There are many people who are afflicted with asthma. If you are among them, and find it challenging to live with it, this article was written specifically for you. This article is a compilation of the best tips available for people with asthma. It provides strategies that can help make your life healthier and easier by reducing the effect of asthma.
If your child has asthma, do not smoke cigarettes near them. Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
Do not smoke around a child with asthma. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
Suffer from asthma? It is vital that you not smoke tobacco; if you do, quit. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Don’t smoke! Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. An inhaler is most effective if used in a relaxed location and according to the maker’s instructions. The only way the inhaler will work is if your lungs get the proper amount of medication. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. They are a nuisance for people with asthma; the asthma attacks they trigger require you to eliminate them. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. 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 suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
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 generally treated with a rescue medication, usually an inhaler, in addition to a regularly-taken maintenance medication. Because asthma can be a lifelong issue, it is vital to take both regular and rescue medications according to the instructions.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. Always consult with a doctor to see if a persistent cough or difficulty breathing is a sign that you require treatment for asthma. There may even be things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
It is important to track how often you use your fast-acting inhaler each week. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. 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.
This information will help you deal with asthma to help you deal with asthma symptoms. With the information in this article, you can start living an active lifestyle, and start enjoying things you’ve been missing.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.