Having asthma can be scary because it can make you unable to breathe freely. It can happen at any time and in some cases can even be fatal. This article is here to help you prevent asthma attacks and manage your condition efficiently to live a normal life.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. While anyone responsible for cleaning their home can’t avoid cleaning products altogether, it’s best to only use natural products.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
A leukotriene inhibitor can be helpful if you have asthma. This prescription will prevent the product of leukotrines and help to abate the symptoms of asthma. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Breathe out aggressively, as hard as you can. Truly pump all air from your lungs! Follow this by breathing in three times quickly, and a fourth time deeply to ensure your lungs are filled to capacity, then exhale again as forcefully as possible. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Organic products are preferable to more chemically loaded, commercially produced cleaning products.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. These vitamins have been known to improve the function of the lungs and reduce some asthma symptoms. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. The effects of some illnesses can exacerbate the effects of your asthma, causing the need for more treatments. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
If you’re flying with asthma medications, be sure you get a prescription from your physician. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
Stay away from smoking. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
It is important to track how often you use your fast-acting inhaler each week. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
If pollen is present in the air, anyone with asthma should stay inside. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
Remain calm in the event of an asthma attack. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Go to the emergency room, or call an ambulance if it’s extreme. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.
Anyone with asthma should stay far away from smoke. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. In order for the inhaler to work, you must carefully follow the directions. When you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe in as deeply as you can for two to three seconds. Failing to do so will mean that the medicine will not be able to help open up your breathing.
If you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well humidifiers and any associated apparatus. Bacteria can breed inside of the machine due to the moisture, which can exaggerate your allergies or asthma.
It’s important to know absolutely everything you possibly can about your disease. Having the right information can enable you to choose the treatments that are right for you, and help reduce symptoms. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. The only way for you gain this knowledge would be to learn what your type of condition is and the treatment options.
Educate yourself about asthma. You can take faster, more effective action to treat your asthma condition the better you understand it. Stay up to date with current treatments and make sure you have the best care possible. The only way you can do this is by arming yourself with condition and treatment knowledge.
Breathing Mask
You will want to get stronger, and gradually work to expand your lung capacity. Don’t start strenuous exercise if you know that your asthma wont let you finish!
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. Stay away from any chemicals or substance that could worsen your condition.
In order to lower the amount of asthma attacks that you have at home, make sure your house is a dry, clean environment. Moisture levels in the home can be maintained by the use of a dehumidifier. If you try to maintain proper humidity, you can decrease seasonal attacks.
Make sure you consume more foods with vitamin B6. Research has shown that by increasing the amount of vitamin B6, sometimes referred to as pyridoxine, individuals can reduce how often they suffer asthma attacks. At minimum, it can help lower the intensity of attacks. It does this by producing molecules to relax your bronchial tissue. Bananas are an easily accessible source of vitamin B6.
If a child younger than five is in your home and suffers from asthma, keep a watchful eye out for pending attacks that could mean a sudden trek to the emergency room. Serious symptoms to watch for include: gasping, difficulty speaking due to lack of air, and trying to breathe while sucking in the stomach area below the rib cage. When a child shows any of these symptoms, they need medical care right away.
If not properly treated and managed, asthma may be a death sentence. The information in this article should have shed some light on what methods of management are available to asthmatics and what you need to do to be able to live a healthy and happy life with asthma.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to follow proper warm-up and cool-down procedures before and after strenuous exercise. Doing proper warm-ups and cool-downs can help with the prevention of asthma attacks during or after exercise.