust, mold and spores. Having your house inspected yearly is a good way to reduce the presence of these asthma triggers. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. An inhaler is most effective if used in a relaxed location and according to the maker’s instructions. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
Asthma sufferers should minimize their contact with animals and pets. A lot of times the hair or dander will cause an asthma attack, but even if you do not have an allergy to the pet itself they often carry pollen and dust with them.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. Information about local air quality is available in many areas so that those with asthma can reduce their outdoor exposure if irritants are within the air.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. If this doesn’t start to control your attack, get assistance right away. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
If inhaler use happens more than two times in each of your weeks, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor about this and possibly adjust your medication. This means your inhaler isn’t working right. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
Talking to other asthma sufferers, or attending a formal support group, can be a very effective way to cope with asthma. They can offer you tips about handling different situations and help you manage your asthma. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Asthma is a lung disease that is caused by environmental or genetic factors. If there are members of your family with asthma, it is important to monitor yourself as well as your children for asthma-like symptoms. Many environmental factors like smoke, pollution, dust and mold spores are known to cause asthma; it is best to avoid these hazards when possible.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.
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 or chocolate can aid in mitigating asthma attack symptoms. The caffeine constricts your blood vessels, opening up your airway.
If you are dealing with asthma it is critical you understand how to properly use an inhaler. It isn’t as simple as spraying your mouth with it and lightly inhaling air. Every time you take a puff, hold in your breath for at least three seconds and then exhale. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
If you or a member of your household has asthma, be sure to ban smoking in your home, your car and your immediate vicinity. Smokers should be required to leave the premises and put significant distance between themselves and the asthma sufferer. Heavy smokers can cause a person with asthma to have a full blown asthma attack, because they still carry the smell of smoke in their clothes.
Take the time to learn all there is to know about your affliction. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
Make sure you are annually vaccinated against the flu. Even if you are not generally affected by the cold or flu seasons, it is still a good idea to get yourself vaccinated against them. If you have asthma attacks, you have a greater chance of seriously suffering from sinus and respiratory infections of the flu.
If you read this article, you’ll learn some ways you can keep your asthma under better control. These tips, however, are only effective when you persistently apply them. Your asthma can flare up when you stop paying attention to warning signs and symptoms. Make sure that you’re always using accurate information, like the ones above to help keep your asthma under control.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you need to avoid doing exercise out in the dry, cold air. That is because bronchial airways then become dry and cool, which can trigger an asthma attack. So, if you want to exercise, do it inside unless the weather is humid and warm.