Asthma is one of a handful of medical conditions that can hugely impact your daily life. You should take necessary steps to keep it from becoming severe and out of control. The following article has tips for you to help manage and live with your asthma.
There are many different types of asthma. One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. Use natural cleaners instead of chemical cleaners to reduce your chances of asthma attacks after cleaning.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Never smoke yourself! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. Leave a room if people smoke, or ask them to stop.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. The prescription will help to decrease home much leukotriene is in your system and therefore, the number of asthma attacks you have.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Immune System
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. 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.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
Many of the biggest triggers for asthma can, and do, exist in your home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. 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. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. By breathing in cold air, it has been proven that it could trigger an asthma attack more so in children that are younger and suffer from severe to moderate asthma.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
When taking asthma medications on a plane trip, bring written medical prescriptions provided by your doctor. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should attempt to minimize your contact with cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, and noxious vapors. These can aggravate your asthma symptoms. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
Inhalers are important to use every day, but be aware that inhalers have been known to cause infections near the teeth and gums. To best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
If you have symptoms that are getting more severe, see your doctor. You can live a healthier and happier life by using the common sense advice in the article above.
Consider using more than just one doctor. The first place to consider visiting is your main doctor, but they might also be able to recommend a specialist. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.