Do you suffer from asthma and wish you were more knowledgeable about this condition? You aren’t the only one! A lot of folks are curious to learn more about asthma, yet they are hindered by not knowing where to look. This article has some information that you may find surprising.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
You should avoid smoking at all costs and being exposed to vapors and perfumes if you suffer from asthma. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
Heart Disease
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. It is important to determine what triggers your asthma attacks so you can try to avoid those things.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
The symptoms of asthma might not always be apparent, but for those that suffer from the disease, the condition never goes away entirely. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. Open a window to bring clean, cool air inside instead.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. A leukotriene inhibitor prevents the formation of leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Asthma Medication
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. 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. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
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. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
The more humid your home is, the easier it is for mildew and mold to grow. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. 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.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
Do not smoke! Smoking is one of the worst things a person with asthma can do. Not only should smoking be avoided, you need to be careful to stay away from people who do smoke because it is extremely harmful and will irritate your sensitive asthmatic lungs.
In summary, it is certainly normal to be inquisitive about a condition that has such a dramatic impact on your life. This article’s purpose was to provide you with the necessary information you can use in order to ease any stress that is associated with asthma. Put the points from the preceding paragraphs into play, and you are sure to find that living with asthma is quite tolerable and manageable.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. You can get the information about air quality in the area you are in; people who suffer from asthma should stay indoors if their air quality is low.