You can still live the active life you want, despite having asthma, as long as you find the information you need to face the daily challenges asthma presents. You can keep your asthma in check and prevent it from lowering your quality of life through a variety of methods, techniques and treatments. Read on for tips and suggestions to make the most of your life and struggles with asthma.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Make sure that your daily routine includes taking appropriate medication to keep you free of asthma symptoms, along with additional medication to treat you for any sudden asthma attacks. Speak to an allergist and doctor to see what’s best for you.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Really force that air out of your lungs! Do your inhalations in triple bursts of short breaths, and then follow with final deep inhalation so that you fill your lungs comfortably, before exhaling with vehemence once more. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
Though it is easy to postpone or avoid, get those annual flu vaccinations. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications in order to manage everyday asthma symptoms. In addition, you should have a quick-fix medication handy in the event you suffer from an attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Food should not be eaten outside of the kitchen, and there should be no indoor smoking. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Think about the benefits of joining an online or in-person support group. Asthma can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Most of the triggers for attacks, and causes of asthma, are found inside the home. These include mold, dust and spores. To reduce asthma attacks and stay healthy, have an inspector remove any harmful agents yearly. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To reduce asthma attacks and stay healthy, have an inspector remove any harmful agents yearly. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! A dry home will help you out a lot more. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Maintenance Medication
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. In some serious cases, people have dropped dead due to an asthma attack without ever knowing they had asthma in the first place. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Stop smoking. Most people know how dangerous smoking is, but for someone afflicted with asthma, the dangers are ten times more serious. Smoke is an irritant to sensitive lungs, ans asthmatics should neither smoke nor be around people who’re smoking.
Get a second opinion. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
If you are suffering from asthma, you should learn how to utilize your inhaler the right way. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. You must simultaneously inhale and spray the inhaler, then hold your breath for several seconds. Failure to properly use your inhaler can lead to deadly effect.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can breed inside of the machine due to the moisture, which can exaggerate your allergies or asthma.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. Also, if you refill the inhaler more than 2 times each year, there is the same result, which means making an appointment with your doctor.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. They can give you pointers and tips on what to do in certain situations, and can help you in your fight against asthma. Support from people around you is key.
If you are planning on painting a room in your house, buy a mask in advance to protect you from breathing in fumes. The fumes from paint are very irritating to the lungs of asthma sufferers, but a mask goes a long way towards filtering out these irritants. In general, you should avoid anything that will trigger an asthma attack or worsen your asthma symptoms.
There are some symptoms of severe asthma attacks that you should be aware of. If your child suffering from asthma manifests these systems, rush him to the ER! Seek immediate medical attention if an asthma treatment does not have the intended effect or extremities like the lips and nails take on a bluish gray hue. Speech may also become difficult.
You can rely on different methods to reduce your asthma attacks and live a normal life. Asthma does not have to be a death sentence, so if you can make a plan on how to live with asthma, you will have a much more fulfilling life.
If you’re attacked by your asthma and are without your medications, try and consume some caffeine asap. Strong black tea, coffee and chocolate can help reduce attack symptoms. Caffeine constricts the blood vessels in the body, which can open airways.