Do you suffer from asthma and need information? Many people have the need for some common sense tips about this illness. There are lots of people who want the straight dope about asthma, but aren’t sure what information is authoritative. The following article is written to be a helpful source of information and advice in how to control asthma and get on with living.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. Stay away from jobs that would expose you to toxic or heavy vapors, and refrain from any tobacco use.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. 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.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. 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. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
Avoid using a fan in any room that has excessive dust. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. Open some windows if you want fresh air.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
Cleaning Products
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. 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.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Make sure you get a flu shot each year if you have asthma or if your child does. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
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. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.
Support Group
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Get a second opinion. While your asthma treatment should start with your primary care doctor, visiting one or two asthma specialists can make a real difference in how well you understand and manage your condition. Nutritionists, allergists, and pulmonologists are just some of the advisers who can change your life for the better.
If you have asthma, don’t smoke. A lot of people know smoking is bad, but with asthma, it can be even worse. A person with asthma has sensitive lungs that can react adversely to smoke, causing an asthmatic attack. So an asthmatic should not even be in a room where other people are smoking.
Thoroughly Cleaned
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Immediately use your inhaler, then wait a half a minute and do so again. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Go to the hospital. If the attack is particularly bad, have a friend take you or call 911. To slow down your breathing along the way, breathe into a paper bag.
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, avoid using a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is consistently and thoroughly cleaned. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
Ensure that you set up regular appointments with your physician every several months in order to be updated on your condition. At your doctor’s visit, the doctor will evaluate your asthma and make any changes to your treatment plan if they are required. You should always keep your appointments so that your doctor can follow up on your treatment plans, and work with you to maintain your health.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
Get a flu vaccination every year. Flu vaccinations are a proactive strategy against attacks that is worth the time and effort. It is easy for an asthma sufferer to develop a sinus or respiratory illness, which can create serious complications.
You should visit your doctor regularly throughout the year, so they can keep you apprised on the status of your asthma. Your physician must check you out regularly to see if you need to do anything differently with your treatment. It is up to you to schedule these visits with the doctor so he or she can monitor your progress, and work to keep you healthy.
A dry, clean environment can help you reduce asthma attacks that happen at home. Moisture levels in the home can be maintained by the use of a dehumidifier. If you strive to keep the levels of humidity in your residence consistent, you will not have as many asthma attacks.
Eat foods rich in vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 — also called pyridoxine– can reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Vitamin B6 is essential for producing chemicals that cause lung tissue to relax. Bananas are also a wonderful source of vitamin B6.
Exercising in cold, dry air should be avoided by people with asthma. This is because when your bronchial airways become cool and dry, they can cause an asthma attack. Therefore, any strenuous exercise that you do outdoors should be in a somewhat warm, slight humid climate.
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers. Keeping a journal will help you and your doctor develop a plan to combat some of the triggers. Once they are known, do whatever it takes to prevent triggers from going off, and if possible, just wipe them out of your life and environment completely.
In managing asthma attacks, it is very important that you have a plan in how to handle it once it begins. By being properly prepared, you are better able to handle your asthma.
In summary, it is certainly normal to be inquisitive about a condition that has such a dramatic impact on your life. This article has provided essential information about asthma so that now, you can ease the stress of having this disease with knowledge. When properly managed, asthma is not nearly as imposing.
If you have asthma, or one of your loved ones does, it is crucial to let fresh air flow in the home. You should leave your doors and windows open whenever you can so that the air can circulate throughout the home. Homes that are insulated have about 200% more allergens than those that are well-ventilated. Ventilation is a good way to clean the air.