Asthma will afflict people of all ages and should be treated in a very serious manner. On top of appropriate medical advice and frequent doctor visits, you must remain aware of warning signs and things that could trigger attacks. This article provides several easy tips on making your symptoms better and reducing the likelihood of asthma attacks.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, strong cleaning products should be avoided. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. For others, physical activities can cause them. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. The functionality of your lungs can be dramatically impaired if you inhale tobacco smoke, especially in areas with little ventilation, and you run a greater risk of attack.
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. Don’t smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. Dehumidifiers eliminate your home’s humidity, leaving dry air.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Support Group
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. 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.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
Written Prescription
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. If you use it very often, you may not have it under control. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
If you have asthma, don’t stop using your inhaler unless your doctor tells you to. However, watch for infections in your gums or other mouth discomfort after using your inhaler. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Smoke is one of the primary triggers of asthma. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
Asthma Attack
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. While asthma is different than allergies, often the same types of things that bother those with allergies trigger irritation in asthmatics as well. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
Avoid smoke, if you don’t want to have an asthma attack. Inhaling smoke makes it harder for you to breathe and might result in an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
If you do have an asthma attack, make sure to stay calm. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.
Asthma sufferers should have minimal contact with animals including pets. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
If inhaler use happens more than two times in each of your weeks, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor about this and possibly adjust your medication. Frequent use may be a signal that the medication is not effective. This is also true if you are refilling your rescue inhaler prescription more than twice a year.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
Ensure that you set up regular appointments with your physician every several months in order to be updated on your condition. Your physician needs to evaluate how you are right now, and decide if any changes need to be made. You are responsible for ensuring you schedule checkups with your doctor in order for him or her to follow up on you, and ensure you remain healthy.
Avoid smoking. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. They can give you pointers and tips on what to do in certain situations, and can help you in your fight against asthma. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. Every time you spray the inhaler, deeply inhale for a couple seconds. Without proper breathing techniques with your inhaler, your symptoms will worsen.
Genetics and/or environmental factors can cause asthma. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, watch very closely for any asthma-like symptoms in yourself or your children. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.
If you end up using your inhaler more than twice a week, then you need to consult a physician and change your medication. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. This is also true if your inhaler needs refilling more than two times annually.
Try to keep your living space clean and swept. Also, wash all of your bed linens regularly. When you do, you prevent dust mite and dust buildup, which can both trigger your asthma attacks. The buildup of dust in the air is an irritant and increases the possibility of an asthmatic attack.
You should not take asthma lightly. There are many serious consequences to uncontrolled asthma, so it is important to keep it under control. This can include keeping a rescue inhaler with you at all times and reducing the allergens and dust present in your home. Follow the tips you’ve gleaned from this article, and you should be better equipped to control your asthma.
Keeping your home clean and dry is a good way to reduce attacks. Use a dehumidifier to control your home’s moisture. Keeping the humidity in your home under control, you can help reduce the occurrence of attacks at any season of the year.