Asthma can restrict your daily lifestyle, or even be a threat to your life without the knowledge you need to control it. It’s important that you take all steps necessary in order to properly manage this affliction. You can use the following tips to take control of your life and not let asthma control it any longer.
If you suffer from asthma, you should not smoke or expose yourself to any type of vapors or fumes. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Some of these include aspirin and NSAIDs. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. 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.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. You should not smoke yourself! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. Do not be alarmed if you cough or generate excess mucous; this is perfectly normal. Your only concern is to return your breathing to normal.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. It works to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. While inhaling air, spray required dosage in your mouth. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
Cleaning Products
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. New carpet and fresh paint can also emit odors that can irritate the airways. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products which don’t contain irritating chemicals.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. When possible, stay away from triggers of asthma symptoms in an effort to prevent a severe attack.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
If you’re flying with asthma medications, be sure you get a prescription from your physician. Having proof that it belongs to you and is medically necessary will make the security check easier.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Cigarette smoke will often trigger an asthma attack. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Even sufferers not allergic to a certain animal need to remember that dust and pollen on the animals can still trigger an attack.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria breeds in moist environments and can build up in dirty machines, pumping allergens into the air.
When taking asthma medications on a plane trip, bring written medical prescriptions provided by your doctor. Having evidence from a doctor that the medication is necessary for your health will greatly help with security at the airport.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s as easy as pumping lightly into your mouth. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Do all you can to educate yourself about asthma. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and also nutritionists can assist you in exploring every avenue of treatment for your asthma.
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. Paint can aggravate asthma, but a mask can combat the irritation because it forms a shield between your nose and the environment. Refrain from using any substance or chemical that aggravate your asthma.
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.
If you get at least two attacks a week, it might be time to try a different medication. Asthma attacks are often preventable; there is no reason for anyone to have more than one attack per week, if any. These attacks can be fatal, so you want to reduce them as much as possible.