Your lungs are an essential organ, so when you receive a diagnosis of asthma, it can significantly affect your way of life.
There are many different types of asthma. When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. If you have exercised-induced asthma, for example, you’ll want to bring your inhaler with you to the gym or other locations where you might be involved in physical activity. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
This means avoidance of all tobacco products, and you also need to be careful if you are going to apply for a job in a factory or where you have the potential to be exposed to vapors and harmful smoke.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for someone with asthma. This is because your lungs and airway are already compromised by your condition.
Cleaning Products
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. For others, physical activity can irritate them. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning products if you have asthma. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attacks. If you have the job of cleaning your house, you should safer, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
There are some medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is a widely used medicine that can cause asthma sufferers.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
It is much better to open a window if you need to get airflow.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
A leukotriene inhibitor can be helpful if you to deal with asthma. These inhibitors can prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Keep your indoor air as clean as you can.
Using four or more cleaners in the home can contribute to asthma attacks. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are free of irritating chemicals.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Feathers can trigger asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially in a bedroom. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. 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.
Make sure you are aware of what triggers your asthma so you can avoid having to deal with them. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, pet dander and smoke.Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to breathe easier.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Some triggers include 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. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
Avoid feather pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The pillow feathers contained in these pillows can cause asthma symptoms and minimize your lung function.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Mold and mildew grow in a home where there is humidity. These substances can trigger asthma attacks. You should do your home dry.During winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and air condition in the summer.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your inhaler each week. If you use it three or more times each week, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. How often you use your rescue inhaler is used can help to monitor the environment.
It is essential that you learn the proper ways to use all of your asthma medications, especially those used in rescue situations. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
When you are cleaning your home, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Sweeping the floor kicks up irritants that can set off an attack of your asthma. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster is the best choice for an asthma attack.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with all animals.
Consult with multiple doctors. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. You’ll want to visit an asthma center, or consult with a pulmonologist to get additional help improving your lung function. In addition, you should get tested for allergies so that you can avoid allergic reactions that trigger asthma attacks.
Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone afflicted with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. Smoke can severely irritate an asthma sufferer’s lungs; so, if you do suffer from asthma, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
If you use your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, see a doctor to have your medication adjusted. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
Having supportive people in the same situation as you is imperative.
If you have asthma, schedule checkups ever few months with your doctor to stay on top of your condition. Frequent check-ups help your doctor evaluate the effectiveness of your current treatment plan and revise the plan as needed. Taking on the responsibility of scheduling these regular appointments will help your doctor help you to stay healthy.
Mold Spores
If you are going to paint your home, purchase a mask beforehand so that you will not breath the fumes. Paint fumes can be irritating to asthma sufferers, but a mask creates a protective shield. Use proper safety equipment to protect yourself from chemicals that can agitate your asthma condition.
Asthma can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or possibly both. If you have a family member with asthma, you should pay close attention to any symptoms of asthma that you and your children display. Environmental conditions like mold spores, extra dust, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.
You could gain some comfort from attending a support group geared toward asthmatics or even by just communicating with people with the same issues. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. Support from people who understand your situation is key.
Watch your children closely for food allergy signs. If after eating a particular food, or seem to have difficulty breathing after eating a certain food, schedule allergy testing for them. These allergies could be indicative of asthma in the future.
Identify your asthma triggers to help yourself prevent asthma attacks. Write down anything that triggers an asthma attack, then share what you’ve written with your asthma specialist. When you know what they are, do everything possible to keep away from these triggers, and get rid of them from your surroundings whenever you can.
Fighting asthma is a life long battle, but it can become easier with each day if you follow good advice, such as that given here or from your doctor. There are new medications and treatments being developed all the time. Soon, asthma will be more easy to deal with than ever.
If you are experiencing 3 or more asthma attacks per week, it is a serious signal that you may need to adjust your medication. Medical professionals generally consider two or more allergy attacks weekly to be dangerous, but completely preventable.