Living with asthma is a challenge you have to face everyday. You need the proper tools to do this. Advice is plentiful; you just have to use it in your own life to reap the rewards. Read the tips below to live a full life and do what you want, even with asthma.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is a huge health risk and directly plays a role in why people develop asthma. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
If your child has asthma, do not smoke cigarettes near them. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. It’s best to also keep your child away from places in which others will be smoking.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. Do not smoke! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. For example, Omalizumab can be used to keep your allergic reactions to a minimum and your asthma under control.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
Having a fast acting inhaler is vital to save asthmatics from experiencing severe symptoms. Talk to your physician and find out if a leukotriene inhibitor would be right for you. It works to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Reducing the amount of humidity in your home reduces the number of dust mites, which in turn reduces the chances of your asthma flaring up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. You should keep your breath held for 10 seconds at a minimum to let the medicated mist fill up your lungs.
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Certain things around the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Clean your indoor air and keep it as fresh as you can.
Flu Shot
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is 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’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. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. The frequency of your inhaler use is a good way to remember to check out your environmental surroundings and be mindful of all factors relating to your asthma regimen.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. When you need to dust, do so with a damp rag instead of a feather duster so that you reduce spreading around anything that will trigger your asthma.
There are many ways to control asthma, and the tips in this article are a great place to start. Soon, you will consider dealing with asthma as a part of your daily routine and be able to focus on things that matter to you.
You should get a second opinion. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.