Have you been diagnosed with asthma? The tips you will find below will help you control these annoying symptoms.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
Avoid anything that can trigger your asthma. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Social Worker
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. By bringing down the humidity level, it will reduce dust mites and reduce asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. Reducing the amount of humidity in your home reduces the number of dust mites, which in turn reduces the chances of your asthma flaring up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. 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.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Asthma Attacks
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
Your home might harbor several of the major triggers of asthma attacks. These are dust, mold and spores. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These are dust, mold and spores. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. You can help keep your house safe from these harmful substances by regularly cleaning and dusting your home.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma is not curable, so it is very important that you take your medication properly and only use your rescue medication if you need it.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
The development of asthma symptoms can occur over time and they can be difficult to pinpoint and diagnose. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
Using your preventative inhaler should be done daily. It’s important to know, though, that it can cause sores and 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.
See more than one doctor. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
If you have allergies and asthma, you need to avoid using a humidifier or a vaporizer unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. Bacteria will breed rapidly due to the moisture in the machine. If you continue to use one without cleaning it correctly, you will be pushing allergens around the home, instead of the soothing humidity that you are hoping for.
This article has a ton of tips you could use to control your asthma symptoms. You must remain consistent and persistent with applying the tips found here. If you ignore the signs of an asthma attack or stop doing the things that work to keep your asthma under control, you’ll most likely start having trouble with your asthma again. Use what you have learned to guard against the symptoms of asthma.
Make certain you have checkups scheduled with your physician every few months so you keep on top of your asthma. This will allow your doctor to stay updated on your condition as it improves or weakens, and make the necessary changes to your treatments. You are responsible to schedule these appointments so you can stay healthy.