Asthma is a serious medical condition that can put huge restraints on your ability to live and enjoy life. That said, the good news is that most asthma symptoms can be brought under control so long as you take the right medication and make the proper lifestyle changes. This article condenses those techniques into a few informative paragraphs.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
Avoid anything that can trigger your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for someone with asthma. This is because your lungs and airway are already compromised by your condition.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. You have to force the air out. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Avoid anything that is known to 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 may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. Do not smoke! Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. These can trigger a severe asthma attack that can be difficult to get under control. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. Do not smoke yourself, either! Do not breathe in the vapors or any other chemical fumes. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can provoke an inflammation that causes an asthma attack. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. 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. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Go to a quiet place, and be sure to follow all instructions from the manufacturer. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. These kinds of illness can inflame you asthma to a degree that a treatment increase is necessary. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Scented products should be avoided, such as air fresheners, perfume, and incense. These can increase the amount of air pollution in the home and even trigger an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. You’ll speed up the process of going through security if you have written proof that shows that the items are necessary.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
When you are trying to prevent asthma, you should avoid smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
Stop smoking. A lot of people know smoking is bad, but with asthma, it can be even worse. Smoke irritates the lungs of an asthma sufferer, so avoid the presence of people who smoke if you have asthma.
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
If you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well humidifiers and any associated apparatus. Bacteria can build up in the moisture of these machines, and get relayed into the very environment that you are attempting to make more conducive to your condition.
Those with asthma should minimize time with pets and animals. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
If you need to use your inhaler more often than twice each week, this means your asthma isn’t adequately controlled and a medication change is required. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. Also, if you have to refill your inhaler more than twice in one year, then a visit to the doctor for a medication change is also in order.
See more than one doctor. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. You’ll want to visit an asthma center, or consult with a pulmonologist to get additional help improving your lung function. In addition, you should get tested for allergies so that you can avoid allergic reactions that trigger asthma attacks.
Learn as much as you can about asthma. The more you know about the condition, the better you can help yourself. Keep current with treatments and ensure you have the greatest possible care that you can have. The only way for you gain this knowledge would be to learn what your type of condition is and the treatment options.
As the above article has stated, asthma is very serious, and can threaten your life if you do not treat it. Never leave home without your inhaler. If there’s pollen or other allergens in the air, stay indoors as much as possible, and consider moving to an area of the country where the air is cleaner if pollution is a problem where you live. Put these tips to use, and free yourself from the constant fear of having an asthma attack.
If you have asthma, visit your doctor every three or four months so that they can help you monitor your health. Your doctor should be recording your current state as a benchmark, and making necessary changes to improve your situation if needed. It is up to you to work with your doctor at regular appointments to keep your treatment plan working.