Asthma is a very serious, potentially life-threatening disease. Do your best to manage your condition. You can manage your asthma and reduce your symptoms by applying the tips below.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. 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 all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
Cleaning Products
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. You should not smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. These kinds of illness can inflame you asthma to a degree that a treatment increase is necessary. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Those who experience asthma are susceptible to some common things like pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
It’s been proven that you should use no more than four cleaning products in the home. If you do it can increase the risk of asthma attacks. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, be sure to get flu shots every year. This is doubly important for asthmatic children. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, you should always strive to maintain a dry home. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. To best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.