Asthma is a dangerous medical condition that can affect all people, no matter what their age. Going to the doctor is, of course, the appropriate first step, but you should also be vigilant about paying attention to signs that may mean your condition is worsening. By following the ideas presented here, you can lessen your symptoms of asthma and reduce the chances that you will have an asthma attack.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you don’t smoke. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Speak to your physician and allergist to find out what medications are right for you.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. This will force the air from your lungs. Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Avoid breathing in any of the vapors or other chemical fumes. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Using products with scents, like perfume, incense and air fresheners, boosts the amount of air pollution indoors and can bring on an attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. An asthma attack is one possible outcome of a sweeping session that fills the air around you with allergens and dust. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
If your kid or you suffer from asthma, you should get a yearly flu shot. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
For asthma sufferers having contact with pets or other animals need to be minimized. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. 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.
Schedule regular visits with your doctor to check up on your asthma. Ideally these should occur every few months. Your physician needs to evaluate how you are right now, and decide if any changes need to be made. You are responsible to schedule these appointments so you can stay healthy.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
Support groups or talking with others who have asthma, can help you learn to live with your asthma. They can provide you with valuable tips and lessons on how to fight against asthma in many different situations. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
Asthma should never be taken lightly. Because asthma attacks can cause death, you should take steps to keep your asthma under control. Be sure that you always have the necessary equipment for preventing and treating them. If you use these tips, you will learn how to be manage your asthma and its symptoms.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. You may even want to keep an asthma trigger journal so you can discuss this with your doctor. Once you realize what these triggers are, take measures to eliminate these things from your environment.