Asthma can be an especially frightening condition because of the way it makes it difficult to get the air you need to survive. An asthma attack can happen suddenly, asthma can limit your daily activities, and in some cases asthma has been fatal. This article is filled with helpful information about the hows and whys of asthma and offers useful advice on living with the condition and its effects.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
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. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
If you suffer from asthma, make sure that you consume enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Scented products should be avoided, such as air fresheners, perfume, and incense. These can increase the amount of air pollution in the home and even trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These include dust, mold and spores. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. 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.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Maintenance Medication
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. 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.
You need to know how to properly use asthma medications that are prescribed to you, especially your rescue medication, so that you are prepared if you need to use it during an emergency. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
When housecleaning, it is better to clean your floors with a damp mop than sweeping them with a broom. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. To best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Information about local air quality is available in many areas so that those with asthma can reduce their outdoor exposure if irritants are within the air.
If left untreated, it can be deadly. If you use this information you can help manage asthma and breathe more effectively.
If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If you do this and you notice that your attack is worsening then you need to get help. Have someone phone an ambulance or drive you to a hospital. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.