If not managed properly, asthma can have serious consequences. Asthma attacks are unpleasant, and in some cases, can be fatal. You should look for advice from doctors and medical experts, when it is not enough take the appropriate steps yourself. This article provides easy tips to help alleviate some asthma symptoms and to help you to better treat your asthma.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. Do not smoke! Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Some things, such as physical exertion, can cause an asthma attack. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Hold your breath for at least 10 seconds to allow the medicated mist to fill your lungs.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. This means that you should take all standard precautions to avoid illness, such as washing your hands, getting vaccinated and avoiding those who are sick.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. Do not smoke! 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. If you are around others who are smoking, remove yourself.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It is essential that you can buy your asthma medicine, and a social worker might help you find a hospital or clinic that can provide your medicine at reduced cost, or free.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Decreasing the humidity in the house decreases dust mites, which decreases asthma flare ups. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These generally include dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. Protect yourself against allergens, dust mites and fungus to avoid exacerbating your asthma symptoms. A dry home will help you out a lot more. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
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.
Asthma often takes time to develop, the symptoms appearing slowly. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.