While asthma is now affecting you, and you are freaking out, stay calm. Asthma is generally accepted to be a chronic disease that currently has no cure. An asthma diagnosis is definitely not the end of the world, though. This article offers ways in which you can effectively and safely manage asthma.
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. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. For others, it may be linked to physical exertion. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies that result in attacks, you can get injections of long-lasting medication for relief. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
Cigarette Smoke
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
If you have asthma, avoid people who are smoking. Inhaling smoke from tobacco products can compromise your lung function, which then makes you more susceptible to an attack. The risk of an attack from cigarette smoke is increased as the space you are in decreases.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
Social Worker
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. 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.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. Loading up on these vitamins will energize your immune system, aiding your body in preventing the illnesses that worsen or trigger asthma.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. When you are using a heater in winter time, you can run a dehumidifier for help controlling humidity. In the summer, running your air conditioner will allow you to keep your humidity down.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
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 way, the air will be warm before entering your lungs. Cold air can be a nuisance and breathing it has actually proven to trigger asthma attacks. This is especially true for younger children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarettes, chemicals, and anything else that may emit smoke. Things like this can make your asthma worse. If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
For those struggling with their asthma, avoiding regular contact with pets is important to control symptoms. Even sufferers not allergic to a certain animal need to remember that dust and pollen on the animals can still trigger an attack.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
It is important to track how often you use your fast-acting inhaler each week. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
Avoid smoking. A lot of people know that smoking is bad for you, but if you have asthma it is far worse. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
See a specialist. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.
You have to know the proper way to use an inhaler if you suffer from asthma. It is not as simple as spraying a little into your mouth and inhaling. Every time you use your inhaler, be sure to breathe deeply and slowly. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. If it is not clean you end up getting bacteria growth in the damp interior of the machine, and that ends up flooding the air you want to humidify with allergens.
If you have asthma, visit your doctor every three or four months so that they can help you monitor your health. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and make any changes as they see fit. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.
As you are now aware, living with asthma has to do with preparation. Knowing about your personal asthma situation and how you can effectively manage it on a daily basis is going to help you avoid crises. Reading this article has been the first important step in getting control of this disease.
Always use an appropriately-designed mask when painting to guard against breathing paint fumes. Paint fumes are especially dangerous for asthmatic people, but a mask will prevent asthma attacks efficiently. Learn what type of chemicals trigger your asthma and try to stay away from them.