Healthy lungs are vital to a healthy body. For asthma sufferers, however, it can be very difficult to maintain good lung health. You can, however, live a long and active life when you take steps to keep your symptoms under control. Read the good advice in this article, and learn how to make life with asthma doable.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
What kind of asthma do you have? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. Don’t smoke! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. If you smoke, try quitting. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can set off an Asthma attack that you might not be able to stop. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
If the room you are in appears to be dusty, refrain from turning on any fans. The fan will circulate the dust along with the air, which can cause it to get into your lungs and make your asthma worse. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products with a fragrance raise the air pollution indoors, and increase the risk of an attack being triggered. Some of these products include incense, scented body sprays and air fresheners. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Strive to maintain an indoor environment that is free from these pollutants, keeping the air fresh.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. A dry home will help you out a lot more. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
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. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
Proper use of an inhaler is crucial if you suffer from asthma. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. Using the inhaler in a proper manner can make all the difference for those who deal with asthma.
Your doctor and this article can provide some good ideas to help battle with asthma. New medications and treatments are always under development, and hopefully a cure for asthma is not far off.
Identify your asthma triggers to help yourself prevent asthma attacks. Start an attack journal to help identify these triggers, and share what you record with your doctor. Once they are known, do whatever it takes to prevent triggers from going off, and if possible, just wipe them out of your life and environment completely.