Asthma is a scary condition, and asthma attacks can look very frightening. The golden rule requires that you learn the details of how it effects you and manage your activities with those details in mind. You need to be prepared for what could occur and when it could occur when you have asthma. The following information could be very useful to you.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications in order to manage everyday asthma symptoms. In addition, you should have a quick-fix medication handy in the event you suffer from an attack. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
Cleaning Products
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. Use natural cleaners instead of chemical cleaners to reduce your chances of asthma attacks after cleaning.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. Force all the air out of the lungs! Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. Regardless of whether spetum is generated, it will aid in returning breathing back to a normal state.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
If you are suffering from asthma, stay away from any type of cigarette smoke. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
When you are suffering from asthma and you have hay fever or a cold, you will most likely need an increase in your treatment. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The only way the inhaler will work is if your lungs get the proper amount of medication. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Continue holding your breath for approximately 10 seconds. This way, the medication will soak into the cells of your lungs.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. Your physician may even recommend that you take additional medication until you recover.
During the months that are colder, wear a shawl, muffler or scarf that will cover your nose and mouth to help you avoid asthma attacks. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
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. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
Learn as much as possible about asthma. The more you know about asthma, the more proactive a treatment you can devise for yourself. In order to ensure that you are always getting the best possible care, stay abreast of new developments and up-to-date treatments. You can easily know this information by further developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering treatment options.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
Make sure that you protect yourself if you’re planning on doing anything like painting your home. You should purchase a protective mask to cut back on fume inhalation. The fumes from the pain can irritate your asthma. By using a mask, you will keep yourself from inhaling the majority of these fumes. In fact, you should stay vigilant here and avoid any and all chemicals that may trigger an asthma attack.
Emergency Medication
Eat a lot of foods that have vitamin B6. Getting increased amounts of B6, also called pyridoxine, has been scientifically shown to make asthma attacks less frequent. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. One excellent source of vitamin B6 is bananas.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
Try to take your time as you build your strength, this will also allow you to gradually increase the capacity of your lungs as well. If you think the physical exertion will be too much for your asthma, it likely is.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
If you or another member of in your household is experiencing asthma, see to it that you ban smoking both in your car and inside the house. Smokers should smoke outside, far from the house and away from an asthma sufferer. Heavy smokers can cause a person with asthma to have a full blown asthma attack, because they still carry the smell of smoke in their clothes.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
If your child is under 5 and suffers from asthma, keep an eye out for any attack signs that might send you to an emergency room. Asthma symptoms include: air gasping, sucking in your stomach when you are trying to take a breathe, and a hard time talking because you cannot get enough air. Any one of these signs means that your child needs immediate medical attention.
Bed Linens
If you suffer from asthma, a great piece of advice is to always ensure that you do your warm-ups prior to a strenuous exercise and your cool-downs immediately following the exercise. Doing so can help prevent an asthma attack from occurring during or after your exercise.
Bed linens attract things that cause asthma attacks. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. Sleeping with fresh bed linens will ensure you can breathe easy when you sleep.
When it comes to dealing with asthma attacks, one very important thing that you need to do is create a plan for how to deal with the attack once it starts. So to properly handle an asthma attack, preparation is key.
As you can see, there is so much to find out about asthma. This article contains only a sampling of advice if you or a loved one is suffering from asthma. With the sound advice above, you can work with your doctor to create a plan that is right for you.
If you have asthma, or one of your loved ones does, it is crucial to let fresh air flow in the home. Open doors and windows when possible to allow circulation of air. Insulated homes have a 200% higher allergen levels than homes that are well-ventilated. You can clean the air through ventilation.