If you have recently been told you have asthma, you may feel anxious and unsure. There is no known cure to asthma, and this condition will flare up regularly. But there is no cause to believe that you need to surrender to asthma, or that it has to take over your life. The following article will advise you of some of the measures you can take to get the symptoms of asthma under control.
Do not smoke around a child with asthma. Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
Asthmatics should not smoke. If you smoke – quit immediately. Smoking is bad in general for everyone, but it is particularly worse for asthma suffers because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the lungs, putting you at higher risk for asthma attacks.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications to manage common symptoms of asthma. In case of an attack, you need to have in your possession a medication that will provide almost instant relief. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. It is crucial that you have the proper medications for controlling asthma, as well as medication, such as a rescue inhaler to treat sudden attacks. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Having a fast acting inhaler is vital to save asthmatics from experiencing severe symptoms. Talk to your physician and find out if a leukotriene inhibitor would be right for you. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
If you suffer from asthma, and have many attacks that are related to your allergy symptoms, there is a medication that is injected and provides long term effects. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Know how to use your inhaler properly! Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Put down some new carpeting and throw up a coat of paint to get rid of indoor odors. Keep your indoor air as clean as you can.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Rescue Medication
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma is a condition traditionally treated with a combination of a regular medicine and an emergency medicinal inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.
If you have asthma, don’t stop using your inhaler unless your doctor tells you to. However, watch for infections in your gums or other mouth discomfort after using your inhaler. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. 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.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
Allergens, pollen and other irritants can collect in your linens and aggravate your asthma. You can avoid this by making sure to wash your bed linens in hot water at least once a week. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Being prepared make living with asthma much easier. You can avoid the serious complications of an asthma attack by managing your symptoms properly. This article can help you build some knowledge to fight it.
Know how to properly use your inhaler if you’ve got asthma. You cannot just spray it in your mouth and lightly inhale. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Properly using your asthma inhaler is one of the most important ways you, as a person with asthma, can protect your health.