Asthma is a very serious illness than can restrain you from enjoying life. That said, the good news is that most asthma symptoms can be brought under control so long as you take the right medication and make the proper lifestyle changes. In this article you can learn some of these strategies.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. You want to force all of the air 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 will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
If you have asthma, you should definitely avoid smoking or being exposed to any kind of fumes or vapors. Stay away from jobs that would expose you to toxic or heavy vapors, and refrain from any tobacco use.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. Refrain from smoking! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. 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. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
Cleaning Products
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor prevents the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can cause asthma attacks by causing inflammation. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
Social Worker
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These are dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. These can very easily cause an attack. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. 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.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially 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 asthma can be a lifelong issue, it is vital to take both regular and rescue medications according to the instructions.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
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 effective way in preventing these side effects and problems is to brush and gargle right away after you use your inhaler.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. Sometimes, a person can die from their first asthma attack without actually knowing they had the disease to begin with! 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.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
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. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoke can cause you to have an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma symptoms. Ask any smokers not to smoke in your presence.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. Bacteria could breed in this moist environment and get into the air once you turn the humidifier on.
Consider using more than just one doctor. Your usual doctor will be able to help you, but you should also consider seeing a specialist. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s as easy as pumping lightly into your mouth. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. Follow the instructions on your inhaler exactly to get the most benefit.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you are sure it’s been thoroughly cleaned. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. Your physician needs to have the opportunity to see what is happening with you, and alter your treatment plan if necessary. You have to take it upon yourself to make and keep these crucial appointments so that your doctor can assist you in managing your condition as effectively as possible.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Calmly use the inhaler. Use it again after 30 seconds has elapsed. 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. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
Always wear a face mask, if you are going to do any painting, in order to protect your airways from the fumes. Not surprisingly, paint fumes are a known irritant for asthma. Specially designed masks can filter out these fumes. Take similar steps to avoid any chemical or other substance that tends to trigger your asthma attacks.
As discussed previously, unchecked asthma can threaten your health and your happiness. Never leave home without your inhaler. If there’s pollen or other allergens in the air, stay indoors as much as possible, and consider moving to an area of the country where the air is cleaner if pollution is a problem where you live. These tips will help you to conquer asthma and restore to you a more normal life.
Attending a support group of asthma sufferers, or just sharing with people who have this condition, can really benefit you. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. Support from those you are around is crucial.