Asthma can cause life-altering changes to your life because of the severity of the condition. Take the necessary steps in order to keep your asthma under control. It is much easier to prevent an attack that it is to cure one. This article has some tips and methods that will help you to better manage your asthma.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Avoid smoking altogether. Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
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. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Having a fast acting inhaler is vital to save asthmatics from experiencing severe symptoms. Talk to your physician and find out if a leukotriene inhibitor would be right for you. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
If someone in your home has asthma, make sure to keep a clean house, especially their bedroom so that the risk of an attack is reduced. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Only permit food in designated eating areas, such as the kitchen or dining room, and don’t allow smoking inside the house at all. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
Be knowledgeable about the factors that cause asthma attacks in order to avoid the triggers or develop a plan for managing the symptoms of asthma. Those who experience asthma are susceptible to some common things like pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. A yearly vaccination will help minimize the number of infections your children have to deal with.
Asthma Attack
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. These can very easily cause an attack. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Asthma sufferers need to stay inside as much as they can when the air’s pollen content is high. The same pollens and other irritants that cause trouble for allergy sufferers are also concerns for asthma sufferers, even though the two are quite distinct conditions. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. You may be able to avoid this problem by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth thoroughly after each use of the inhaler.
Don’t use a humidifier unless it’s been cleaned thoroughly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can breed inside of the machine due to the moisture, which can exaggerate your allergies or asthma.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Wait half a minute and try the inhaler one more time. If you feel your ashtma attack worsening, get immediate help. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. Dusting with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster can be a considerable help in reducing the amount of dust and other things that might start an attack.
Talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication if you find yourself using the inhaler 3 or more times per week. This level of frequency can mean your medication is ineffective for your needs. 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.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
Talking to other asthma sufferers, or attending a formal support group, can be a very effective way to cope with asthma. They are there to help you win this battle with asthma through great tips and well planned ideas. As with anything else, having the right support system can make a difference in how asthma affects your life.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. Your primary physician should always be your first stop when dealing with asthma, but you may find it helpful to add a specialist’s knowledge. Asthma centers, allergists, pulmonologists, and nutritionists can all help ensure you are attacking your asthma on all fronts.
Identifying what triggers your asthma attacks will go a long way towards treating them. Keeping a journal will help you and your doctor develop a plan to combat some of the triggers. After you identify substances that trigger your asthma symptoms, you can avoid those substances in your environment or ask your doctor whether there is a medication that will allow you to go into an environment with those triggers and remain free of asthma symptoms.
If you are dealing with asthma it is critical you understand how to properly use an inhaler. Spraying it inside your mouth and inhaling is not all it takes. Make sure when you spray your inhaler that you take in deep breaths for short periods of time. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
Possible sources that cause asthma include a either genes, environmental aspects or a mix of the two. If someone closely related has asthma, you need to pay special attention to asthma-like symptoms your or your children have. There are a lot of things in your home that can cause asthma, some of these are smoke, mold, dust and pollution.
Rescue Inhaler
Work on gradually training your lungs to be able to take more stress. Do not gamble with your chances of triggering an attack by attempting a workout that is beyond your current skills.
If you use your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, see a doctor to have your medication adjusted. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
Know the symptoms of a severe asthma attack so you will know when to seek immediate medical attention for your child. These symptoms include a bluish tint to the lips or fingernails and unresponsiveness to medication. Additionally, your child may have trouble speaking.
Increase the amount of vitamin B6 in your diet. Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 has been demonstrated to reduce the number of asthma attacks in various studies. This substance helps your body produce the molecules needed to relax the tissues of the bronchial tubes. You can find good reserves of vitamin B6 in bananas.
Don’t exercise in cold, dry air if you have asthma. An asthma attack can occur because your bronchial airways end up being cool and dry. That’s why you always need to be certain it’s humid and warm before you attempt any exercise outside.
Knowing what triggers your asthma is an extremely important thing to know in order to prevent your attacks. Write down potential asthma triggers in a journal and talk to your doctor about them. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.
When you have asthma, it is especially important to warm up before exercising and to cool down when you are finished. Doing so can help prevent an asthma attack from occurring during or after your exercise.
Always consult with your primary care physician if your symptoms worsen. Also, apply these tips as much as you can so that you can have fewer symptoms and have a higher quality of life.
Consider changing asthma medications if your asthma gives you trouble on a regular basis. If you have to use your inhaler to get attacks under control more than twice in a seven-day period or frequently wake up because you can’t breathe, your asthma medication is not keeping your asthma under control. Go to your doctor for advice.