Asthma is a serious health condition present in all age groups and all different backgrounds. In addition to going to the appropriate medical experts, you should always watch out for several warning signs that could worsen your symptoms. This article has some suggestions that will help you learn to improve your asthma and lower your chances of having an asthma attack.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
What kind of asthma do you have? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. This can move the dust around and can trigger an attack easily. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Asthma Symptoms
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Use the inhaler the right way. Go to a quiet place, and be sure to follow all instructions from the manufacturer. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
If you have asthma and do not have health insurance, you should consider seeing a social worker. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Never smoke yourself! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. You can take these vitamins in pill form, or you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get the vitamins that way. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
If you suffer from asthma, make sure that you consume enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Put down some new carpeting and throw up a coat of paint to get rid of indoor odors. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Make sure you are aware of what triggers your asthma so you can avoid it or prepare properly. Asthma sufferers generally have different triggers in common like pollen, pet dander and smoke. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
Asthma Attacks
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. A dry home will help you out a lot more. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
You do not want to take asthma lightly. Asthma attacks can accelerate and spin into life-threatening situations, even with an inhaler in hand, so you should take every precaution to prevent them in the first place. For example, always keep with you an inhaler which is good should you suffer from an attack. Also, lessen the amount of allergens and airborne dust in your home. Hopefully, by following these tips, your symptoms will get better and you will be able control your asthma.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.