Asthma can cause life-altering changes to your life because of the severity of the condition. Take the steps necessary to learn how to control your asthma on a daily basis as prevention is the best way to manage your condition. This article provides many tips and approaches to help deal with your asthma.
What triggers your asthma? If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke can actually cause asthma to appear. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Never breathe in chemical fumes or vapors. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Cleaning Products
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. If you get a leukotriene inhibitor, it can get rid of them in the air and help you with asthma symptoms.
When you have asthma, it is vital that you avoid cleaning products. Cleaning products may contain chemicals which can trigger an asthmatic episode, such as ammonia. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
It is crucial that you stay away from all types of cigarette smoke if you suffer from asthma. Never smoke yourself! It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. If you are around people who smoke, leave the area very fast.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
Attacks Related
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke yourself. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
Annual Flu Shot
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Cold air can be a nuisance and breathing it has actually proven to trigger asthma attacks. This is especially true for younger children who have severe or moderate asthma.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. When you dust, try dampening a rag, instead of a feather duster, to avoid spreading things that can trigger your asthma.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
If you have asthma, don’t smoke. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Smoke is very irritating to sensitive lungs, so take care not to smoke or be around others who are.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. A flare-up can occur at any time, and your physician may have learned of a prescription medication that can treat your symptoms more safely and effectively.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. While asthma and allergies are separate illnesses, you’ll find that the triggers for one tend to be mirrored in the other. Given the widespread availability of air quality indices for local communities, anyone who is afflicted with asthma can easily avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure when the atmosphere has likely exacerbants floating around.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. Such irritants include mold spores, dust, smoke and chemical fumes. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
Know how to properly use your inhaler if you’ve got asthma. Don’t just breathe normally or shallowly after spraying inhaled medication into your mouth. You must simultaneously inhale and spray the inhaler, then hold your breath for several seconds. A rescue inhaler will not help you if you aren’t breathing it in correctly.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
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. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. Also, if you have to refill your inhaler more than twice in one year, then a visit to the doctor for a medication change is also in order.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Learn everything you can about your condition. When you’re educated about your asthma, you can be proactive with the treatment. Keep up with the latest asthma news and see to it that you’re getting the best possible care. The best possible way to really understand your condition and treatment options is to educate yourself.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Even sufferers not allergic to a certain animal need to remember that dust and pollen on the animals can still trigger an attack.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. Paint could irritate asthma greatly, but using a mask will act as a protective shield needed to fight this issue. Refrain from using any substance or chemical that aggravate your asthma.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If the inhaler does not provide immediate help, get medical help right away. Ask someone to drive you to the closest hospital or call an ambulance. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. Consider keeping a journal to help you identify possible asthma triggers and discuss the results with your doctor. Once they are identified, you should make every attempt to avoid the triggers and remove them from the environment that you live in when at all possible.
If inhaler use happens more than two times in each of your weeks, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor about this and possibly adjust your medication. This level of frequency can mean your medication is ineffective for your needs. It also isn’t working right if you’re having to refill the inhaler more than two times a year.
Asthma may be caused by environmental factors, genetics, or possibly both. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, beware of any symptoms that are suggestive of asthma in you or your children. Keep yourself and your family away from environmental hazards like smoke, pollution, excess dust and mold spores.
Identify your asthma triggers to help yourself prevent asthma attacks. Think about maintaining an ashtma journal so you can record possible triggers as they come up, and then discuss them with your doctor. After you figure out what your triggers are, do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.
Keep track of allergy attacks; if you have more than two a week, see a doctor about changing your medicine. Most health professionals agree that having attacks more than twice a week is both dangerous and avoidable.
Asthma may be caused by environmental factors, genetics, or possibly both. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, watch very closely for any asthma-like symptoms in yourself or your children. Things in the environment, like smoke, pollution, excessive dust and mold spores can trigger asthma; therefore, be sure that you and your children avoid these agents.
Make sure to get vaccinated yearly for the flu. Even if you are not affected by the flu or colds, it’s still safer to get the vaccination against them. If you have asthma, you have a greater chance of being infected with respiratory viruses, such as flu.
If you think that your asthma is becoming worse, go to your doctor. Also, apply these tips as much as you can so that you can have fewer symptoms and have a higher quality of life.
Keeping your environment dry and clean can help reduce the number of attacks you have in your home. Moisture levels in the home can be maintained by the use of a dehumidifier. If you keep the humidity steady, you can lower your seasonal attacks.