Asthma can get uncontrollable if it is left unchecked. Not only can asthma attacks prove severe, some are flat out fatal. You should always seek advice from medical experts, but when that’s not enough, you need to take active steps yourself. This article is filled with useful tips to help you manage your asthma.
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 should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
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.
Cigarette Smoke
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Breathe out hard and fast. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. 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.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
Never use a fan in a dirty, dust-filled room. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
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. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
You may want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier for your home if you suffer from asthma. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. After using chemical to clean, air out the house.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Also, you should keep food confined to the kitchen, and opt to smoke outdoors only. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.