It can seem impossible to do many physical tasks if you are one of the many who have asthma. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options that can take the fear out of everyday living. The ideas here for how to handle asthma can give you some piece of mind.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
If your child or another loved one suffers from asthma, you should be sure to never smoke cigarettes when you’re near them. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Breathe out hard and fast. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
Cigarette Smoke
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. If you smoke, try quitting. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. Open a window to bring clean, cool air inside instead.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. So, if you have a lingering cough or instances of troubled breathing, you should see a doctor to see if you might have asthma and determine whether you may need medication to either prevent or treat asthma.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can provoke an inflammation that causes an asthma attack. This inhibitor can prevent leukotrienes, which makes you less likely to have an asthma attack.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. 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.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
When you are removing dust or crumbs from your floor, you should use a vacuum or damp mop to avoid scattering dust in the air. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
You can be more confident in how you handle your asthma now that you’ve read this article and have a better understanding of asthma triggers and treatments. This advice demonstrates that you or someone you love can live a a full and happy life despite having asthma.
Anyone with asthma needs to avoid all types of smoke when trying to decrease asthma attacks. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.