Asthma is a very serious, potentially life-threatening disease. That is why it is important that you do whatever you can to control this condition. Use these tips to get rid of symptoms and not let it take over!
Do not smoke around a child with asthma. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Although smoking is bad for all people, it is especially worse for asthma patients because it cuts off the oxygen supply that you need in order for your lungs to function and keep away asthma attacks.
To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. It’s best to also keep your child away from places in which others will be smoking.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. For others, physical activities can cause them. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. You should not smoke! Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. Dust blown around by fans can cause your asthma to rear up. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Asthma Patients
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. 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.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.