When you’re having an asthma attack, you may have a lot of trouble breathing. This can terrify you even if you’ve had an attack before and know what’s going on. Not only does an attack usually occur suddenly, it can be fatal and constantly limits your quality of life. Read this article to gain some understanding of the causes behind asthma attacks and what to do to manage your asthma. You can learn to manage your asthma rather than letting it control the range of activities you choose to participate in.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
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 as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Really force that air out of your lungs! Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. This can vary from person to person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
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.. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
Keep your home meticulously clean to reduce attack potential if there is an asthma sufferer living there, especially the bedroom. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Avoid these things when you can to breathe easier.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. After using chemical to clean, air out the house.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Make sure you get a flu shot each year if you have asthma or if your child does. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These include mold, dust and spores. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
The more humid your home is, the easier it is for mildew and mold to grow. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. 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.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
When you fly, make sure to take along prescriptions or doctors’ notes for all of your asthma equipment and medications, especially if they are unusual. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
Use a mop that’s wet to clean your floors instead of a broom. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. While allergies from animals can complicate asthma, those without allergies can get asthma attacks from dust or pollen that the animals carry.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. Any inhalant, which is irritating, can trigger an asthma attack! If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
Don’t smoke. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Smoke can severely irritate an asthma sufferer’s lungs; so, if you do suffer from asthma, stay away from both smoking and being around smoke in general.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Try taking inhaled medication to get your asthma back under control. Breathe the medication in as deeply as you can. Take two doses, timed 30 seconds apart, before determining whether the medication is working. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. Inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag can slow your breathing while en route.
It can also kill people who ignore it. By applying the insights in this article to your life, you are able to manage your condition for easier breathing and a more active life.
Go to your doctor a few times every year to check up on your asthma, and ensure that it is being managed effectively. Your doctor can check to see if your condition has changed, and if it has, update your treatment plan. Your doctor is busy, so it’s on you to set and keep your appointments.