Do you have asthma and feel like you wish you knew more about this condition? You aren’t the only one! There are lots of people who’d like to learn about asthma, but they are unsure of where to look for information. In this article, you’re going to learn information that might possibly surprise you.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
You should ensure that every family member in your household gets a flu vaccine yearly. If you have asthma, it’s important to prevent all respiratory infections, if at all possible. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. Dust blown around by fans can cause your asthma to rear up. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Food should not be eaten outside of the kitchen, and there should be no indoor smoking. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. The effects of some illnesses can exacerbate the effects of your asthma, causing the need for more treatments. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. 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 remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
Make sure you are aware of what triggers your asthma so you can avoid it or prepare properly. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. 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. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. This extends to the rest of your bedding, as well. There are hypoallergenic comforters and sheets you can use to limit asthma symptoms.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. When you are using a heater in winter time, you can run a dehumidifier for help controlling humidity. In the summer, running your air conditioner will allow you to keep your humidity down.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
A handful of primary initiators of asthma, and its attack triggers, lie right in your residence. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. Conscientious house-cleaning can help prevent buildup of substances in your home that might trigger an asthma attack.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
In conclusion, asthma patients are usually curious about their disease since it affects their daily life. This article laid out some useful strategies designed to make living with asthma at least tolerable, and hopefully a breeze. Apply this advice to your life, and you may find that having asthma is not so bad!
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.