Do you suffer from asthma and wish you could learn more about it? You are in good company. A lot of people want to learn more about asthma, but aren’t sure where to find that kind of information. Read on to get a firm foundation of knowledge about your asthma, and find some tips and techniques you might not already know.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin is a common medication that can affect asthma sufferers. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. Do not smoke! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Not only will you breathe in rhythm, but you’ll focus more intently on how you are breathing and become aware of breathing problems. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. If you have asthma, it’s most likely triggered by things such as being around animals or pollen. Most asthmatics also can’t tolerate smoke. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. The effects of some illnesses can exacerbate the effects of your asthma, causing the need for more treatments. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
Try joining an in-person or virtual asthma support group. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These are dust, mold and spores. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
You should get a second opinion. The first place to consider visiting is your main doctor, but they might also be able to recommend a specialist. A pulmonologist, allergist, nutritionist and the staff at asthma centers can discuss a variety of treatments with you, to help you be sure you are following up on every possible good treatment available.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. Avoid all substances and chemicals which trigger problems with your asthma.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. The easiest way to get rid of these triggering agents is by washing all of your bedding using your washer’s hot setting every Sunday. The freshly laundered linens will make it easier for you to breath when you are sleeping.
Joining a network of those who suffer from asthma, or simply talking to others who suffer from the condition, can have a positive impact on you. Your support group can give you some suggestions on how deal with certain situations, and help you to fight your asthma. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
Avoid Smoking
Add more vitamin B6 to your diet. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. Vitamin B6 helps your body to produce molecules that work to relax your bronchial tissues. One common source of vitamin B6 are bananas.
Avoid smoking. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. Sensitive asthmatic lungs are easily irritated by smoke, so they need to avoid smoking and to avoid situations where there are people who smoke.
Identifying your personal triggers is one of the best ways you can learn to stop an asthma attack before it occurs. A journal is a good way to identify what has triggered an attack and provides you with a simple way to keep your doctor informed. Take active steps to minimize coming into contact with elements that trigger your asthma, to help reduce your attacks.
Educate yourself as much as you can about the asthma. When you’re educated about your asthma, you can be proactive with the treatment. Keep current with recent developments in asthma treatment and research so that you can maintain cutting edge care in your personal case. The best way to ensure this is to know as much as you can about asthma and your options for treatment.
If you have two or more attacks in a week, it is probably time to change your medication. Medical professionals generally consider two or more allergy attacks weekly to be dangerous, but completely preventable.
Joining a support group for asthma sufferers, or having a conversation with others who have asthma, is very helpful. These people can supply you with advice on how to control your asthma and its symptoms. As with anything else, having the right support system can make a difference in how asthma affects your life.
Make sure you ban any type of smoking inside your home, or any place that can harm someone in your household who suffers from asthma. People who desire to smoke should go outside or away from the individual with asthma. People who smoke could cause an attack by simply having this smoke scent on their clothes.
In wrapping up, asthma sufferers often are interested in learning more about this medical condition that they deal with everyday. Hopefully this article has provided you with some very useful advice that both explains, and advises on the intricacies of asthma. Use the advice from this article in your own life, and you just might find living with asthma is not as bad as it seems!
If your child is under age 5 and has been diagnosed with asthma, you should be watchful for signals of an attack requiring immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a severe attack include: inability to breathe or speak effectively and gasping for air. These signs mean that your child needs medical attention right away.