Asthma can get uncontrollable if it is left unchecked. The attacks can be life threatening in some instances. Along with advice you get from medical experts, it is also important to do research on your own. Here are a few easy tips to help you get a handle on your asthma symptoms.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is a common medication that can affect asthma sufferers. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Exhale hard and fast. This will force the air from your lungs. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. It is crucial that you have the proper medications for controlling asthma, as well as medication, such as a rescue inhaler to treat sudden attacks. Talk to your doctor and allergist to see what is the best idea for you.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. When you inhale tobacco smoke, the lung’s function can be decreased, and you will increase the chance you have an asthma attack. Smaller areas without proper ventilation make you even more susceptible to an attack.
Know how to use your inhaler properly! Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
Asthma Attacks
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Asthma, especially the more severe forms, cause many problems that interfere with the quality of life and present many challenges. A support group will help you have a good time and forget about your condition once in a while, as well as as keep you informed about the latest innovations.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
Being around animals should be avoided. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. This extends to the rest of your bedding, as well. There are hypoallergenic comforters and sheets you can use to limit asthma symptoms.
Don’t smoke. Pretty much everyone is aware that smoking is dangerous, but for people suffering with asthma, it can have devastating effects. A person with asthma has sensitive lungs that can react adversely to smoke, causing an asthmatic attack. So an asthmatic should not even be in a room where other people are smoking.
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. These generally include dust, mold and spores. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
If you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well humidifiers and any associated apparatus. Bacteria will breed rapidly due to the moisture in the machine. If you continue to use one without cleaning it correctly, you will be pushing allergens around the home, instead of the soothing humidity that you are hoping for.
Asthma sufferers need to know which types of animals and breeds won’t trigger their asthma attacks. While an allergy to animal hair or dander is a possible asthma complication, even those sufferers free of such allergies can experience an asthma attack caused by the dust and pollen all animals tend to carry along with them.
If you have asthma attacks, remember to stay calm. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. Inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag can slow your breathing while en route.
People who suffer from asthma should stay inside as much as they can when the pollen count is up. Even though asthma isn’t an allergy, they share many things in common. Asthma suffers can now minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants and irritants by checking online for current air quality in their areas.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Every time you take a puff, hold in your breath for at least three seconds and then exhale. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
If repainting a room is in your future, purchase a quality mask first to protect your lungs from paint fumes. Paint can irritate your asthma a lot, so this mask acts like a protective barrier to prevent this. Avoid chemicals, substances and scents that aggravate your asthma.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
Asthma Attack
Follow up with your doctor three or four times a year to manage your asthma. This will allow your doctor to stay updated on your condition as it improves or weakens, and make the necessary changes to your treatments. The responsibility of scheduling these appointments falls on you. Make sure you attend each and every one so that your doctor can stay updated on how your treatment plan is working in order to help you remain healthy.
Keep your home is clean, and sweep often. You need to also wash your pillows, blankets, and sheets on a regular basis. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.
Asthma has numerous potential causes, including both genetic and environmental factors. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs of asthma if your family has a history of the condition. The air is full of pollutants and other debris that can trigger an asthma attack in you or your affected children, so be very careful to protect your family from these factors.
Monitor your children closely for any indication of food allergies. Some symptoms of food allergy can be extremely dangerous, and you should immediately get your child medical attention. These allergies are such as those that cause breathing difficulties, or those that cause noticeable swelling. If you suspect your child has a food allergy, have your child tested. Your child could develop asthma later in life after having these types of allergies.
Keep your home is clean, and sweep often. Additionally, wash sheets, pillows and blankets frequently. Washing your bedding regularly keeps dust mites away; dust mites are a trigger of attacks for many asthmatics. The more dust there is in an environment, the more likely it becomes that the air will aggravate an asthmatic’s symptoms, prompting 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.
If you have two or more attacks in a week, it is probably time to change your medication. That many attacks in a week can be dangerous, and does not even need to happen according to medical professionals.