Asthma is a serious condition that can affect people of any age or gender. In addition to going to the appropriate medical experts, you should always watch out for several warning signs that could worsen your symptoms. The information provided in this article should help you learn to live a more fulfilled life with less asthma attacks.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. This means you should stay away from all tobacco products and carefully consider the jobs you apply to, especially in factories, as you may be exposed to harmful smoke or vapors.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. If people smoke around you, you should get away form that area.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. Open a window to bring clean, cool air inside instead.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Try organic cleaners that are free of irritating chemicals.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Products that contain strong scents, like incense, perfume, or air freshener can trigger an asthma attack just by lingering in the air. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
Some of the most notorious causes of asthma attacks exist in normal households. These include mold, dust and spores. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. 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. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
If you are flying with your asthma medications, especially a large piece of equipment such as a nebulizer, be sure to bring along a written prescription from your doctor. If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. 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.
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. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
Don’t use humidifiers or vaporizers in your home until they have been rigorously cleaned, if you suffer from either asthma, allergies or both. 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.
Keep in mind that mopping your floors with a wet mop will cause less asthma problems than sweeping will. When you sweep, you are stirring up asthma triggers that can cause you to have an asthma attack. Dust will adhere to a wet towel instead of being loose in the air like feather dusters do where it can aggravate your asthma.
Remain calm in the event of an asthma attack. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. 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. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. Fresh bed linens, laundered on a regular basis, will keep you breathing clearly and easily at night while you slumber.
Asthma is a serious condition. Some asthma attacks may be lethal, you should take proper measures to lower the chances of your asthma getting out of control. You should never leave home without your inhaler just in case an emergency should arise. You should also attempt to reduce how much allergens and dust is in your home. You are likely to see some improvement in these asthma-related symptoms if you take the time and follow the advice given in the following tips.
Consult with multiple doctors. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.