Dealing with asthma presents a number of challenges, but it does not have to reduce your quality of life. There are a number of ways to make sure that asthma doesn’t interfere with your life. Here are some guidelines on how to live life to the fullest although experiencing asthma.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? Learning about your type of asthma will help you to deal with it. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
If you have asthma, you should definitely avoid smoking or being exposed to any kind of fumes or vapors. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. The inhaler only helps if the medication reaches your lungs. Inhale air while spraying the necessary amount of medication into your mouth. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
If you have asthma and do not have health insurance, you should consider seeing a social worker. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Use your inhaler as directed. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Reducing the amount of humidity in your home reduces the number of dust mites, which in turn reduces the chances of your asthma flaring up. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
Cleaning Products
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. If you are using scented products like perfume, incense, or air fresheners you should up the level of air pollution in your home. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. Aim to keep the air as fresh as possible indoors.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Fragrances are present in hundreds of common consumer products, including cleaning supplies, perfumes, detergents and room sprays. Any of these items could easily increase the of triggering an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Most of the triggers for attacks, and causes of asthma, are found inside the home. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. 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.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue 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. Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
Try using a inhaler that prevents asthma every day, but you should know that one of the side effects is mouth infections of teeth and gums. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
For asthma sufferers having contact with pets or other animals need to be minimized. Even sufferers not allergic to a certain animal need to remember that dust and pollen on the animals can still trigger an attack.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. How often an inhaler is used can help to monitor the environment.
Avoid smoking. People know that smoking is dangerous, but it is even more dangerous to those with asthma. An asthmatic’s lungs are more vulnerable than those of a healthy individual, which makes it especially important to abstain from smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. When you dust, try dampening a rag, instead of a feather duster, to avoid spreading things that can trigger your asthma.
Know how to properly use your inhaler if you’ve got asthma. In order for the inhaler to work, you must carefully follow the directions. Every time you take a puff, hold in your breath for at least three seconds and then exhale. Follow the instructions on your inhaler exactly to get the most benefit.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Make sure to stay away from chemical fumes and cigarette smoke whenever possible. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
If you find you need your inhaler too often, more than two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your prescription. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
For those struggling with their asthma, avoiding regular contact with pets is important to control symptoms. An allergy to an animal will worsen asthma symptoms, and an animal can carry enough dust or pollen to trigger an attack.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. They can offer you tips about handling different situations and help you manage your asthma. Having supportive people that care about you is imperative.
Allergens and asthma triggers, such as dust and pollen can cling to your bed linens. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
Vitamin B6 intake should be increased in order to help control asthma. Vitamin B6, aka pyridoxine, is found to reduce asthma attack frequency in a lot of studies. Pyridoxine produces molecules that facilitate the relaxation of bronchial tissues. You can find good reserves of vitamin B6 in bananas.
If you end up using your inhaler more than twice a week, then you need to consult a physician and change your medication. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. This is also true if your inhaler needs refilling more than two times annually.
It is important to keep the space you are living in clean and well kept. 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. As the amount of dust in a home increases, the air becomes contaminated, which increases the probability of an asthma attack.
As this article shows, you can control the symptoms of asthma and keep on with your daily routine. Asthma doesn’t mean the end of the world, so it you could create a plan in which you can live with asthma in a good way, you will experience a more fulfilling life.
There are some symptoms of severe asthma attacks that you should be aware of. If your child suffering from asthma manifests these systems, rush him to the ER! Such symptoms include lips and fingernails that are turning blue and no reaction to the asthma medication. Your child might also find it difficult to speak.