When asthma makes it hard to breathe, the impact on your ability to participate in your regular activities is enormous. Don’t let asthma control your life. You can still participate in daily activities and live fully despite this disease. Heed the excellent advice laid out here, so it is possible to cope well with asthma.
Are you informed about what type of asthma you suffer from? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you don’t smoke. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
If you have asthma and have frequent attacks that are related to allergies, there are medicines that can be injected to provide you with long-term relief. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. An annual visit by a professional inspector can help keep your home free from these agents, and reduce the likelihood of an attack. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Keep the air inside your home clean and fresh, and free of any asthma triggers.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. 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. Because asthma does not get cured, those afflicted with it must continue to take their regular medication and use their rescue inhaler when needed.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
The development of asthma symptoms can occur over time and they can be difficult to pinpoint and diagnose. Some people have even died from having an asthma attack, and they didn’t even know they had asthma. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
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. Asthma sufferers generally have different triggers in common like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
Asthma Attack
Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. Dusting can actually just move the dust around, sending particles into the air, and into your lungs triggering an asthma attack, so try wiping things down with a damp cloth to minimize the amount of allergens you are exposed to.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. If you have asthma, you could have serious health complications from smoking. It can irritate sensitive lungs. People with asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also avoid other people while they are smoking.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. It isn’t as simple as spraying your mouth with it and lightly inhaling air. Make sure when you spray your inhaler that you take in deep breaths for short periods of time. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
Using your preventative inhaler should be done daily. It’s important to know, though, that it can cause sores and infections near your gums and teeth. You may be able to avoid this problem by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth thoroughly after each use of the inhaler.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. This means that the medication in your inhaler is not working well enough. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
Learn as much as possible about asthma. When you’re educated about your asthma, you can be proactive with the treatment. Look into cutting-edge treatments, and seek the best medical care you can find. You need to learn about asthma and the treatment options available.
Bed linens attract things that cause asthma attacks. Use fresh linens to make up your bed on a regular basis. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
Managing your asthma is a lifelong task, but it gets easier every day as long as you stay informed and follow good advice and habits, from your doctor or the tips contained here. Look into new findings, and perhaps new medications and treatments as research progresses.
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. The fumes from paint can easily cause your asthma to flare up. Having a mask will help you to prevent this. Do not go use certain chemicals that will make your asthma worse.