Asthma, like any respiratory condition, can be extremely scary, since it interferes with your ability to take in oxygen, which is required to live. It tends to pop up at a moments notice, while also limiting the activities in your life and in some cases, even lead to death. This article not only explains some of the triggers of asthma attacks, but also details solutions for reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
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 as fast and hard as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. 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, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
Consider buying a dehumidifier for the home if you have asthma. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Cleaning Products
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. If you are using scented products like perfume, incense, or air fresheners you should up the level of air pollution in your home. New carpet and fresh paint can also emit odors that can irritate the airways. Strive to maintain an indoor environment that is free from these pollutants, keeping the air fresh.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering an asthma attack. When dusting, use a damp cloth, as feather dusters just move dust around.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. As soon as you inhale any smoke from tobacco, your lungs become sensitive, which increases your risk of an attack. Just avoid any type of smoke, especially in small areas, and keep your lungs healthy to be safe.
Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. You will breathe easier at night when you have freshly washed and clean bed linens.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
Go to several doctors. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. You’ll want to visit an asthma center, or consult with a pulmonologist to get additional help improving your lung function. In addition, you should get tested for allergies so that you can avoid allergic reactions that trigger asthma attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
If pollen is present in the air, anyone with asthma should stay inside. Asthma is not considered an allergy, but elements that cause allergies usually trigger asthma attacks too. 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.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. You can never tell when an attack will strike, or when your physician may have some better or safer advice for you to follow.
To improve your asthmatic condition, use a clean humidifier or vaporizer while you sleep. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If the attack gets worse doesn’t get better, then get help immediately. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.
Written Prescription
If you find you need your inhaler too often, more than two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your prescription. This can indicate that the inhaler you are using is not working for you. Additionally, if you must have your inhaler refilled more than two times in a year, you should consult your doctor.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
You will get a lot of support for your asthma if you join a group or just by talking with other people who have asthma. They can help you with advice on what you can do in some situations, and they can also help you with information on how to to fight your asthma. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
Identifying what triggers your asthma attacks will go a long way towards treating them. A good way to do this is to keep a small journal or notebook. Record each asthma attack and what was happening when it occurred. Discuss this information with your doctor, and he will help you to identify triggers. Once they are identified, you should make every attempt to avoid the triggers and remove them from the environment that you live in when at all possible.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
The causative factors in asthma range from environmental factors to genetic factors. Most of the time, both environment and genetics play a role in determining whether you will be impacted by this disease. If you have a family member with asthma, watch your children and yourself for asthma symptoms. Environmental conditions like mold spores, extra dust, pollution and smoke may cause asthma, so protect yourself and your kids from these hazards.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
Keep an eye on your allergy attacks and consider switching your prescription if you suffer from more than two asthma attacks a week. Most health professionals agree that having attacks more than twice a week is both dangerous and avoidable.
Be proactive in controlling your asthma with regular visits to your doctor. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. Your doctor is busy, so it’s on you to set and keep your appointments.
If you’re having an asthma attack and you’ve left the controller medicines at home, try getting a little, quick shot of some caffeine if you can. Coffee, chocolate, or strong black tea can reduce some of the asthma attacks symptoms. Caffeine constricts blood vessels so that your airways can open.
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. In general practice, in fact, it is best to avoid fumes that will likely trigger an attack.
One common and easy way to prevent asthma symptoms in the home is to keep the environment clean and dry. A dehumidifier is an easy way to moderate the moisture in your air. By evening out the humidity of your home, you will ease the severity of seasonal asthma attacks.
If not properly treated and managed, asthma may be a death sentence. 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.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it’s important to make sure that you have a plan in place for coping with an attack once it begins. This can be so important because if you come to the situation prepared, you’re much better off and able to deal with the attack.