Asthma can put you in critical condition very quickly if you aren’t careful. Asthma attacks are severe and can sometimes even be fatal. Ask for advice from qualified professionals, and be proactive in taking steps to improve your health. The following tips will help you manage your asthma symptoms and live an active lifestyle.
What type of asthma do you suffer from? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
Do not smoke around a child with asthma. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
Suffer from asthma? It is vital that you not smoke tobacco; if you do, quit. Although smoking is bad for all people, it is especially worse for asthma patients because it cuts off the oxygen supply that you need in order for your lungs to function and keep away asthma attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, even if it’s secondhand. As soon as you inhale any smoke from tobacco, your lungs become sensitive, which increases your risk of an attack. Just avoid any type of smoke, especially in small areas, and keep your lungs healthy to be safe.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The only way the inhaler will work is if your lungs get the proper amount of medication. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
Consider buying a dehumidifier for the home if you have asthma. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. 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.
Cleaning Products
Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. This helps warm the air prior to it entering 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.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. Inhaling smoke from tobacco products can compromise your lung function, which then makes you more susceptible to an attack. The risk of an attack from cigarette smoke is increased as the space you are in decreases.
Asthma develops gradually, and its symptoms may not be very noticeable. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
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. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. Any one of these things can aggravate asthma symptoms and cause an episode. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
Breathing Cold
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Asthmatics can be affected by the dander or pollen that comes from the animals, even if they have no allergies to them. This can be a very risky situation to put yourself in and should be avoided.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. Although your doctor is there to help you stay healthy and manage your asthma, your health is your responsibility. Make and keep regular doctor’s appointments so that you can keep asthma under control.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. All of those things can trigger and aggravate 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.
If you decide to paint a room in your house, purchase a mask in order to keep yourself from inhaling fumes. Paint chemicals are a powerful irritant that can cause an asthma attack if inhaled without a mask. Refrain from using any substance or chemical that aggravate your asthma.
Allergens and asthma triggers, such as dust and pollen can cling to your bed linens. You can eliminate or reduce these inducers by washing your pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
Eat foods high in vitamin B6. This vitamin, with the chemical name pyridoxine, can be helpful in controlling asthma attacks. Studies have shown attacks are less intense and less frequent when pyridoxine is added to the diet. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. Bananas are also a wonderful source of vitamin B6.
Educate Yourself
Try to maintain a clean home and well-swept floors. Make sure you wash your bedding often. When you keep everything clean, you are preventing dust and mites from building up, which will help stop asthma attacks. As the amount of dust in a home increases, the air becomes contaminated, which increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. If you educate yourself properly, you will be able to find a good treatment. Stay up to date with current treatments and make sure you have the best care possible. Make sure to explore new and different options to keep the symptoms of your condition under control.
There are some symptoms of severe asthma attacks that you should be aware of. If your child suffering from asthma manifests these systems, rush him to the ER! If they’re having a serious attack, look for increased medication use that has little or absolutely no effect and blue or grayish lips and fingernails. Speech may also become difficult.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. Your doctor needs to be able to evaluate your current situation and make any necessary changes. You have to take it upon yourself to make and keep these crucial appointments so that your doctor can assist you in managing your condition as effectively as possible.
Watch your children closely for allergic reactions when they are eating new foods. Food allergies often manifest as red, raised hives and difficulty breathing. You may also discuss allergy testing with your child’s pediatrician. These allergies could be indicative of a predisposition to asthma.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Be aware of the signs of an asthma attack, if you have an asthmatic child less than 5 years old, in order to know when professional medical care will be necessary. Serious symptoms to watch for include: gasping, difficulty speaking due to lack of air, and trying to breathe while sucking in the stomach area below the rib cage. If you see any of these symptoms, your child should get medical help immediately.