It can seem impossible to do many physical tasks if you are one of the many who have asthma. Luckily, there are a number of ways to combat the devastating symptoms of
asthma and make life much more manageable. These suggestions are sure to give you a better idea of how to deal with asthma.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Never smoke yourself! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. These can trigger a severe asthma attack that can be difficult to get under control. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Really force that air out of your lungs! Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. You can take these vitamins in pill form, or you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get the vitamins that way. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Make sure if you have an inhaler that you are using it the right way. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. A flare-up can occur at any time, and your physician may have learned of a prescription medication that can treat your symptoms more safely and effectively.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Breathing in cold air tends to start asthma attacks, especially with younger children that have severe or moderate asthma.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. If you are using scented products like perfume, incense, or air fresheners you should up the level of air pollution in your home. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
When you fly, make sure to take along prescriptions or doctors’ notes for all of your asthma equipment and medications, especially if they are unusual. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
Asthma Attacks
Watch the pollen counts and adjust your activity accordingly to protect yourself from seasonal asthma issues. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. Air quality readings are often available locally, and utilizing this information is key in minimizing exposure to harmful airborne irritants.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
Make sure you keep calm if you are having an asthma attack. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. Breathe into a paper bag, which will reduce your breathing rate during the trip.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. It’s not enough to spray a little into your mouth and breathe softly. Breath deeply each time you push your inhaler button. Properly using your asthma inhaler is one of the most important ways you, as a person with asthma, can protect your health.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
If you suffer from asthma and have to use your inhaler in excess of two or three times per week, you should see a doctor and ask about changing your medication. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
Bed Linens
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers. A good way to do this is to keep a small journal or notebook. Record each asthma attack and what was happening when it occurred. Discuss this information with your doctor, and he will help you to identify triggers. When you know what they are, do everything possible to keep away from these triggers, and get rid of them from your surroundings whenever you can.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Asthma is a lung disease that is caused by environmental or genetic factors. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Irritants in the environment, including smoke, pollution, dust and mold, can also contribute to asthma development, so you should minimize your family’s exposure to these substances.
Understanding asthma and how it effects the respiratory system can really help you to identify the signs of an attack quickly. Whether this information helps you or a family member or a friend, you should feel comfort knowing that asthma is not the worst thing that could happen.
Remain watchful toward allergy attacks and change your medication if you experience more than two attacks per week. Two asthma attacks a week or more is very avoidable danger to your overall health.