If you have recently been told you have asthma, you may feel anxious and unsure. There is no getting rid of asthma if you have the condition. That doesn’t mean you need to curl up into a ball doing nothing, for fear that doing anything else would bring on an asthma attack. This article will show you some ways you can manage your asthma in a safe manner.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. 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.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. If you smoke, try quitting. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
If your child has asthma, do not smoke cigarettes near them. One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. Cleaning products may contain chemicals which can trigger an asthmatic episode, such as ammonia. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Don’t smoke! Avoid breathing in any of the vapors or other chemical fumes. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. The prescription will help to decrease home much leukotriene is in your system and therefore, the number of asthma attacks you have.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
Make proper use of your inhaler. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. Most with asthma share common triggers, like pet dander, pollen or smoke. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. You can never tell when an attack will strike, or when your physician may have some better or safer advice for you to follow.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
A handful of primary initiators of asthma, and its attack triggers, lie right in your residence. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. 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. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
It is more critical than ever to always be prepared when you suffer from asthma. A good knowledge of how to prevent asthma attacks and how to manage your symptoms will make living with asthma easier. This article is stop number one for increasing your knowledge about asthma treatments!
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.