Nowadays, the need for effective treatment of asthma is on the rise. New medications and therapies are being created to treat the symptoms of asthma. The wide variety of treatments makes it easier for you to choose one that is right for you. To locate some help to get you started, you can use these tips.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Figure out what type of asthma you are suffering with. Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
Exacerbate Asthma
Be certain you are aware of what triggers an asthma attack so you can avoid it, or at least be prepared to handle the symptoms. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some of these include aspirin and NSAIDs. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. 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. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Exhale quickly and hard. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Breathe in by taking three quick breaths, followed by one very deep breath. Doing this will fill your lungs completely, and allow you to expel the air forcefully again. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
If you suffer from asthma, and have many attacks that are related to your allergy symptoms, there is a medication that is injected and provides long term effects. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
While using an inhaler can potentially cause mouth or gum sores, it is still important to use it daily if you suffer from severe asthma. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
Social Worker
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Inhaling smoke makes it harder for you to breathe and might result in an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. Things like this can make your asthma worse. If someone smokes around you, ask them politely if they could smoke when you are not around.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
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.
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. These threats can be reduced or even eliminated by keeping your bed linens laundered every week using hot water. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
People who suffer from asthma should stay inside as much as they can when the pollen count is up. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Now that local air quality information is available in most areas, asthma sufferers can minimize their outdoor exposure when potential irritants are in the air.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. Also, if you have to refill your inhaler more than twice in one year, then a visit to the doctor for a medication change is also in order.
As this article has demonstrated, there are many methods for treating asthma and its accompanying symptoms. You need to find the treatment that works for you. There’s a lot of information which can assist you in finding helpful treatments. By following these tips, you are well on your way to improving your breathing capacity.
Make sure your doctor sees you every two or three months for a check up to see how you are managing with your asthma condition. Your doctor should make changes to your treatment if they feel your condition has changed. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.