Do you suffer from asthma and need information? You’re not the only one. A lot of people want to know a lot more when it comes to asthma, but they don’t know where to look for this type of information. Read the article below for lots of asthma information.
If you suffer from asthma, strong cleaning products should be avoided. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your asthma so that you do not take any medications that could be harmful to you.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Move to a quiet area, and then simply follow manufacturer’s instructions. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Inhale air while spraying the necessary amount of medication into your mouth. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Asthma Triggers
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Make a special effort to avoid agents that bring on even minor asthma symptoms, much less a major attack.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. 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.
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
Support Group
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. Because asthma does not get cured, those afflicted with it must continue to take their regular medication and use their rescue inhaler when needed.
Join an online or offline support group. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. 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.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
When you fly, make sure to take along prescriptions or doctors’ notes for all of your asthma equipment and medications, especially if they are unusual. If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. One effective way in preventing these side effects and problems is to brush and gargle right away after you use your inhaler.
Inhalers are important to use every day, but be aware that inhalers have been known to cause infections near the teeth and gums. You may be able to avoid this problem by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth thoroughly after each use of the inhaler.
Keep in mind that mopping your floors with a wet mop will cause less asthma problems than sweeping will. An asthma attack is one possible outcome of a sweeping session that fills the air around you with allergens and dust. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using 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. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
Allergens, pollen and other irritants can collect in your linens and aggravate your asthma. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
Use a mop that’s wet to clean your floors instead of a broom. When you sweep, you are stirring up asthma triggers that can cause you to have an asthma attack. When you dust, try dampening a rag, instead of a feather duster, to avoid spreading things that can trigger your asthma.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. 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. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
Finding out as much as you can about asthma is a good way to help you manage your asthma. By being educated, you can treat your symptoms much more effectively. Keep up with the latest asthma news and see to it that you’re getting the best possible care. You can only properly treat the condition once you gain knowledge about it and the treatments that are available.
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
Eat a lot of foods that have vitamin B6. In many studies, it has been shown that vitamin B6 (which is also called pyridoxine) decreases the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Vitamin B6 is essential for producing chemicals that cause lung tissue to relax. You can find good reserves of vitamin B6 in bananas.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. The fumes from the pain can irritate your asthma. By using a mask, you will keep yourself from inhaling the majority of these fumes. Avoid all substances and chemicals which trigger problems with your asthma.
You need to identify your particular triggers so that you can prevent an asthma attack. Consider keeping a journal to help you identify possible asthma triggers and discuss the results with your doctor. Once you realize what these triggers are, take measures to eliminate these things from your environment.
Over time you should work to strengthen your body and increase the capacity of your lungs. If you think the physical exertion will be too much for your asthma, it likely is.
If you have an asthma emergency but you don’t have your inhaler on hand, try using caffeine as a substitute. Strong tea, coffee, or chocolate can give you some caffeine to help the asthma attack. It works because it opens your airways by constricting your blood vessels.
Serious Asthma Attack
It’s vital that you have a plan for handling asthma attacks. This is important because as long as you are prepared, then you are in a much better situation to deal with asthma.
Know the symptoms of a severe asthma attack so you will know when to seek immediate medical attention for your child. If your child is experiencing a serious asthma attack, you will see: increased use of medication with little or no effect, gray or bluish fingernails and/or lips. Children in the midst of a serious asthma attack may have trouble communicating their condition.
For sufferers of asthma, always keep a clean home environment, allowing for good health. To keep allergens contained in the home, make sure you vacuum often. It is advised that asthma sufferers should install central vacuuming system that will remove any allergens from the house. Most central vacuuming systems vent directly to the outside, helping to remove allergens from the air.
In sum, it’s normal for patients with asthma to want to learn more about managing their condition. Now that you’ve read this article, you’re aware of important information that will help you cope with the problems asthma causes. Put the points from the preceding paragraphs into play, and you are sure to find that living with asthma is quite tolerable and manageable.
If you suffer from asthma, open the window when cooking meals that release a large amount of smoke. Smoke from cooking can trigger your asthma and cause an attack. If the open windows don’t completely clear the smoke, go outside in the fresh air until all of the smoke is gone.