Asthma strikes by making it difficult or impossible to breathe properly. It is no wonder the condition is a frightening one. Asthma attacks can occur out of the blue, and affect even people who had no reason to believe they were at risk. To figure out where asthma attacks come from and what you can do to reduce your risk and manage your asthma condition, take a look at the helpful advice below.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. This means you should stay away from all tobacco products and carefully consider the jobs you apply to, especially in factories, as you may be exposed to harmful smoke or vapors.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies that result in attacks, you can get injections of long-lasting medication for relief. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Make sure if you have an inhaler that you are using it the right way. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. After inhaling, it’s important that you hold the medication in by holding your breath for 10 seconds at the least.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. Do not smoke! It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. 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.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. You can ward off a great number of these infections by having annual vaccinations.
Cleaning Products
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
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.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. 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.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. Your primary physician should always be your first stop when dealing with asthma, but you may find it helpful to add a specialist’s knowledge. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
During the week, you should take note each time your rescue inhaler is used. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. Smoking is very bad for people who suffer from asthma, be sure not to smoke, but not to be around people that smoke.
When housecleaning, it is better to clean your floors with a damp mop than sweeping them with a broom. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. If the machine stays wet, it can breed bacteria and you’ll end up pumping harmful allergens out into the air.
Asthma sufferers need to stay inside as much as they can when the air’s pollen content is high. While asthma and allergies are separate illnesses, you’ll find that the triggers for one tend to be mirrored in the other. You can get the information about air quality in the area you are in; people who suffer from asthma should stay indoors if their air quality is low.
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. Try putting a paper bag up to your mouth and breathing into it to help slow your breaths.
If it isn’t taken care of and gotten under control, it can kill. By adhering to the advice here, you will see that asthma management is not difficult rocket science; and with a little investment of your time and energy, you can better manage your breathing and get back to a normal life.
Speaking with people in an asthmatic support group, or chatting with friends who also have asthma, can be helpful. They can provide you with advice and tips on how to better deal with fighting asthma. Surround yourself with people who understand asthma and support your fight against it.