Asthma may be a frightening experience, especially when it limits your ability to freely breathe. 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. The information here can help make it clear what triggers asthma attacks, and it can provide you with ways to manage it and keep its effects limited.
Stay away from smoking, or being around any smoke, vapors or fumes. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
Particular Asthma
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. Being aware of your particular asthma condition can help you to effectively treat it on a daily basis. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
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. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. New carpet and fresh paint can also emit odors that can irritate the airways. Aim to keep the air as fresh as possible indoors.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. It works to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a type of chemical substance which may cause inflammation and could cause an attack. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If you suffer from asthma, you should refrain from sleeping on a pillow that contains feathers. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. This extends to the rest of your bedding, as well. There are hypoallergenic comforters and sheets you can use to limit asthma symptoms.
Be certain you are aware of what triggers an asthma attack so you can avoid it, or at least be prepared to handle the symptoms. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. They are a nuisance for people with asthma; the asthma attacks they trigger require you to eliminate them. So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
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. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering an asthma attack. Dusting with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster can be a considerable help in reducing the amount of dust and other things that might start an attack.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. A pulmonologist, allergist, nutritionist and the staff at asthma centers can discuss a variety of treatments with you, to help you be sure you are following up on every possible good treatment available.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. The moist environment of a humidifier can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can irritate allergies or trigger an asthma attack.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Have someone call an ambulance for you, or have them bring you to a hospital. On your way to the hospital, breath in and out in a paper bag in order to help calm yourself and get your breathing down to a normal pace.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. The easiest way to get rid of these triggering agents is by washing all of your bedding using your washer’s hot setting every Sunday. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
It can also kill people who ignore it. If you heed the advice that this article shared with you, not only will your asthma be better managed, you will also have a greater breath capacity and a more active lifestyle.
Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. This might mean that your inhaler isn’t working enough for you. Additionally, if you must have your inhaler refilled more than two times in a year, you should consult your doctor.