Asthma can be a difficult condition to have to deal with. It takes away your ability to do simple every day tasks, like going for a walk outside. The worst part, though, is that there is no cure, and asthma is difficult to manage. You can get some tips from this article on how you can prevent asthma symptoms from being too hard to deal with.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? 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. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! Secondhand smoke is one of the leading culprits that causes asthma. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. Never smoke a cigarette! Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. While inhaling air, spray required dosage in your mouth. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. An asthma attack can be easily triggered by the moving dust. On smog-free, low pollen days, open your windows to improve airflow in the house.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
Make sure you get a flu shot each year if you have asthma or if your child does. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
Asthma Attacks
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. Because asthma can be a lifelong issue, it is vital to take both regular and rescue medications according to the instructions.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This way, the air will be warm before entering your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Animals are a danger to asthma sufferers who are already allergic to them, but pets also carry a wide array of dust particles and pollen, so avoiding them is a good move for anyone dealing with asthma.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. The frequency of your inhaler use is a good way to remember to check out your environmental surroundings and be mindful of all factors relating to your asthma regimen.
If you have asthma, don’t smoke. While smoking is a dangerous habit in general, it is far more damaging to those who have asthma. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. Air quality levels for specific pollutants are now readily available and it is possible to use this information to limit exposure on high level days.
Prevent Asthma Symptoms
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. If you feel your ashtma attack worsening, get immediate help. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Asthma should not be taken lightly. Take the steps you need to to prevent asthma symptoms and seek professional help when you are having a potentially dangerous asthma attack. Use these suggestions to help you prevent asthma symptoms all of your life!
You could gain some comfort from attending a support group geared toward asthmatics or even by just communicating with people with the same issues. They can provide you with advice and tips on how to better deal with fighting asthma. Gaining the support of those around you is crucial.