Asthma is considered to be a medical condition that is very serious and may cause limitations on how you live and appreciate 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.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. 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 method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Many of the biggest triggers for asthma can, and do, exist in your home. These include dust, mold and spores. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Never use a fan in a dirty, dust-filled room. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Cigarette smoke will often trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from chemical fumes, vapors, and cigarette smoke at all times. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. You will breathe easier at night when you have freshly washed and clean bed linens.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
Go to several doctors. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and nutritionists can help you take advantage of the many treatments available to those with asthma.
Asthma Attacks
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. There is a general awareness that smoking is not good for your health. But for the asthmatic, smoking can quickly have serious consequences. It can irritate sensitive lungs. People with asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also avoid other people while they are smoking.
When the weather starts to turn colder, wear a scarf or shawl that covers your mouth and nose to help prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
Sufferers from asthma should stay indoors when the pollen count rises. While asthma and allergies are separate illnesses, you’ll find that the triggers for one tend to be mirrored in the other. Since data on air quality is now widely published, those with asthma have the ability to avoid being outside when concentrations of irritants are high.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
You need to know how to properly use your inhaler if you have been diagnosed with asthma. It isn’t as simple as spraying your mouth with it and lightly inhaling air. When you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe in as deeply as you can for two to three seconds. Proper techniques with your inhaler will keep your symptoms from increasing out of control.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. If you in the company of someone who smokes, politely ask him to refrain when you are near.
If you’re finding that you need to use your inhaler 3 or more times a week, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching medications. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
If you decide to paint a room in your house, purchase a mask in order to keep yourself from inhaling fumes. Paint could irritate asthma greatly, but using a mask will act as a protective shield needed to fight this issue. Avoid specific chemicals and substances that could worsen your asthma.
Get a second opinion. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
Vitamin B6 intake should be increased in order to help control asthma. Vitamin B6, aka pyridoxine, is found to reduce asthma attack frequency in a lot of studies. This substance helps your body produce the molecules needed to relax the tissues of the bronchial tubes. One common source of vitamin B6 are bananas.
Don’t smoke. A lot of people know smoking is bad, but with asthma, it can be even worse. Smoke is very irritating to sensitive lungs, so take care not to smoke or be around others who are.
One thing that you must do is figure out what triggers your asthma attacks. Keeping a journal will help you and your doctor develop a plan to combat some of the triggers. After you figure out what your triggers are, do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.
As stated, asthma that goes untreated can lead to a fatal respiratory illness. Always have an emergency rescue inhaler around you at all times and stay away from your triggers. The advice in this article will help you to control you asthma symptoms, and get your life back.
Asthma can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or a little bit of both. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, watch very closely for any asthma-like symptoms in yourself or your children. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.