If you do not treat your asthma, it can quickly become dangerous. Not only can asthma attacks prove severe, some are flat out fatal. Consulting a medical professional is the first step in any treatment plan. Beyond that, however, you must take an active role in maintaining your health. This article provides easy tips to help alleviate some asthma symptoms and to help you to better treat your asthma.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
If your child or another loved one suffers from asthma, you should be sure to never smoke cigarettes when you’re near them. One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. 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.
Cigarette Smoke
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. Asthma medications are never cheap, but it’s vital that you receive them and that is the social worker’s goal. He or she will deal with the clinics directly in efforts to remedy the situation.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, you should always strive to maintain a dry home. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Lowering the level of humidity present in your home can reduce the numbers of dust mites, a prime trigger of asthma. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
Cleaning Products
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. When you are sweeping with a broom, you stir up triggers like dirt and dust mites that can cause you to go into an asthma attack. When you need to dust, do so with a damp rag instead of a feather duster so that you reduce spreading around anything that will trigger your asthma.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Try using organic cleaning products which don’t contain irritating chemicals.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma symptoms. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
When pollen counts are high, people who have asthma should stay inside. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. Since data on air quality is now widely published, those with asthma have the ability to avoid being outside when concentrations of irritants are high.
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Learn everything you can about your condition. The more you understand about the condition, the more effective you’ll be in taking steps to manage your asthma. Do your research, and keep current on available treatment information so you can be sure you’re doing all you can to feel well. The only way you can do this is by arming yourself with condition and treatment knowledge.
It is important to use your maintenance inhaler daily as prescribed. However, understand that most types of inhalers contain ingredients which may make your mouth more susceptible to infections. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
If you are going to paint your home, purchase a mask beforehand so that you will not breath the fumes. Not surprisingly, paint fumes are a known irritant for asthma. Specially designed masks can filter out these fumes. Avoid all substances and chemicals which trigger problems with your asthma.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can trigger your asthma. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
Joining a support group, or finding friends with a similar condition, can help you. They will provide tips on how to deal with asthma, or what to do in certain situations that may be new to you. As with anything else, having the right support system can make a difference in how asthma affects your life.
Do not make the decision to smoke. Most people know that smoking is dangerous, but if you have asthma there are more serious consequences. Not only should smoking be avoided, you need to be careful to stay away from people who do smoke because it is extremely harmful and will irritate your sensitive asthmatic lungs.
Keep the place you live clean, and make sure to sweep it regularly. Also, wash sheets, pillows and blankets frequently. Washing your bedding regularly keeps dust mites away; dust mites are a trigger of attacks for many asthmatics. Built up dust makes the air irritating and increases the chances of an asthma attack.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. Air quality levels for specific pollutants are now readily available and it is possible to use this information to limit exposure on high level days.
Work on gradually training your lungs to be able to take more stress. If you think the physical exertion will be too much for your asthma, it likely is.
Take the time to learn all there is to know about your affliction. If you educate yourself properly, you will be able to find a good treatment. You will know that you are using the most effective methods if you stay current with asthma information. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
Caffeine can be used in a pinch if you find yourself having an attack without access to your asthma medications. Chocolate, strong black tea or coffee can help reduce the symptoms of an asthma attack. Caffeine constricts the blood vessels in the body, which can open airways.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Be on the lookout for symptoms of allergic reactions to food in your kids. If they develop hives or have difficulty breathing after consuming a specific food, have their pediatrician test them for that allergy. Any food allergy might serve as a warning sign of future asthma.