Experiencing an asthma attack can be frightening, and knowing that you have to live with asthma can be a burden. With the right education, dealing with asthma and having a good quality of life is possible. Keep reading to discover ways you can manage asthma and live better for it.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. This includes all tobacco products, and you also need to be careful if you are going to apply for a job in a factory or where you have the potential to be exposed to vapors and harmful smoke.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. 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 are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. Some people have allergies that cause asthma, and allergens such as dust and pollen can cause an attack. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
Asthma Attacks
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Make certain you are doing the most you can each day to keep your symptoms under control. Take the proper medications needed for everyday symptoms, and always have quick relief medication by you at all times in the event an attack occurs. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. 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.
For those who have asthma, the safest choice is to stick with unscented products. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Find a spot that is out of the way, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Continue holding your breath for approximately 10 seconds. This way, the medication will soak into the cells of your lungs.
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. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. 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.
Tobacco Smoke
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. 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.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. These causes can include dust, spores 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. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
A humid home will cause mold or mildew to appear. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. 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.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
Emergency Medication
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. While an allergy to animal hair or dander is a possible asthma complication, even those sufferers free of such allergies can experience an asthma attack caused by the dust and pollen all animals tend to carry along with them.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. When you are sweeping with a broom, you stir up triggers like dirt and dust mites that can cause you to go into an asthma attack. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
Remain calm if you do happen to come under 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 your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
Bed linens attract things that cause asthma attacks. The easiest way to get rid of these triggering agents is by washing all of your bedding using your washer’s hot setting every Sunday. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
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. It means the medication used to calm acute attacks is either ineffective or not effective enough. This is also true if you find yourself refilling the inhaler prescription more than twice in a calendar year.
Knowing the correct way to use an inhaler is essential. Don’t just breathe normally or shallowly after spraying inhaled medication into your mouth. When you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe in as deeply as you can for two to three seconds. Properly using your asthma inhaler is one of the most important ways you, as a person with asthma, can protect your health.
Schedule regular visits with your doctor to check up on your asthma. Ideally these should occur every few months. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and make any changes as they see fit. It is up to you to work with your doctor at regular appointments to keep your treatment plan working.
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. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
Get your flu shot every year. You should get the vaccine regardless of whether you are or are not affected by the flu on a yearly basis. If you’re prone to getting asthma attacks, it’s more likely that you’ll seriously suffer from respiratory or sinus infections caused the a virus or the flu.
Knowing how to properly manage your asthma is very important. Dealing with asthma becomes easier when you learn more about how to effectively manage it. Fortunately, we learn more about asthma treatments every year, and that can help you get on with your life.
You probably need to try different asthma medication if you are using your inhaler more than twice a week or if asthma attacks are waking you up at night. Talk to your doctor about switching medications if you’re concerned about frequent asthma attacks.