Regardless of how long you may have had it, asthma can still be a frightening concept for you or your loved ones. You need to know all that is involved with this condition, including symptoms and preventative care, in order to be able to effectively manage it. The following article will help prepare you on how to deal with asthma, and get back to the business of living.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. Some things, such as physical exertion, can cause an asthma attack. It is important to determine what triggers your asthma attacks so you can try to avoid those things.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Social Worker
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
If someone in your home has asthma, make sure to keep a clean house, especially their bedroom so that the risk of an attack is reduced. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, you should always strive to maintain a dry home. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
When it’s colder, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler that will cover your mouth and nose to avoid asthma attacks. This way, the air will be warm before entering your lungs. Cold air can be a nuisance and breathing it has actually proven to trigger asthma attacks. This is especially true for younger children who have severe or moderate asthma.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. A yearly vaccination will help minimize the number of infections your children have to deal with.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp 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. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
If you suffer from an asthmatic condition, it is vital for you to know what triggers your attacks, and how to improve your symptoms. The advice in the article above is just a starting point to help yourself or a loved one to reduce the symptoms and cope with asthma. Working in tandem, it is possible for you to greatly ameliorate the effects of asthma on your daily existence.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.