Asthma is a very serious medical problem that can greatly impact your life. Take the steps necessary to learn how to control your asthma on a daily basis as prevention is the best way to manage your condition. This article will provide you with the advice you need to manage asthma symptoms.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Some over the counter medications can irritate your asthma. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. 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.
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
Vitamins C
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. Open a window to bring clean, cool air inside instead.
Be sure to take plenty of Vitamins C and E if you have asthma. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. 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.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Scented products such as air fresheners, incense and perfume heighten the degree of indoor air impurities and may possibly contribute to an attack. Put down some new carpeting and throw up a coat of paint to get rid of indoor odors. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
To cut the risk of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as you can, particularly the bedroom of the person with asthma. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. A flare-up can occur at any time, and your physician may have learned of a prescription medication that can treat your symptoms more safely and effectively.
You may want to think about joining support groups you can find both online and offline. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. 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.
Asthma Attacks
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. 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.
Some of the most notorious causes of asthma attacks exist in normal households. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. 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. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. Because asthma does not get cured, those afflicted with it must continue to take their regular medication and use their rescue inhaler when needed.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
If you are going to be flying and are bringing your asthma medicine with you, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
See how many times a week you typically use the 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. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Someone suffering from asthma should avoid animals. While allergies from animals can complicate asthma, those without allergies can get asthma attacks from dust or pollen that the animals carry.
Keep in mind that mopping your floors with a wet mop will cause less asthma problems than sweeping will. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. The fumes from the pain can irritate your asthma. By using a mask, you will keep yourself from inhaling the majority of these fumes. Avoid substances and chemicals which can worsen your asthma.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Eat a lot of foods that have vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, aka pyridoxine, is found to reduce asthma attack frequency in a lot of studies. Through this research, it has been proven that pyridoxine helps produce molecules that aid in relaxing the bronchial tissue. A banana is a great food that is rich in vitamin B6.
You should get a second opinion. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. 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.
Identify your asthma triggers to help yourself prevent asthma attacks. Write down anything that triggers an asthma attack, then share what you’ve written with your asthma specialist. By identifying the causes of your asthma symptoms, you can then work to eliminate these triggers from your life completely.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having 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. If the attack gets worse doesn’t get better, then get help immediately. Call an ambulance or have someone present drive you to the nearest hospital. Slow your breathing by inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag while you are waiting for help.
Be sure to get the flu vaccine every year. Even if you’re not affected by flu seasons, you should still get a vaccine. If you have asthma attacks, you have a greater chance of seriously suffering from sinus and respiratory infections of the flu.
Find out as much as possible about your condition. The more you know, the more proactive you’ll be in your own treatment. Keep up with trends and new treatment methods, and ensure that the medical professionals on your team are working hard to help you. You can easily know this information by further developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering treatment options.
A clean, dry environment is going to help you reduce the amount of attacks that are suffered in the home. Make use of a dehumidifier in order to keep your home dry. Maintaining a steady level of humidity in your home will help you to control your attacks.
If you believe that your symptoms are becoming much worse, make sure you see your doctor. Try using the tips in the article so that you can reduce the frequency of attacks and keep your symptoms in check, and possibly enjoy life more.
If you or a family member suffers from asthma, open the windows to let fresh air into your home as often as possible. Open your windows and doors whenever possible to allow the air to pass through your home. A sealed-up house without any regular ventilation can have allergen levels 200% higher than a frequently-aired home. Simple ventilation keeps air clean and fresh.