Asthma can be a frightening thing to go through, whether you are suffering from it or it is someone you love. If you want to properly manage your situation well, educate yourself as to what asthma is, does, and entails. Read this article for useful tips about preventing and managing asthma.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. This includes all tobacco products, and you also need to be careful if you are going to apply for a job in a factory or where you have the potential to be exposed to vapors and harmful smoke.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. It’s best to also keep your child away from places in which others will be smoking.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. It’s best to also keep your child away from places in which others will be smoking.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. 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. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Inhale in a series of three, or three shallow breaths and one deep breath. After your lungs are filled with air, forcefully exhale again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. It may cause you to cough or even generate sputum, but that’s fine, you goal is for your breathing to get back to normal.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Breathe out fast and hard. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! 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 gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
Proper Amount
It is crucial that you stay away from all types of cigarette smoke if you suffer from asthma. You should not smoke yourself! Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This can set off an Asthma attack that you might not be able to stop. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a spot that is out of the way, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. The only way the inhaler will work is if your lungs get the proper amount of medication. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Hold your breath at least ten seconds, so that the medicated mist can fill your lungs.
Talk to a social worker if you’re not eligible for any health insurance and you’re an asthma sufferer. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
An increased propensity for asthma attacks has been linked with the utilization of multiple cleaning products. The more you use, the greater the risk of an attack. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Try organic cleaners that are free of irritating chemicals.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Flu Shot
Be knowledgeable about the factors that cause asthma attacks in order to avoid the triggers or develop a plan for managing the symptoms of asthma. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
Maintenance Medication
Avoid smoke, if you don’t want to have an asthma attack. The inhalation of smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. So do whatever you can to stay away from vapors, chemical fumes and smoke from cigarettes. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. Ask any smokers not to smoke in your presence.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Because you will have asthma for the rest of your life, it is important that you take your maintenance medication properly, and that you use your emergency medication correctly.
Someone suffering from asthma should avoid animals. Asthmatics can be affected by the dander or pollen that comes from the animals, even if they have no allergies to them. This can be a very risky situation to put yourself in and should be avoided.
As you have read, there is quite a bit to know about asthma. This article contains just a sampling of hints that are helpful for managing asthma, or to help a friend or family member with the disease. Working in tandem, it is possible for you to greatly ameliorate the effects of asthma on your daily existence.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. Although your primary doctor can treat your asthma, a specialist may be able to provide further help. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.