Asthma is a chronic disease that requires changes in many areas of your life. It is best to make sure that you follow an effective management plan to reduce the damage to your body that can result from letting your asthma get out of control. You can develop a plan that is right for you by following some of the great ideas in this article.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Use the inhaler properly. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
Even if you seem to be fine, see your doctor regularly for your asthma checkups. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Be sure to take plenty of Vitamins C and E if you have asthma. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Hay Fever
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. Make sure to stay away from chemical fumes and cigarette smoke whenever possible. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Bed linens often collect asthma aggravators, such as pollen, dust and allergens. You can avoid this by making sure to wash your bed linens in hot water at least once a week. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
People with asthma should not smoke. There is a general awareness that smoking is not good for your health. But for the asthmatic, smoking can quickly have serious consequences. Sensitive asthmatic lungs are easily irritated by smoke, so they need to avoid smoking and to avoid situations where there are people who smoke.
Most of the triggers for attacks, and causes of asthma, are found inside the home. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. 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. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
You need to know how to properly use your inhaler if you have been diagnosed with asthma. Simply spraying it and then inhaling in a shallow manner will negate the inhaler’s benefits. Every time you spray the inhaler, breathe deeply inward for about three seconds. If you are having trouble using it correctly, ask your doctor for help at your next visit.
Asthma Attacks
Make certain you have checkups scheduled with your physician every few months so you keep on top of your asthma. Your physician can assess if there’s been any changes in your condition, and adjust your treatment plan accordingly. You need to stay on top of scheduling doctor visits. Otherwise, your condition might deteriorate suddenly.
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. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Attending asthma support group meetings, or even talking to a few chosen people with the condition, can do wonders for 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 people who understand your situation is key.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. This vitamin, with the chemical name pyridoxine, can be helpful in controlling asthma attacks. Studies have shown attacks are less intense and less frequent when pyridoxine is added to the diet. Vitamin B6 is essential for producing chemicals that cause lung tissue to relax. Bananas are a great-tasting source of vitamin B6.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
Asthma can be triggered by environmental factors such as allergens, or it could be genetic. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs of asthma if your family has a history of the condition. All sorts of environmental factors can cause asthma, and they include smoke, pollution, excess dust and mold spores. It is best to avoid these hazardous situations, especially if there are children present.
Asthma sufferers should have minimal contact with animals including pets. Though dander allergies are often seen in conjunction with asthma, even asthmatics who are not allergic may have attacks that are triggered by the ancillary irritants transported by animals, including pollen and dust.
Keep a close watch on your allergy attacks and switch up your medication when experiencing several attacks per week. Two asthma attacks a week or more is very avoidable danger to your overall health.
If you are dealing with asthma it is critical you understand how to properly use an inhaler. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. If you are having trouble using it correctly, ask your doctor for help at your next visit.
You will want to get stronger, and gradually work to expand your lung capacity. Don’t start an intense workout that you know you can’t get through due to your asthma.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. This is also true if your inhaler needs refilling more than two times annually.
Get a flu shot every year. Even if you are not generally affected by the cold or flu seasons, it is still a good idea to get yourself vaccinated against them. It is easy for an asthma sufferer to develop a sinus or respiratory illness, which can create serious complications.
Make sure that you protect yourself if you’re planning on doing anything like painting your home. You should purchase a protective mask to cut back on fume inhalation. Paint fumes are especially dangerous for asthmatic people, but a mask will prevent asthma attacks efficiently. In fact, you should stay vigilant here and avoid any and all chemicals that may trigger an asthma attack.
If you suffer from asthma and find yourself having to use your quick-relief inhaler frequently, over once or twice a week, or if you wake up in the night from asthma attacks more than two nights per week, it may be time to try a different asthma medication. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Let your asthma specialist know if treatments are not effective. You can live a healthier and happier life by using the common sense advice in the article above.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it’s important to make sure that you have a plan in place for coping with an attack once it begins. By being properly prepared, you are better able to handle your asthma.