Do your research to learn about asthma symptoms, treatments and the various medications used to treat this chronic disease. You aren’t the only one! Lots of people would like to get more knowledge on asthma but don’t know where to go. The following article is written to be a helpful source of information and advice in how to control asthma and get on with living.
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. 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.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. 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. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. This will force the air from your lungs. Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
If you have asthma and have frequent attacks that are related to allergies, there are medicines that can be injected to provide you with long-term relief. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Be sure to take plenty of Vitamins C and E if you have asthma. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. You can take these vitamins in pill form, or you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get the vitamins that way. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
To cut the risk of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as you can, particularly the bedroom of the person with asthma. Also, you should keep food confined to the kitchen, and opt to smoke outdoors only. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
You can join an online or offline support group. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
Emergency Medication
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Because you will have asthma for the rest of your life, it is important that you take your maintenance medication properly, and that you use your emergency medication correctly.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. These generally include dust, mold and spores. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Smoking is particularly bad for people with asthma. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
Don’t use humidifiers or vaporizers in your home until they have been rigorously cleaned, if you suffer from either asthma, allergies or both. Bacteria breeds in moist environments and can build up in dirty machines, pumping allergens into the air.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. This can indicate that the inhaler you are using is not working for you. Similarly, if you need to purchase refill inhalers more than twice a year, your medication is ineffective.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
Learn everything you can about your condition. The more you know about the condition, the better you can help yourself. Keep current with treatments and ensure you have the greatest possible care that you can have. You can easily know this information by further developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering treatment options.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
It is nothing uncommon for anyone who suffers from asthma to be curious and ask questions about how it can affect them in their life. Hopefully this article has provided you with some very useful advice that both explains, and advises on the intricacies of asthma. When properly managed, asthma is not nearly as imposing.
If you do have an asthma attack, make sure to stay calm. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.