If you’ve just been given an asthma diagnosis, you may not know what to do. Asthma is generally accepted to be a chronic disease that currently has no cure. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. This article offers ways in which you can effectively and safely manage asthma.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. If you have exercised-induced asthma, for example, you’ll want to bring your inhaler with you to the gym or other locations where you might be involved in physical activity. If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for someone with asthma. This is because your lungs and airway are already compromised by your condition.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. 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.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Never smoke a cigarette! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Never use a fan in a dirty, dust-filled room. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. Omalizumab can effectively control allergy symptoms you may be experiencing and can be suggested by your local allergist if it fits your needs.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Using products with scents, like perfume, incense and air fresheners, boosts the amount of air pollution indoors and can bring on an attack. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
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. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
Asthma often takes time to develop, the symptoms appearing slowly. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you use it very often, you may not have it under control. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
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. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Smoke can seriously affect the lungs and is a common asthma trigger. Stay away from cigarettes, chemicals, and anything else that may emit smoke. These can increase symptoms of asthma. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. Asthma suffers can now minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants and irritants by checking online for current air quality in their areas.
Someone suffering from asthma should avoid animals. While allergies to dander or animal hair can possibly complicate your asthma, even those with no such allergies can have asthma attacks by inhaling the pollen and dust animals usually carry about with them.
When painting, you should buy a protective mask if you suffer from asthma. Paint fumes can be irritating to asthma sufferers, but a mask creates a protective shield. Take similar steps to avoid any chemical or other substance that tends to trigger your asthma attacks.
See a specialist. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
A key way to manage your asthma is working to identify all of the things that trigger your attacks. 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. Once you realize what these triggers are, take measures to eliminate these things from your environment.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you are sure it’s been thoroughly cleaned. Bacteria can build up in the moisture of these machines, and get relayed into the very environment that you are attempting to make more conducive to your condition.
As you are now aware, living with asthma has to do with preparation. Knowing about your personal asthma situation and how you can effectively manage it on a daily basis is going to help you avoid crises. After reading this article, you should know how to manage your asthma better.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. You should not just stick it between your lips and spray. Every time you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe the mist in deeply and hold it for a a few moments. A rescue inhaler will not help you if you aren’t breathing it in correctly.