Living with asthma is a challenge you have to face everyday. You need the proper tools to do this. There are a variety of methods you can utilize to maintain and stop asthma from taking over your life. Here are some guidelines on how to live life to the fullest although experiencing asthma.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. While making sure to never light up around your children, it is also vital that you make sure your kids are not around others who do not show the same courtesy.
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’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
It is crucial for asthma sufferers not to smoke. Smoking is a terrible habit but it’s even worse for someone who suffers from asthma as it decreases the amount of oxygen that gets to your lungs.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a comfy spot, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Hold your breath at least ten seconds, so that the medicated mist can fill your lungs.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. You can ward off a great number of these infections by having annual vaccinations.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These include mold, dust and spores. An annual visit by a professional inspector can help keep your home free from these agents, and reduce the likelihood of an attack. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. 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.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Written Prescription
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
Get a second opinion. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Inhaling smoke makes it harder for you to breathe and might result in an asthma attack. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. These things can cause your asthma symptoms to greatly increase. If someone smokes around you, ask them politely if they could smoke when you are not around.
If you are using a vaporizer or humidifier, you should thoroughly clean it prior to use. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. If this doesn’t start to control your attack, get assistance right away. Have someone take you to a hospital, or if necessary call an ambulance. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
If you experience a sudden asthma attack, staying calm is extremely important. Try taking inhaled medication to get your asthma back under control. Breathe the medication in as deeply as you can. Take two doses, timed 30 seconds apart, before determining whether the medication is working. If this doesn’t start to control your attack, get assistance right away. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
Joining a network of those who suffer from asthma, or simply talking to others who suffer from the condition, can have a positive impact on 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. You need a strong support system!
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. Every time you spray the inhaler, deeply inhale for a couple seconds. Neglecting to learn how to use your inhaler correctly will cause your symptoms to worsen significantly.
Asthma can stem from environmental causes, genetics or other health issues. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, watch very closely for any asthma-like symptoms in yourself or your children. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.
Do all you can to educate yourself about asthma. The more you know about the condition, the better you can help yourself. Keep current with recent developments in asthma treatment and research so that you can maintain cutting edge care in your personal case. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about asthma and its treatment.
As you see, you can use several methods in controlling or preventing asthma from overtaking your life. Asthma does not need to become the be all and end all of your life. Learn of ways to control it and your life will be most enjoyable.
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. This person needs to have the ability to look at your current situation so that they can make any changes as necessary. It is up to you to be proactive about your health and set up regular appointments with your asthma doctor to allow him or her to work with you to keep you healthy and feeling well.