Asthma is a very serious, potentially life-threatening disease. It is important to do everything you can to keep this disease under control. Use these easy suggestions to decrease your symptoms and to keep it from overtaking your life.
You should not smoke or be anywhere near smoke if you suffer from asthma. Because of this, you should avoid any kind of tobacco smoke and take any job that you want to apply for into consideration; factories could expose you to a variety of smoke, vapors and dust.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. If your child is in an area where people are smoking, remove him quickly to avoid an asthma attack.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Smoking is detrimental to anyone’s health, but those with asthma suffer especially because cigarettes lessen the oxygen supply that is crucial for the lungs to function properly and prevent an asthma attack.
Chemical Fumes
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Never breathe in chemical fumes or vapors. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. 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.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. If you cannot afford medicine for asthma, your social worker can help you locate someone that can help.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, fill the air with irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Be aware that fresh paint and new carpet also can emit harmful odors that irritate sensitive airways. Clean your indoor air and keep it as fresh as you can.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.