Living with asthma is challenging. It can inhibit your ability to do some basic daily tasks, like going for a walk outside. The worst part, though, is that there is no cure, and asthma is difficult to manage. Keep reading for advice that will help you make the most of life with asthma.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
Avoid using a fan in any room that has excessive dust. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out hard and fast. Exhale with maximum force! Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
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. Omalizumab, an antibody medicine, might be suggested by an allergist and controls allergic reactions.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can cause asthma attacks by causing inflammation. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. They are believed to aid respiratory function and to be instrumental in keeping your asthma in check. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with 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. Be aware that fresh paint and new carpet also can emit harmful odors that irritate sensitive airways. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
When dealing with hay fever or a cold, you will notice an increase in your asthma symptoms. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
Join an online or offline support group. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Asthma is a condition traditionally treated with a combination of a regular medicine and an emergency medicinal inhaler. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
Asthma Attacks
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. In some serious cases, people have dropped dead due to an asthma attack without ever knowing they had asthma in the first place. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To reduce asthma attacks and stay healthy, have an inspector remove any harmful agents yearly. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. You can get rid of these by washing your sheets and other linens in very hot water each week. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
Stay away from smoking. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Smoke is an irritant to sensitive lungs, ans asthmatics should neither smoke nor be around people who’re smoking.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Smoke can severely irritate an asthma sufferer’s lungs; so, if you do suffer from asthma, stay away from both smoking and being around smoke in general.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Immediately use your inhaler, then wait a half a minute and do so again. If the attack gets worse doesn’t get better, then get help immediately. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. To calm yourself on the drive, bring a paper bag and breathe into it, as this will slow your breathing.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If you do this and you notice that your attack is worsening then you need to get help. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.
Proper use of an inhaler is crucial if you suffer from asthma. Simply spraying it and then inhaling in a shallow manner will negate the inhaler’s benefits. Every time you take a puff, hold in your breath for at least three seconds and then exhale. If you have asthma, there’s no way around it: you need to get familiar with the right method of using your inhaler.
If you find it necessary to use an inhaler more than two times a week, you should talk to your doctor about changing your medication. This means your inhaler isn’t working right. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
Asthma is a serious, sometimes debilitating, disease. It is certainly not something to scoff at. Find out what symptoms may be specific to you, and begin learning how you can manage it every step of the way. You can make your daily life easier by applying these tips.
Add more vitamin B6 to your diet. Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 has been demonstrated to reduce the number of asthma attacks in various studies. Pyridoxine is instrumental in producing certain molecules that help to relax bronchial tissue. Bananas are also a wonderful source of vitamin B6.