For the many sufferers of asthma, just the slightest activity can result in a serious and sudden loss of their very ability to breathe. Luckily, there are many different treatment options that are very effective, and can make living with asthma a little less worrisome. The following article will provide you with important information about this devastating and often life-changing respiratory condition.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you need to avoid smoking and exposure to fumes or vapors of any kind. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
Asthma is a disease that is ongoing and must be attended to every day. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. Speak to your allergist and doctor to see what they recommend for you.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Cleaning Products
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. 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. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Organic cleaning products should be selected due to their lack of irritating chemicals.
If you suffer from asthma, make sure that you consume enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can choose to ingest this vitamins by eating foods that are rich in the vitamins or through a supplement. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Certain things around the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
Be sure to thoroughly understand how to utilize asthma medication correctly, particularly any rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. Be sure to keep the same advice in mind for your bedclothes. They should be made from materials that do not increase allergy symptoms.
Preventative Inhaler
Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! Keeping a home dry and mold-free is important. During winter time, use a dehumidifier if necessary to control humidity while running your heater, and use your air conditioner during summer months to keep air dry.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. If there are always fresh linens on your bed, you are much more likely to sleep restfully without unexpected asthma attacks.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. So, if you have a lingering cough or instances of troubled breathing, you should see a doctor to see if you might have asthma and determine whether you may need medication to either prevent or treat asthma.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
It is important to use your maintenance inhaler daily as prescribed. However, understand that most types of inhalers contain ingredients which may make your mouth more susceptible to infections. To avoid those complications, be sure to brush teeth, gargle, and rinse mouth completely right after you have used the inhaler.
To improve your asthmatic condition, use a clean humidifier or vaporizer while you sleep. Permitting bacteria to grow inside the appliance will result in irritants being dispersed into the air you breathe.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use 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. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. This will allow your doctor to stay updated on your condition as it improves or weakens, and make the necessary changes to your treatments. You have to take it upon yourself to make and keep these crucial appointments so that your doctor can assist you in managing your condition as effectively as possible.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoking can actually trigger an asthma attack. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. If there’s smoke around you, ask politely for the person to stop smoking.
Asthma may be the result of genetics or something in the environment, or perhaps a bit of both. If you have a family history of asthma, be especially attentive when asthma like symptoms manifest in another family member. Asthma sufferers need to be especially careful to avoid smoke, dust mites, extremely high air pollution levels and allergens.
Make sure you keep calm if you are having an asthma attack. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Ask someone to drive you to the closest hospital or call an ambulance. Inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag can slow your breathing while en route.
Dust Mites
Make sure your doctor shows you how to take your inhaled medication properly, and don’t leave his office until you are entirely comfortable using your inhaler. Simply spraying it into your mouth with just a light inhale will not get the job done. Each time you spray your inhaler, breath in deeply for a few seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
It is important to keep the space you are living in clean and well kept. Wash your bedding, including pillows, regularly. Washing your bedding regularly keeps dust mites away; dust mites are a trigger of attacks for many asthmatics. When dust builds up, the air becomes more and more irritating to asthma sufferers and increases the likelihood of an attack.
Try to gain as much information about affliction as possible. By being educated, you can treat your symptoms much more effectively. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about asthma and its treatment.
Be mindful of any allergy attacks that you suffer. If you experience these attacks more than twice each week, you need to switch medications. Medical professionals generally consider two or more allergy attacks weekly to be dangerous, but completely preventable.
Attending a support group of asthma sufferers, or just sharing with people who have this condition, can really benefit you. They can provide you with advice and tips on how to better deal with fighting asthma. Gaining the support of those around you is crucial.
You can be more confident in how you handle your asthma now that you’ve read this article and have a better understanding of asthma triggers and treatments. Asthma, while a scary diagnosis, can be treated and maintained. It doesn’t have to be that frightening anymore.
If you’re having asthma attacks without control medications at hand, get a shot of something caffeinated. Strong tea, coffee, or chocolate can give you some caffeine to help the asthma attack. Caffeine constricts your blood vessels, which causes your airways to open.