Millions of people of all ages and genders who suffer from asthma understand that even a task that requires minimal effort can leave them out of breath. You can live your life to the fullest by understanding the different treatment options available to you. These specially selected tips can help you become more aware of your condition, and help you stay informed.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. Secondhand smoke is a huge health risk and directly plays a role in why people develop asthma. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
A leukotriene inhibitor should be taken into consideration when asthma is a struggle. It works to prevent leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
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. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
Smoke Yourself
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Do not smoke yourself, either! Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Products that contain strong scents, like incense, perfume, or air freshener can trigger an asthma attack just by lingering in the air. Certain things around the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Keep your indoor air clean and free of pollutants to stay healthy.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. These include dust, mold and spores. Having your house inspected yearly is a good way to reduce the presence of these asthma triggers. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, you should always strive to maintain a dry home. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Cool air has been known to trigger an asthma attack, particularly in very young children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
Now that you understand a few effective and simple ways to handle asthma, you can be more confident about your ability to live a good life and support others. Asthma is not a terminal illness nor is it guaranteed to cause you suffering, so work hard on controlling it and enjoy your life!
Have your asthma situation checked out by a doctor every so often, so that you are not blindsided by changes in your condition. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. You are in charge of scheduling your visits with your physician in order for him or her to properly take care of you.