If not managed properly, asthma can have serious consequences. Asthma attacks can be severe and even fatal. It is important to talk to your doctor about it, as well as take time to research to learn more, too. The following tips will help you manage your asthma symptoms and live an active lifestyle.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. Never smoke yourself! Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. These can trigger a severe asthma attack that can be difficult to get under control. Leave a room if people smoke, or ask them to stop.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Use the inhaler properly. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. Remember that using an inhaler is only going to help you if the medication contained within makes its way to the lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections if you have asthma. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
Asthma Patients
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
If someone in your home has asthma, make sure to keep a clean house, especially their bedroom so that the risk of an attack is reduced. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. 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. Dehumidifiers work by taking the humidity out of the air.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. A treatment made up of a daily medication plus a rescue inhaler can help to keep asthma under control. Because asthma does not get cured, those afflicted with it must continue to take their regular medication and use their rescue inhaler when needed.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. 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. 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.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. Sweeping can stir up some asthmatic triggers that will exacerbate your symptoms. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. Any one of these things can aggravate asthma symptoms and cause an episode. If someone starts smoking near you, politely inquire whether they can smoke in your absence.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and nutritionists can help you take advantage of the many treatments available to those with asthma.
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. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. You cannot just spray it in your mouth and lightly inhale. Every single time that you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you must, for a couple of seconds, breathe deeply. Neglecting to learn how to use your inhaler correctly will cause your symptoms to worsen significantly.
Asthmatics should avoid smoking tobacco products whenever possible. If you have asthma, you could have serious health complications from smoking. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
Find out as much as possible about your condition. You can take faster, more effective action to treat your asthma condition the better you understand it. Keep up with trends and new treatment methods, and ensure that the medical professionals on your team are working hard to help you. The best way to ensure this is to know as much as you can about asthma and your options for treatment.
Try to gain as much information about affliction as possible. The more you understand about the condition, the more effective you’ll be in taking steps to manage your asthma. Stay current with treatment technology and get yourself the best care that you can. You can do this by educating yourself on your condition and the treatment options that are available to you.
Get a breathing mask before painting in your house, so you can avoid breathing the fumes. Paint can irritate asthma a great deal, so a mask will create a protective shield to combat this issue. Avoid specific chemicals and substances that could worsen your asthma.
If you have asthma, visit your doctor every three or four months so that they can help you monitor your health. At your doctor’s visit, the doctor will evaluate your asthma and make any changes to your treatment plan if they are required. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.
It is important to keep the space you are living in clean and well kept. Also, wash all of your bed linens regularly. By doing this, you get rid of dust and dust mites. Both of these things can trigger an asthma attack. When dust builds, the air becomes much more irritating to those with asthma and can raise the chances of an attack.
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.
Keep track of how often allergies trigger asthma attacks. If you experience two or more asthma attacks a week after taking allergy medicine, switch to a different allergy medication. Medical professionals agree that more than two attacks in any given week can be hazardous to your health.