Asthma is a chronic condition that leads to difficulty breathing and can limit the types of activities you can participate in. Medication and coping strategies can help you manage your asthma symptoms effectively. This article lists several such strategies.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
There are many different types of asthma. Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can cause your asthma to flare up, causing an attack that may be uncontrollable. If you see people smoking in your vicinity, you should get away from them as soon as possible.
Cleaning Products
If you find yourself in a room that is dusty, don’t turn on any kind of fan. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. Cleaning products may contain chemicals which can trigger an asthmatic episode, such as ammonia. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can cause asthma attacks by causing inflammation. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
If you suffer from asthma and you are not eligible for health insurance, speak with 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.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier for your home. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. If you have asthma, it’s most likely triggered by things such as being around animals or pollen. Most asthmatics also can’t tolerate smoke. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Avoid smoking inside, and only let people eat in the kitchen. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. 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.
When it’s colder, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler that will cover your mouth and nose to avoid asthma attacks. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
Support Group
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. Things like this can make your asthma worse. 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.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
Go to several doctors. Your family doctor will be in charge of your asthma treatment, but seeing a specialist can provide you with invaluable help. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Cool air has been known to trigger an asthma attack, particularly in very young children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Remain calm if you do happen to come under an asthma attack. Use your inhaler, wait 30 seconds and use it again. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Have someone take you to a hospital, or if necessary call an ambulance. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
Learn all that you can learn about the condition you have. If you know a lot about asthma, you can work towards fixing it. Keep up with trends and new treatment methods, and ensure that the medical professionals on your team are working hard to help you. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
When housecleaning, it is better to clean your floors with a damp mop than sweeping them with a broom. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering an asthma attack. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. At your doctor’s visit, the doctor will evaluate your asthma and make any changes to your treatment plan if they are required. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
Identifying what triggers your asthma attacks will go a long way towards treating them. If you don’t know what yours are, keep a journal to potentially show you what they are. Once you know your triggers, do what you can to eliminate them from where you are, as much as possible.
As stated previously, asthma is a condition that is very serious, and it could be life-threatening if you don’t get treated or checked. Avoid allergens, smoke, and excessive amounts of air pollution and always carry a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Use what you’ve learned in this article to control your asthma, and stop it from keeping you from living life to it’s fullest!
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. Some symptoms of a dangerous asthma attack are bluish or gray coloring of the lips and/or fingertips and not getting relief from using the medication more often. Children in the midst of a serious asthma attack may have trouble communicating their condition.