Asthma is a very serious medical problem that can greatly impact your life. It is best to make sure that you follow an effective management plan to reduce the damage to your body that can result from letting your asthma get out of control. This article has many tips on managing your asthma.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Smoking is a terrible habit but it’s even worse for someone who suffers from asthma as it decreases the amount of oxygen that gets to your lungs.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. 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.
Actually Trigger
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. Open some windows if you want fresh air.
If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
Pay a visit to your physician if you feel that your symptoms are taking a turn for the worse. Also, you need to use these tips in your life when possible so you can avoid the worst of the symptoms. This will help you live a better life.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. This will keep you from breathing cold air. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.