Obviously, healthy lungs are essential, and when an illness like asthma causes problems with them, it has a major effect on your life. However, don’t think that asthma means the active part of your life is over. There are effective treatment and prevention methods for this condition. This article will show you how you can live a happier life even with asthma.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. All this does is circulate the dust, which is an invitation to triggering an otherwise avoidable asthma attack. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. Certain asthma sufferers experience attacks when they around around allergy triggers, such as dust or pollen. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Figure out what sets off your asthma so you can avoid it.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Receiving a regular flu shot is a great tip to implement if you or someone you love suffers from asthma. Keep yourself safe from these outbreaks by getting a yearly shot.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. While inhaling air, spray required dosage in your mouth. Hold your breath for at least 10 seconds to allow the medicated mist to fill your lungs.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
When you need to take your asthma supplies on an airplane, it is a good idea to bring your doctor’s prescription with you. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. 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. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. 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. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. 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.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. This way, the air will be warm before entering your lungs. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. All of these air-borne pollutants can greatly increase your asthma symptoms. If someone smokes around you, ask them politely if they could smoke when you are not around.
If you are taking your prescriptions with you on a flight, make sure to take your prescription. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
If pollen is present in the air, anyone with asthma should stay inside. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. Now that local air quality information is available in most areas, asthma sufferers can minimize their outdoor exposure when potential irritants are in the air.
When you are removing dust or crumbs from your floor, you should use a vacuum or damp mop to avoid scattering dust in the air. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can trigger your asthma. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. Calmly use the inhaler. Use it again after 30 seconds has elapsed. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
Do not make the decision to smoke. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. Smoke can severely irritate an asthma sufferer’s lungs; so, if you do suffer from asthma, stay away from both smoking and being around smoke in general.
You should visit your doctor regularly throughout the year, so they can keep you apprised on the status of your asthma. 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.
If you decide to paint a room in your house, purchase a mask in order to keep yourself from inhaling fumes. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Refrain from using any substance or chemical that aggravate your asthma.
Eat more foods that contain vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, known as pyridoxine, reduces the risks of getting an asthma attack. Pyridoxine is essential because it produces certain substances that relax bronchial tissues. Foods that are rich in B6 include the easy-to-find banana.
It can help out to meet and talk with others who have asthma. They will provide tips on how to deal with asthma, or what to do in certain situations that may be new to you. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
Battling asthma can take your whole lifetime, but it gets easier day by day if you stick with reliable advice, like what you can get from your doctor or from this article. Constant innovations in treatments and therapy are always making it easier to overcome the effects of medical conditions like asthma.
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers. Start an attack journal to help identify these triggers, and share what you record with your doctor. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.