Living with asthma may be difficult, but if you manage it properly, it doesn’t have to prevent you from being happy, healthy and active. There are lots of ways to prevent or control asthma from messing up your life. The following article will provide you with asthma-prevention tips.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. 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.
Asthma is a chronic condition, requiring constant health management. Make sure to take the right medication for controlling everyday asthma symptoms, but also have quick relief medication with you in case of an attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your asthma so that you do not take any medications that could be harmful to you.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Hold your breath for at least 10 seconds to allow the medicated mist to fill your lungs.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Be aware that fresh paint and new carpet also can emit harmful odors that irritate sensitive airways. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Asthma Patients
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. Affording asthma medication is important for handling the illness, and social workers can find places the offer the medicine at low costs.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
You need to know how to properly use asthma medications that are prescribed to you, especially your rescue medication, so that you are prepared if you need to use it during an emergency. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
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.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. When you need to dust, do so with a damp rag instead of a feather duster so that you reduce spreading around anything that will trigger your asthma.
There are many ways to control asthma, and the tips in this article are a great place to start. Having asthma does not automatically prevent you from enjoying your life. When you monitor and treat your condition properly, you can live a great life.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.