Asthma can be very limiting, especially if you do not have a proper way to prevent attacks. That is why it is important that you do whatever you can to control this condition. Use these simple ideas to manage your asthma symptoms and regain your life.
What triggers your asthma? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. 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.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
If you are suffering from asthma, stay away from any type of cigarette smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Do not breathe in the vapors or any other chemical fumes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. Open some windows if you want fresh air.
Chemical Fumes
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. Leukotriene is a type of chemical substance which may cause inflammation and could cause an attack. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Smoking is off limits. Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
Consider buying a dehumidifier for the home if you have asthma. 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. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. When you inhale tobacco smoke, the lung’s function can be decreased, and you will increase the chance you have an asthma attack. Smaller areas without proper ventilation make you even more susceptible to an attack.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. 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.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, 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.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
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.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
If you have asthma, schedule checkups ever few months with your doctor to stay on top of your condition. Your doctor can check to see if your condition has changed, and if it has, update your treatment plan. It is up to you to schedule these visits with the doctor so he or she can monitor your progress, and work to keep you healthy.
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.
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. They can provide you with valuable tips and lessons on how to fight against asthma in many different situations. Support given by those around you who are also afflicted with asthma can really make all the difference.