Going through an asthma attack is a scary thing, and having to go through life with this condition is a heavy weight upon your shoulders. On the other hand, if you have some good ideas on managing your asthma, you can really increase the quality and conditions of your life. Keep reading to learn some specific strategies that can help you live a full life despite your asthma.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
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. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Some over the counter medications can irritate your asthma. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. 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.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and with power. Get the air all out of the lungs. Inhale three times with short breaths, and then on the fourth one take a deeper breath so your lungs are full of air but still comfortable. Then breath out as hard as you can again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Strive to maintain an indoor environment that is free from these pollutants, keeping the air fresh.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Flu Shot
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. A dry home will help you out a lot more. 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.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Animals are a danger to asthma sufferers who are already allergic to them, but pets also carry a wide array of dust particles and pollen, so avoiding them is a good move for anyone dealing with asthma.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. Your usual doctor will be able to help you, but you should also consider seeing a specialist. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
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. Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
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.
Asthma is a condition that cannot be ignored – you need to know how to cope with it. As you learn more about asthma and how to handle it, it will lessen the burden it places on your life. The understanding and treatment of asthma has advanced and information in this article will help improve the quality of your life.
If you’re finding that you need to use your inhaler 3 or more times a week, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching medications. This means your inhaler isn’t working right. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.