If you’ve just been given an asthma diagnosis, you may not know what to do. Asthma is a chronic condition, meaning there is no cure. But there is no cause to believe that you need to surrender to asthma, or that it has to take over your life. This article offers ways in which you can effectively and safely manage asthma.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you need to avoid smoking and exposure to fumes or vapors of any kind. Because of this, you should avoid any kind of tobacco smoke and take any job that you want to apply for into consideration; factories could expose you to a variety of smoke, vapors and dust.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. Certain asthma sufferers experience attacks when they around around allergy triggers, such as dust or pollen. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Never smoke a cigarette! Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals if you are an asthma sufferer. Cleaning products may contain chemicals which can trigger an asthmatic episode, such as ammonia. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
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 a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
Keep away from any and everything that you know triggers your asthma attacks. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Asthma Patients
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. You want to force all of the air from your lungs. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Keep your home meticulously clean to reduce attack potential if there is an asthma sufferer living there, especially the bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
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. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Make a special effort to avoid agents that bring on even minor asthma symptoms, much less a major attack.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Asthma Attacks
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. In a lot of cases, people die from an asthma attack because they didn’t know they had the condition. Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
It is important to track how often you use your fast-acting inhaler each week. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. 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.
Make sure you are going to different doctors. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
Asthma sufferers need to know which types of animals and breeds won’t trigger their asthma attacks. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.
Bed linens often collect asthma aggravators, such as pollen, dust and allergens. Clean your linen and pillow case every week to prevent asthma attacks. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Eat more foods rich in vitamin B6. Research has shown that by increasing the amount of vitamin B6, sometimes referred to as pyridoxine, individuals can reduce how often they suffer asthma attacks. At minimum, it can help lower the intensity of attacks. How does this work? Pyridoxine is a chemical that reduces constriction in the bronchial tubes. This constriction is what brings on asthma attacks. A banana is a great food that is rich in vitamin B6.
Refrain from smoking. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
Keep your home clean and well swept. Washing sheets, blankets or pillows regularly can also help. By doing this, you stop the accumulation of dust mites, a common trigger for asthma attacks. Dust in the air is irritating to those with asthma and increases the chance of an attack.
Thoroughly Cleaned
Keep track of any allergy symptoms you suffer and talk to your doctor if you have more than 2 attacks in any given week. Two asthma attacks a week or more is very avoidable danger to your overall health.
If you have allergies and asthma, you need to avoid using a humidifier or a vaporizer unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
If an asthma attack occurs, and you do not have your controller medications with you, try to ingest something that contains caffeine. Caffeinated chocolate, coffee or black tea can facilitate symptom reduction when an asthma attack strikes. Caffeine closes the blood vessels, which makes it easier for you to breathe.
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. Additionally, if you must have your inhaler refilled more than two times in a year, you should consult your doctor.
In order to lower the amount of asthma attacks that you have at home, make sure your house is a dry, clean environment. Use a dehumidifier to control your home’s moisture. By keeping the humidity level low, you can reduce the number of attacks you experience due to seasonal factors.
The key to successfully managing asthma is preparation. Educating yourself on your particular asthma challenges and requirements will keep you healthy and minimize the risks you have to live with. By reading this article, you have taken an important step in gaining the understanding you need to keep your asthma in check.
Be aware of the signs of an asthma attack, if you have an asthmatic child less than 5 years old, in order to know when professional medical care will be necessary. Symptoms of a severe attack include: inability to breathe or speak effectively and gasping for air. Any of these signs signifies that your child requires immediate medical attention.