Asthma can be a very hard ailment to live with. It can inhibit your ability to do some basic daily tasks, like going for a walk outside. Asthma is incurable and can be difficult to control. This article provides some methods of preventing your asthma symptoms for taking over your life.
When you have asthma, it is vital that you avoid cleaning products. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
Suffer from asthma? It is vital that you not smoke tobacco; if you do, quit. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. It is crucial that you have the proper medications for controlling asthma, as well as medication, such as a rescue inhaler to treat sudden attacks. To determine the best options for you personally, consult your physician and an allergist.
Never use a fan in a dirty, dust-filled room. An asthma attack can be easily triggered by the moving dust. Open some windows if you want fresh air.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. This can move the dust around and can trigger an attack easily. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. It works to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Go to a quiet place, and be sure to follow all instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. While inhaling, spray the dosage in your mouth. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
If you suffer from asthma and you are not eligible for health insurance, speak with a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
Asthma Attacks
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
Bundle up during winter weather if you have asthma. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or muffler helps prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Cigarette smoke will often trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarettes, chemicals, and anything else that may emit smoke. Exposure to these substances can worsen your asthma considerably. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
When you fly, make sure to take along prescriptions or doctors’ notes for all of your asthma equipment and medications, especially if they are unusual. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. You can eliminate or reduce these inducers by washing your pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
Asthmatics should avoid smoking tobacco products whenever possible. A lot of people know that smoking is bad for you, but if you have asthma it is far worse. It can irritate sensitive lungs. People with asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also avoid other people while they are smoking.
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke irritates the lungs of an asthma sufferer, so avoid the presence of people who smoke if you have asthma.
If you experience a sudden asthma attack, staying calm is extremely important. You should use your inhaler immediately upon the first signs of an attack. Once you have used it, use it again 30 seconds later. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Do not treat your asthma lightly. Take any necessary steps in managing your symptoms, and if they begin to overwhelm you get professional assistance. Use the advice you have read from this article to manage your symptoms of asthma and take back control over your life.
Learn everything you can about your condition. The more educated you are about your asthma, the more proactive you can be about your treatment. Do your research, and keep current on available treatment information so you can be sure you’re doing all you can to feel well. 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.