Asthma affects many different ages of people. In addition to seeing your doctor and specialists, always be aware of warning signs that show your symptoms may be worsening. The information included here will provide you with tips to assist you in managing your condition and help you minimize the chances of having a severe attack.
What kind of asthma do you have? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. For example, if your asthma is brought on by bronchitis, you should keep your rescue inhaler with you during times when you are sick. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
It is crucial that you stay away from all types of cigarette smoke if you suffer from asthma. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Make certain you are doing the most you can each day to keep your symptoms under control. Take the proper medications needed for everyday symptoms, and always have quick relief medication by you at all times in the event an attack occurs. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. Force all the air out of the lungs! Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. This is a good way to empty your lungs and let more air come in. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can take these vitamins in pill form, or you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get the vitamins that way. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
If you’re someone who gets an asthma attack related to allergy like symptoms, there’s medication you can use to help. Omalizumab, an antibody medicine, might be suggested by an allergist and controls allergic reactions.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Social Worker
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. When it is possible avoid substances that make you have symptoms or attacks.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Try organic cleaners that are free of irritating chemicals.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Products with a fragrance raise the air pollution indoors, and increase the risk of an attack being triggered. Some of these products include incense, scented body sprays and air fresheners. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Aim to keep the air as fresh as possible indoors.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These include mold, dust and spores. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
Rescue Medication
The more humid your home is, the easier it is for mildew and mold to grow. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
Allergens and asthma triggers, such as dust and pollen can cling to your bed linens. You can get rid of these by washing your sheets and other linens in very hot water each week. Sleeping with fresh bed linens will ensure you can breathe easy when you sleep.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. Now there’s information on local air quality available so you can monitor whether you’re going to be exposed to hard to breath air.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Locate your inhaler, inhale deeply with the spray, and allow 30 seconds to pass before you reuse it. If your attack worsens, get help. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. To calm yourself on the drive, bring a paper bag and breathe into it, as this will slow your breathing.
Asthma is no joke. Asthma attacks can kill you, so you should always take the necessary measures to ensure you are safe from worse problems. For example, always keep an emergency inhaler with you and do what you can to reduce the airborne allergens and dust in your home. Hopefully, by using the tips in this article your symptoms will improve and you can have more control of your asthma.
Make sure that you protect yourself if you’re planning on doing anything like painting your home. You should purchase a protective mask to cut back on fume inhalation. Paint can irritate your asthma a lot, so this mask acts like a protective barrier to prevent this. Use proper safety equipment to protect yourself from chemicals that can agitate your asthma condition.