Asthma can be a difficult condition to have to deal with. It diminishes your capacity for normal activities, like taking a simple walk. But, to make things worse, the disease is incurable and the symptoms are very hard to control. The below article provides some advice on preventing your symptoms from getting too bad.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and 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.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. Breathe out hard and fast. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Breathe in by taking three quick breaths, followed by one very deep breath. Doing this will fill your lungs completely, and allow you to expel the air forcefully again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. 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.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. If you have asthma, it’s important to prevent all respiratory infections, if at all possible. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Food should not be eaten outside of the kitchen, and there should be no indoor smoking. 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.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. They are believed to aid respiratory function and to be instrumental in keeping your asthma in check. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. Inhaling smoke from tobacco products can compromise your lung function, which then makes you more susceptible to an attack. The risk of an attack from cigarette smoke is increased as the space you are in decreases.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cool air has been known to trigger an asthma attack, particularly in very young children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Make note of how often, on a weekly basis, you use your inhaler. If you use it very often, you may not have it under control. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
Prevent Asthma
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. The freshly laundered linens will make it easier for you to breath when you are sleeping.
As stated earlier, asthma must be taken seriously. It is a medical condition with symptoms that can potentially be catastrophic. Prevent asthma symptoms and attacks whenever and however possible, and if your symptoms spiral out of control then see a doctor immediately. Use the information here, and you can prevent asthma from taking over your life.
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Call an ambulance or have someone present drive you to the nearest hospital. Try putting a paper bag up to your mouth and breathing into it to help slow your breaths.