Are you stressed about asthma and how it’s ruining your life? You are in good company. More and more people are being diagnosed with asthma and are in search of reliable sources of information. What you are about to read in the following article about asthma may just surprise you.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Never smoke yourself! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. If people smoke around you, you should get away form that area.
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. Doing so can cause an asthma attack you might not have the ability to stop. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. Omalizumab, an antibody medicine, might be suggested by an allergist and controls allergic reactions.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
Consider buying a dehumidifier for the home if you have asthma. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
Asthma Attacks
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. These are dust, mold and spores. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. Conscientious house-cleaning can help prevent buildup of substances in your home that might trigger an asthma attack.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
When you need to take your asthma supplies on an airplane, it is a good idea to bring your doctor’s prescription with you. If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Stay Indoors
Avoid smoke if you want to prevent asthma. The inhalation of smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. Things like this can make your asthma worse. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. If there are always fresh linens on your bed, you are much more likely to sleep restfully without unexpected asthma attacks.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Have someone call an ambulance for you, or have them bring you to a hospital. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
Consult with more than one physician. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. Asthma centers, allergists, pulmonologists, and nutritionists can all help ensure you are attacking your asthma on all fronts.
It’s quite typical and healthy for those afflicted with asthma to yearn for more education and information about the disease that is affecting their life and health. This article’s main idea is to provide you with important information about asthma that you can use in your life, in order to give you some relief from the stress caused by this. Use the tips laid out here and you can soon discover that having asthma doesn’t have to be that bad.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.