Asthma is a chronic condition that leads to difficulty breathing and can limit the types of activities you can participate in. Yet, you should keep in mind that there is much you can do to manage your asthma if you combine certain medications along with key coping strategies that you learn. This article can help you discover some of these strategies.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. A lot of these products contain harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These chemicals wreak havoc on you and can trigger an attack. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma and you are a smoker, it is time to quit. Smoking is a terrible habit but it’s even worse for someone who suffers from asthma as it decreases the amount of oxygen that gets to your lungs.
Asthma is a chronic condition, requiring constant health management. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.
When suffering a mild or even moderate asthma attack, attempt to push all air from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
If you suffer from asthma, and have many attacks that are related to your allergy symptoms, there is a medication that is injected and provides long term effects. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. After inhaling, it’s important that you hold the medication in by holding your breath for 10 seconds at the least.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Social Worker
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Be aware that fresh paint and new carpet also can emit harmful odors that irritate sensitive airways. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Having your house inspected yearly is a good way to reduce the presence of these asthma triggers. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. 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.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
Being around animals should be avoided. While allergies to dander or animal hair can possibly complicate your asthma, even those with no such allergies can have asthma attacks by inhaling the pollen and dust animals usually carry about with them.
Asthma sufferers should minimize their contact with animals and pets. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
You should have a team of medical professionals to help you craft your asthma treatment. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and also nutritionists can assist you in exploring every avenue of treatment for your asthma.
Bed Linens
Don’t panic when you have an asthma attack. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
You need to be educated in properly using your inhaler if you suffer from asthma. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s as easy as pumping lightly into your mouth. You must breathe deeply for at least a few seconds when using your inhaler. If you have asthma, there’s no way around it: you need to get familiar with the right method of using your inhaler.
Don’t smoke. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
Take the time to learn all there is to know about your affliction. If you educate yourself properly, you will be able to find a good treatment. Stay as current as you can to ensure you get the best possible care. You can only achieve this by researching your condition, as well as, the treatment options available to you.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. 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.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. Your doctor will be able to assess the effectiveness of treatments, and adjust them, if necessary. You are responsible for ensuring you schedule checkups with your doctor in order for him or her to follow up on you, and ensure you remain healthy.
Remain calm in the event of an asthma attack. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Go to the emergency room, or call an ambulance if it’s extreme. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
Eat more foods that contain vitamin B6. Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 has been demonstrated to reduce the number of asthma attacks in various studies. Vitamin B6 helps your body to produce molecules that work to relax your bronchial tissues. Chicken and carrots, as well as bananas, are two good food sources which contain vitamin B6.
If you find yourself relying on your rescue inhaler more often than twice weekly, it may be necessary to speak with your doctor about changing medication. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
Try to maintain a clean home and well-swept floors. You should also frequently launder your bedding, including your pillows. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. When dust builds up, the air becomes more and more irritating to asthma sufferers and increases the likelihood of an attack.
As mentioned, asthma is a serious disease that can endanger life if untreated and unmonitored. Ensure that you are always protected: carry your rescue inhaler and avoid allergens and high levels of air pollution. These tips can free you from the fear of asthma and help you live a normal life.
It is important to know the warning signs of an impending asthma attack so you can get medical help for your child if one strikes. Such symptoms include lips and fingernails that are turning blue and no reaction to the asthma medication. Children in the midst of a serious asthma attack may have trouble communicating their condition.