Have you been diagnosed with asthma and wonder what this means? You are in good company. Although many people are interested in learning about asthma, they are not sure where to get it from. What you’re going to read in this article might surprise you.
It is vital that neither you, nor anyone else, smoke around a child with asthma. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. Make your exhalations quick and forceful. Really expel the air from your lungs! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Smoking is detrimental to anyone’s health, but those with asthma suffer especially because cigarettes lessen the oxygen supply that is crucial for the lungs to function properly and prevent an asthma attack.
Use your inhaler as directed. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
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. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. If you cannot afford medicine for asthma, your social worker can help you locate someone that can help.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. Your physician may even recommend that you take additional medication until you recover.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Be prepared for your asthma treatment to be increased if you have a cold or hay fever. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Asthma Attacks
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 up before you breathe it into your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Bed linens often collect asthma aggravators, such as pollen, dust and allergens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Asthma typically develops over a long time, and sometimes the symptoms aren’t very obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. 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.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. You’ll speed up the process of going through security if you have written proof that shows that the items are necessary.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. Immediately use your inhaler, then wait a half a minute and do so again. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
In wrapping up, asthma sufferers often are interested in learning more about this medical condition that they deal with everyday. The purpose here was to show you critical asthma advice that you can hopefully use, to alleviate the stress that this condition provides. When properly managed, asthma is not nearly as imposing.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. It is not as simple as spraying a little into your mouth and inhaling. Every time you use your inhaler, be sure to breathe deeply and slowly. If you are having trouble using it correctly, ask your doctor for help at your next visit.