At the worst asthma can kill, but most of the time it just affects your lifestyle. Things, such as walking outside, can become a hassle. You should be sure to get the tools to fight this disease. Using the simple advice contained here can help reduce your asthma symptoms and keep this condition from controlling your life.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. You will be able to prevent asthma attacks if you can recognize symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke can actually cause asthma to appear. 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.
What triggers your asthma? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals if you are an asthma sufferer. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
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. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. It would be better to just open a window if you are needing to get some airflow.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. Loading up on these vitamins will energize your immune system, aiding your body in preventing the illnesses that worsen or trigger asthma.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
If you deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Asthma Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of 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 that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, 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. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. 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.
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. 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.
Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. A good way to prevent these complications and side effects is to brush your teeth and gargle immediately after using your inhaler.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These are dust, mold and spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
When housecleaning, it is better to clean your floors with a damp mop than sweeping them with a broom. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. When you need to dust, do so with a damp rag instead of a feather duster so that you reduce spreading around anything that will trigger your asthma.
Asthma Attacks
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. A lot of people know that smoking is bad for you, but if you have asthma it is far worse. Smoke greatly irritates the sensitive lungs of the person with asthma, so in addition to not smoking, someone with asthma should avoid people that are smoking.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. Wait half a minute and try the inhaler one more time. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Ask someone to drive you to the closest hospital or call an ambulance. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Asthma is not curable, so it is very important that you take your medication properly and only use your rescue medication if you need it.
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. You cannot just spray it in your mouth and lightly inhale. Every time you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe the mist in deeply and hold it for a a few moments. When your doctor prescribes your inhaler, ask him for detailed instructions in using it correctly.
If you have asthma, don’t stop using your inhaler unless your doctor tells you to. However, watch for infections in your gums or other mouth discomfort after using your inhaler. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
If inhaler use happens more than two times in each of your weeks, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor about this and possibly adjust your medication. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. It also isn’t working right if you’re having to refill the inhaler more than two times a year.
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.
It can help out to meet and talk with others who have asthma. They can give you pointers and tips on what to do in certain situations, and can help you in your fight against asthma. Support from people who understand your situation is key.