Healthy lungs are vital to a healthy body. For asthma sufferers, however, it can be very difficult to maintain good lung health. However, you can still lead a regular normal life as an asthma sufferer. With this advice, a life with asthma won’t be so much of a burden.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot of these products contain harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These chemicals wreak havoc on you and can trigger an attack. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy unscented products. Scented products should be avoided, such as air fresheners, perfume, and incense. These can increase the amount of air pollution in the home and even trigger an attack. Certain things around the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. Sometimes, a person can die from their first asthma attack without actually knowing they had the disease to begin with! Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. While asthma is different than allergies, often the same types of things that bother those with allergies trigger irritation in asthmatics as well. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can breed in moist parts of the machine, and if it is unclean when you turn it on, it will just pump out allergens.
Asthma Triggers
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. The more you know about the condition, the better you can help yourself. In order to ensure that you are always getting the best possible care, stay abreast of new developments and up-to-date treatments. You need to learn about asthma and the treatment options available.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
Schedule regular visits with your doctor to check up on your asthma. Ideally these should occur every few months. Your doctor can check to see if your condition has changed, and if it has, update your treatment plan. Your doctor is busy, so it’s on you to set and keep your appointments.
Paying attention to useful advice, whether it comes from a doctor or simply a helpful article like this one, can make your long-term relationship with your asthma problems a much more civil one. Medications and new techniques are in development all the time, and before long asthma will be something we can handle with ease.
Include more vitamin B6 foods in your diet. Research has shown that by increasing the amount of vitamin B6, sometimes referred to as pyridoxine, individuals can reduce how often they suffer asthma attacks. At minimum, it can help lower the intensity of attacks. Pyridoxine is essential because it produces certain substances that relax bronchial tissues. One common source of vitamin B6 are bananas.