Living with asthma has challenges, but if you learn how to manage it, you can lead a healthy life full of activities. There are numerous things you can to do in order to stop asthma from disturbing your life. Here you will find tips on making the most out of your life with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
Asthma is a disease that is continuous. As such, it requires long-term health management. Make certain you are doing the most you can each day to keep your symptoms under control. Take the proper medications needed for everyday symptoms, and always have quick relief medication by you at all times in the event an attack occurs. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. This will force the air from your lungs. Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! 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 will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. 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, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. Do not smoke yourself, either! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins have been known to improve the function of the lungs and reduce some asthma symptoms. You can choose to ingest this vitamins by eating foods that are rich in the vitamins or through a supplement. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Make sure you are aware of what triggers your asthma so you can avoid it or prepare properly. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, try and keep the home dry. 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 suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
As seen here, there are lots of ways that you can stop or control asthma from messing up your life. Asthma does not mean the end of all you love about your life when you follow the advice above to make an effective plan.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. You can get rid of these by washing your sheets and other linens in very hot water each week. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.