Do your research to learn about asthma symptoms, treatments and the various medications used to treat this chronic disease. You’re not the only one. There are lots of people who want the straight dope about asthma, but aren’t sure what information is authoritative. Read the article below for lots of asthma information.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Remember that using an inhaler is only going to help you if the medication contained within makes its way to the lungs. While inhaling air, spray required dosage in your mouth. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Consider buying a dehumidifier for the home if you have asthma. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. Force all the air out of the lungs! Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. Regardless of whether spetum is generated, it will aid in returning breathing back to a normal state.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
Cigarette Smoke
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
Consult with multiple doctors. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.
Cleaning Products
People with asthma should not smoke. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. Not only should smoking be avoided, you need to be careful to stay away from people who do smoke because it is extremely harmful and will irritate your sensitive asthmatic lungs.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Organic cleaning products should be selected due to their lack of irritating chemicals.
Watch the pollen counts and adjust your activity accordingly to protect yourself from seasonal asthma issues. Even though asthma isn’t an allergy, they share many things in common. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
Remain calm if you do happen to come under an asthma attack. Grab your inhaler and use it, then wait to see if it helps. If not, then use it again in thirty seconds. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. Inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag can slow your breathing while en route.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Knowing how to appropriately and safely use your inhaler is essential if you are afflicted with asthma. Don’t just breathe normally or shallowly after spraying inhaled medication into your mouth. Make sure when you spray your inhaler that you take in deep breaths for short periods of time. Using the inhaler in a proper manner can make all the difference for those who deal with asthma.
Consult with multiple doctors. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.
Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
You need to know how to properly use your inhaler if you have been diagnosed with asthma. It isn’t as simple as spraying your mouth with it and lightly inhaling air. Every time you spray the inhaler, breathe deeply inward for about three seconds. When your doctor prescribes your inhaler, ask him for detailed instructions in using it correctly.
It’s important to know absolutely everything you possibly can about your disease. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Look into cutting-edge treatments, and seek the best medical care you can find. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
Be proactive in controlling your asthma with regular visits to your doctor. Your doctor can check to see if your condition has changed, and if it has, update your treatment plan. You should always keep your appointments so that your doctor can follow up on your treatment plans, and work with you to maintain your health.
Speaking to your peers, who also suffer from asthma, can be an eye-opening and life-changing experience. Other sufferers can help you learn how to manage and live with your asthma, by offering tips and advice. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
Eat more foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Vitamin B6, aka pyridoxine, is found to reduce asthma attack frequency in a lot of studies. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. Bananas are also a wonderful source of vitamin B6.
Increase the amount of vitamin B6 in your diet. In many studies, it has been shown that vitamin B6 (which is also called pyridoxine) decreases the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. This substance helps your body produce the molecules needed to relax the tissues of the bronchial tubes. Bananas contain B6, as do many other delicious foods.
It is no surprise that newly diagnosed asthma sufferers want to learn all they can about their condition. This article laid out some useful strategies designed to make living with asthma at least tolerable, and hopefully a breeze. Apply this advice to your life, and you may find that having asthma is not so bad!
Try gradually strengthening yourself and increasing your lung capacity. Don’t push yourself to the point that you trigger an asthma attack.