If you have recently been handed a diagnosis of asthma, you may find yourself in a panic. Asthma is a chronic condition, meaning there is no cure. Believe it or not, however, life does go on even after you are diagnosed with this condition. This article will show you some ways you can manage your asthma in a safe manner.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. When you are tidying your home consider using natural products that are effective for cleaning rather than traditional cleansers.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. You have to force the air out. After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. This can move the dust around and can trigger an attack easily. If you need airflow, simply opening a window would be better.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers eliminate your home’s humidity, leaving dry air.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy 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. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
If someone in your home has asthma, make sure to keep a clean house, especially their bedroom so that the risk of an attack is reduced. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your doctor could add another treatment into your regimen until the illness is better.
If you have asthma, avoid people who are smoking. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
When it’s colder, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler that will cover your mouth and nose to avoid asthma attacks. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Rescue Medication
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. When you travel, you sometimes strain your body a little more than you think, which can make you a bit more susceptible to having asthma attacks. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
You need to know how to properly use asthma medications that are prescribed to you, especially your rescue medication, so that you are prepared if you need to use it during an emergency. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. People can even die from their very first asthma attack as they’re not prepared for it! Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. Therefore, try and keep the home dry. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. You want to see your primary doctor for asthma help, though you should also see some specialists. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Dealing with asthma is rather like being a Boy Scout; the important part is to be prepared. When you know everything you can about your specific asthma triggers, you can use that knowledge to avoid potential triggers. This article is your first step to building a knowledge base to combat this disease effectively!
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. If that’s the case, the medication in the inhaler isn’t working right. This is also true if your inhaler needs refilling more than two times annually.