If left unchecked, asthma is a condition that can spiral out of control. Attacks can be serious, even fatal, unless they are controlled. While you should continually consult your doctor with complications, it’s okay to try treatments yourself, as well. With these easy to follow pieces of advice, you can live a healthier life with asthma.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. To determine the best options for you personally, consult your physician and an allergist.
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. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
Avoid Smoking
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Avoid smoking altogether. Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Talk to a social worker if you’re not eligible for any health insurance and you’re an asthma sufferer. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. 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.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
Cleaning Products
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma symptoms. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
People who suffer from asthma should stay inside as much as they can when the pollen count is up. While asthma and allergies are separate illnesses, you’ll find that the triggers for one tend to be mirrored in the other. Given the widespread availability of air quality indices for local communities, anyone who is afflicted with asthma can easily avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure when the atmosphere has likely exacerbants floating around.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
When you suffer from an asthma attack, be sure to remain calm. You should use your inhaler immediately upon the first signs of an attack. Once you have used it, use it again 30 seconds later. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. Ask someone to drive you to the closest hospital or call an ambulance. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. You can ward off a great number of these infections by having annual vaccinations.
Finding out as much as you can about asthma is a good way to help you manage your asthma. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Keep up to date on the different treatments and always be sure to have the best possible care for yourself. You can only achieve this by researching your condition, as well as, the treatment options available to you.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. Others who suffer from asthma can give you immeasurable amounts of support and advice, and help you keep up with new medical developments.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. Your doctor needs to be able to evaluate your current situation and make any necessary changes. It is up to you to be proactive about your health and set up regular appointments with your asthma doctor to allow him or her to work with you to keep you healthy and feeling well.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. 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.
Remain watchful toward allergy attacks and change your medication if you experience more than two attacks per week. Both doctors and nurses claim having a larger number than two attacks each week can be very hazardous. This can be easily prevented.
Asthma Attacks
Try gradually strengthening yourself and increasing your lung capacity. Don’t push yourself to the point that you trigger an asthma attack.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Breathing in cold air tends to start asthma attacks, especially with younger children that have severe or moderate asthma.
Parents of asthmatic children need to pay close attention to their child’s asthma attack symptoms. This is especially true if your child is 5 or younger, as prompt professional medical care may be necessary. Asthma symptoms include: air gasping, sucking in your stomach when you are trying to take a breathe, and a hard time talking because you cannot get enough air. If you notice any of these signs, get your child immediate medical care.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Asthmatics should not go outside and engage in a workout if the air does not have a lot of moisture and is cold. What could happen is your bronchial airways become cool and dry, causing you to have an asthma attack. Always be sure that the weather is somewhat humid and warm before exercising strenuously outdoors.