Asthma is a dangerous condition that has the potential to seriously affect your life. It is important to take proactive measures to get asthma under control before you experience a critical event that puts you in the hospital. This article contains much-needed advice on different strategies to help you manage your asthma.
You should avoid smoking and any type of fumes if you suffer from asthma. This means you should stay away from all tobacco products and carefully consider the jobs you apply to, especially in factories, as you may be exposed to harmful smoke or vapors.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. This includes all tobacco products, and you also need to be careful if you are going to apply for a job in a factory or where you have the potential to be exposed to vapors and harmful smoke.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Really force that air out of your lungs! Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. 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.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. Smoking is off limits. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Asthma Symptoms
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. 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.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Support Group
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
You can join an online or offline support group. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. A support group will help you have a good time and forget about your condition once in a while, as well as as keep you informed about the latest innovations.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These can include dust, mold and spores. To reduce asthma attacks and stay healthy, have an inspector remove any harmful agents yearly. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your 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. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. 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.
Contact with animals and pets should be avoided for asthma sufferers. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
Written Prescription
You should not use a vaporizer or humidifier if you have asthma or allergies unless you are sure that it is clean. The moist environment of a humidifier can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can irritate allergies or trigger an asthma attack.
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. By being educated, you can treat your symptoms much more effectively. Remain current on the latest treatment techniques and be certain to receive the very best professional assistance you can. You need to learn about asthma and the treatment options available.
If you believe that your symptoms are becoming much worse, make sure you see your doctor. More importantly, you should apply these tips whenever possible, to keep the symptoms down and hopefully, improve your quality of life.
Ensure your house is clean and tidy. Washing sheets, blankets or pillows regularly can also help. By keeping these items clean, you avoid any dust buildup which attracts dust mites, a typical trigger of asthma attacks. Built up dust makes the air irritating and increases the chances of an asthma attack.