Asthma is a serious health condition present in all age groups and all different backgrounds. Always be aware of warning signs and certain environments that may worsen your symptoms. By avoiding things and places that bother your system, and by seeing a professional about your asthma, you will be better able to prevent an attack. This article contains several simple suggestions to help you better handle your asthma and lower the chances of an asthma attack.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
Ensure your child is never around smoke to handle their asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
Cleaning Products
Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. If you have the job of cleaning your house, you should safer, natural products.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. 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.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
Make proper use of your inhaler. An inhaler is most effective if used in a relaxed location and according to the maker’s instructions. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. 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. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
Chemical Fumes
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. Leave a room if people smoke, or ask them to stop.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. Organic cleaning products should be selected due to their lack of irritating chemicals.
A handful of primary initiators of asthma, and its attack triggers, lie right in your residence. These are dust, mold and spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. Protect yourself against allergens, dust mites and fungus to avoid exacerbating your asthma symptoms. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. During winter time, use a dehumidifier if necessary to control humidity while running your heater, and use your air conditioner during summer months to keep air dry.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is generally treated with a rescue medication, usually an inhaler, in addition to a regularly-taken maintenance medication. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Use your inhaler when you need to, but be aware that this product can cause infections near your gums and teeth. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
Remain calm if you do happen to come under an asthma attack. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Have someone take you to a hospital, or if necessary call an ambulance. Breathe into a paper bag for assistance in slowing your breathing during the trip to the hospital.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. If you have asthma, there’s no way around it: you need to get familiar with the right method of using your inhaler.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, make sure to have with you any written doctors prescriptions, especially when carrying some large asthma equipment like a nebulizer. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
Consume more foods which contain vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. Pyridoxine is instrumental in producing certain molecules that help to relax bronchial tissue. Chicken and carrots, as well as bananas, are two good food sources which contain vitamin B6.
Asthma is a serious medical condition that should not be underestimated. Take every precaution you can to keep your asthma in control, because asthma attacks can actually be lethal. Make sure you always take an inhaler with you and stay away from what triggers your attacks. Hopefully, by using these tips, you will have your symptoms better and have control over your asthma.
Keep your home as clean and dust free as possible. Additionally, you will want to wash your blankets, pillows and sheets often. If you do this, it keeps dust mites and dust from building up and triggering asthma attacks. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.