Asthma is a little scary to deal with because it creates trouble with the way you breathe. Asthma attacks can occur out of the blue, and affect even people who had no reason to believe they were at risk. The following article is intended to give some tips to help an asthma sufferer get a better handle on their condition. Many active people lead active lives while dealing with asthma.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Asthma can cause increased sensitivity to the ingredients contained in many cleaning products. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. Really expel the air from your lungs! Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. It also will push all of your air out of the lungs so that you can get more air in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. Affording asthma medication is important for handling the illness, and social workers can find places the offer the medicine at low costs.
If you find yourself in a room that is dusty, don’t turn on any kind of fan. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. Open a window instead to get the air flowing.
Respiratory Infection
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Products that contain strong scents, like incense, perfume, or air freshener can trigger an asthma attack just by lingering in the air. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. 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.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. 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.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
Consult with more than one physician. Although your primary doctor can treat your asthma, a specialist may be able to provide further help. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Learn as much as you can about asthma. The more you know about asthma, the more proactive a treatment you can devise for yourself. Keep up with the latest asthma news and see to it that you’re getting the best possible care. Make sure to explore new and different options to keep the symptoms of your condition under control.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. They can help you with advice on what you can do in some situations, and they can also help you with information on how to to fight your asthma. As with anything else, having the right support system can make a difference in how asthma affects your life.
If it isn’t taken care of and gotten under control, it can kill. When you follow these handy tips, you will be able to control your asthma and enjoy everyday activities (such as breathing) to the fullest!
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. If you aren’t sure what causes your asthma to act up, keep a journal. Write down what you were doing and where you were just prior to each attack. Bring your journal to your doctor’s office during each appointment so that she can help you figure out your asthma triggers. After you figure out what your triggers are, do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.