Asthma can put a damper on your life, as it is a lifelong medical condition. You can manage your condition efficiently if you take the proper medication and learn effective coping skills. This article provides many different strategies.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for someone with asthma. This is because your lungs and airway are already compromised by your condition.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. 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. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Breathe out fast and hard. Force all the air out of the lungs! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
A leukotriene inhibitor should be taken into consideration when asthma is a struggle. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can provoke an inflammation that causes an asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Keep the air inside your home clean and fresh, and free of any asthma triggers.
Use the inhaler properly. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. A new flare-up may be just around the corner, or your doctor may have news of a more effective new medication you can try.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. Others who suffer from asthma can give you immeasurable amounts of support and advice, and help you keep up with new medical developments.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Flu Shot
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
If you suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
As mentioned, asthma is a serious disease that can endanger life if untreated and unmonitored. You should protect yourself by always carrying an emergency inhaler, and watching out for excessive air pollution or allergens. To stay in charge of your own life and keep asthma from telling you what to do, manage your symptoms with the tips presented in this article.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you are using your inhaler the proper way. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.