So, you have just received an asthma diagnosis, and you feel stressed and panicky. Asthma is a disease that is chronic, which means you cannot cure it. An asthma diagnosis is definitely not the end of the world, though. If you would like to treat asthma with healthy, effective techniques, you may find the advice offered in this article useful.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
Asthma Symptoms
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your asthma so that you do not take any medications that could be harmful to you.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
The symptoms of asthma might not always be apparent, but for those that suffer from the disease, the condition never goes away entirely. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
Though it is easy to postpone or avoid, get those annual flu vaccinations. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Many things in the home release chemicals that irritate the lungs, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Asthma Attack
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. 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.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. These generally include dust, mold and spores. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
Asthma often takes time to develop, the symptoms appearing slowly. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. Always consult with a doctor to see if a persistent cough or difficulty breathing is a sign that you require treatment for asthma. There may even be things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
Rescue Inhaler
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your 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.
Do not make the decision to smoke. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke greatly irritates the sensitive lungs of the person with asthma, so in addition to not smoking, someone with asthma should avoid people that are smoking.
Being prepared make living with asthma much easier. Once you know how to effectively care for yourself and your asthma problems, you will be able to avoid big problems. This article is stop number one for increasing your knowledge about asthma treatments!
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. 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. You can get the information about air quality in the area you are in; people who suffer from asthma should stay indoors if their air quality is low.