Are you panicking because you have asthma? There is no getting rid of asthma if you have the condition. However, your life does not have to come to an end upon being told you have asthma. This guide will give you a few ways on how you can manage asthma effectively and safely.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
There are many different types of asthma. When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot of agents in cleaners tend to trigger asthma attacks and symptoms. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma and you are a smoker, it is time to quit. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Asthma Attacks
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. This can vary from person to person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab can effectively control allergy symptoms you may be experiencing and can be suggested by your local allergist if it fits your needs.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Social Worker
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for asthma sufferers. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Products with a fragrance raise the air pollution indoors, and increase the risk of an attack being triggered. Some of these products include incense, scented body sprays and air fresheners. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. These kinds of illness can inflame you asthma to a degree that a treatment increase is necessary. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
You need to know how to properly use asthma medications that are prescribed to you, especially your rescue medication, so that you are prepared if you need to use it during an emergency. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Asthma typically develops over a long time, and sometimes the symptoms aren’t very obvious. In some serious cases, people have dropped dead due to an asthma attack without ever knowing they had asthma in the first place. So, if you have a lingering cough or instances of troubled breathing, you should see a doctor to see if you might have asthma and determine whether you may need medication to either prevent or treat asthma.
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.
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. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
Try using a inhaler that prevents asthma every day, but you should know that one of the side effects is mouth infections of teeth and gums. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. 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 is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
As this article has shown, being prepared can help you to live your life despite being diagnosed with asthma. With the knowledge of your asthma type and asthma management techniques, you can avoid crises in your day to day life. Keep looking for more resources to increase your efficiency.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.