Not only can asthma be a burden to your everyday life, but it can even be fatal. You should do whatever you can in trying to control this condition. By using the advice provided to you in this article, you will lessen your symptoms and stop asthma from controlling your life.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. While making sure to never light up around your children, it is also vital that you make sure your kids are not around others who do not show the same courtesy.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. You have to force the air out. Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Breathe out fast and hard. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. Not only will you breathe in rhythm, but you’ll focus more intently on how you are breathing and become aware of breathing problems. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Refrain from smoking! It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. 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 cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Find a comfy spot, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. Spray the dosage into the mouth while you inhale air. Hold in your breath for 10 seconds so the medicine works properly.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
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. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
Many of the biggest triggers for asthma can, and do, exist in your home. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
When dealing with hay fever or a cold, you will notice an increase in your asthma symptoms. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Because you will have asthma for the rest of your life, it is important that you take your maintenance medication properly, and that you use your emergency medication correctly.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. 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 Treatment
When the weather starts to turn colder, wear a scarf or shawl that covers your mouth and nose to help prevent asthma attacks. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Breathing in cold air tends to start asthma attacks, especially with younger children that have severe or moderate asthma.
You should have a team of medical professionals to help you craft your asthma treatment. While your asthma treatment should start with your primary care doctor, visiting one or two asthma specialists can make a real difference in how well you understand and manage your condition. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
Avoid smoking. There is a general awareness that smoking is not good for your health. But for the asthmatic, smoking can quickly have serious consequences. Smoking is very bad for people who suffer from asthma, be sure not to smoke, but not to be around people that smoke.
You should use your inhaler everyday regularly; however, be forewarned that the medicine can potentially lead to mouth infections, especially around your gums and teeth. You can prevent any of these mouth issues by brushing your teeth and gargling mouthwash as soon as you use the inhaler.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.