Asthma is a very dangerous condition that can really inhibit your lifestyle. There are many ways that you can start to use different coping methods and medications to to get your symptoms under control. This article lists such methods that will help you.
Asthma can cause increased sensitivity to the ingredients contained in many cleaning products. A lot of these products contain harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These chemicals wreak havoc on you and can trigger an attack. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. Avoid smoking altogether. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Make sure to take the right medication for controlling everyday asthma symptoms, but also have quick relief medication with you in case of an attack. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. This inhibitor can prevent leukotrienes, which makes you less likely to have an asthma attack.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. If you smoke, try quitting. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. You can choose to ingest this vitamins by eating foods that are rich in the vitamins or through a supplement. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
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. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. When you travel, you sometimes strain your body a little more than you think, which can make you a bit more susceptible to having asthma attacks. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. 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.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
If you are taking your prescriptions with you on a flight, make sure to take your prescription. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. These can increase symptoms of asthma. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
Asthma sufferers should avoid close contact with all animals. Asthmatics can be affected by the dander or pollen that comes from the animals, even if they have no allergies to them. This can be a very risky situation to put yourself in and should be avoided.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Your primary care doctor should be the first person you go to, but think about seeing a few specialists. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. You will breathe easier at night when you have freshly washed and clean bed linens.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. 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. 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.
Smoking is particularly bad for people with asthma. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
If you find yourself relying on your rescue inhaler more often than twice weekly, it may be necessary to speak with your doctor about changing medication. Frequent need of an inhaler is an indication that the medication prescribed is not the right strength. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
Learn all that you can learn about the condition you have. Education is a priceless tool in finding the proper treatment for your asthma. Stay current with treatment technology and get yourself the best care that you can. Make sure to explore new and different options to keep the symptoms of your condition under control.
Knowing how to appropriately and safely use your inhaler is essential if you are afflicted with asthma. Simply spraying it and then inhaling in a shallow manner will negate the inhaler’s benefits. Every time you take a puff, hold in your breath for at least three seconds and then exhale. Proper techniques with your inhaler will keep your symptoms from increasing out of control.
Joining a support group, or finding friends with a similar condition, can help you. They can give you pointers and tips on what to do in certain situations, and can help you in your fight against asthma. Having supportive people that care about you is imperative.
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. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
As previously stated, asthma is serious and can even threaten your life if it is ignored. Protect yourself and have an inhaler on hand in case of an emergency; stay away from allergies. Use the advice in this article to manage your asthma and keep it from taking over your life.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.