You may be scared after finding out that you have asthma. There is no cure for asthma, as it is a chronic disease. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. This guide will give you a few ways on how you can manage asthma effectively and safely.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
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. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Some of these include aspirin and NSAIDs. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. Open some windows if you want fresh air.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. Not only will you breathe in rhythm, but you’ll focus more intently on how you are breathing and become aware of breathing problems. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
A leukotriene inhibitor can be helpful if you have asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers eliminate your home’s humidity, leaving dry air.
Cleaning Products
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Clean your indoor air and keep it as fresh as you can.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. 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.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. 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.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
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.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Some asthma sufferers are allergic to animal fur or dander on top of their asthma, but even those who don’t have such an allergy can bring on an attack if they breathe in too much of these irritants.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Grab your inhaler and use it, then wait to see if it helps. If not, then use it again in thirty seconds. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathe into a paper bag, which will reduce your breathing rate during the trip.
Get a second opinion. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. The fumes from the pain can irritate your asthma. By using a mask, you will keep yourself from inhaling the majority of these fumes. In general practice, in fact, it is best to avoid fumes that will likely trigger an attack.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. While smoking is a dangerous habit in general, it is far more damaging to those who have asthma. Your lungs could become very irritated if you smoke, and you should avoid being around others that are smoking.
Talking to other asthma sufferers, or attending a formal support group, can be a very effective way to cope with asthma. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. These days, information about the quality of local air is readily available, so people with asthma can avoid spending time outside when the air is full of things that irritate their lungs.
As seen here, it is important that you are prepared in order to manage asthma. By understanding this disease and how to manage it, you can keep it from escalating into a crisis situation. This article will help you build your knowledge so you can effectively combat asthma.
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, avoid using a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is consistently and thoroughly cleaned. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.