For all the people who have difficulties with their breathing due to asthma, even the smallest physical task can discouraging. There is, fortunately, a lot you can do to treat your asthma and live a healthier life day by day. These tips are here to help you manage your asthma and learn more about your condition.
What triggers your asthma? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. An asthma attack can be easily triggered by the moving dust. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. Force all the air out of the lungs! Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Find a comfy spot, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The inhaler only can help if it’s medicine reaches the lungs. While inhaling, spray the dosage in your mouth. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to a social worker. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. Affording asthma medication is important for handling the illness, and social workers can find places the offer the medicine at low costs.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
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. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
Avoid pillows stuffed with goosedown or other feathers if you have an asthma problem. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
You must have regular asthma reviews, even if you are not having any problems. A new flare-up may be just around the corner, or your doctor may have news of a more effective new medication you can try.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. 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. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
Your home might harbor several of the major triggers of asthma attacks. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
Rescue Medications
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. Fresh bed linens, laundered on a regular basis, will keep you breathing clearly and easily at night while you slumber.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
Follow up with your doctor three or four times a year to manage your asthma. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and make any changes as they see fit. Taking on the responsibility of scheduling these regular appointments will help your doctor help you to stay healthy.
Understanding asthma and how it effects the respiratory system can really help you to identify the signs of an attack quickly. Asthma is not a terminal illness nor is it guaranteed to cause you suffering, so work hard on controlling it and enjoy your life!
If someone you live with has asthma, make sure you do not smoke in the house or the car. People who smoke need to do it away from the vicinity of the house, and especially away from a person with asthma. A heavy smoker can trigger someone’s asthma attack simply because they are carrying a heavy smoke scent on their clothing.