There are millions of people out there who are scared to run even a short distance for fear of bringing about an asthma attack. The good news is that there are many effective ways to treat asthma symptoms and restore the joy in living a full life. These tips can help you manage your asthma and help you learn more knowledge about your condition.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you have the job of cleaning your house, you should safer, natural products.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Inhale the air and spray the right amount down your throat. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
Cigarette smoke and asthma do not mix. Do not smoke yourself, either! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If you find that you have people smoking around you, get yourself out of that area rather quickly.
If you have asthma and do not have health insurance, you should consider seeing a social worker. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome 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.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. As an additional measure, a home that is regularly cleaned will help keep these irritants from building up.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This way, the air will be warm before entering your lungs. By breathing in cold air, it has been proven that it could trigger an asthma attack more so in children that are younger and suffer from severe to moderate asthma.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
When you are trying to prevent asthma, you should avoid smoke. Smoke can seriously affect the lungs and is a common asthma trigger. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
Asthma Attacks
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
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 help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. Cold air can be a nuisance and breathing it has actually proven to trigger asthma attacks. This is especially true for younger children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. It means the medication used to calm acute attacks is either ineffective or not effective enough. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. You’ll speed up the process of going through security if you have written proof that shows that the items are necessary.
Possible sources that cause asthma include a either genes, environmental aspects or a mix of the two. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
Keep your living area swept and clean. Also, be sure to keep your bedding as clean as possible. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. When there is a lot of dust in your house, the air will be irritating to any asthma sufferer, and they will be at a higher risk for having an attack.
When you are trying to prevent asthma, you should avoid smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. Any one of these things can aggravate asthma symptoms and cause an episode. Ask any smokers not to smoke in your presence.
Keep track of allergy attacks; if you have more than two a week, see a doctor about changing your medicine. Medical professionals agree that more than two attacks in any given week can be hazardous to your health.
Now that you know more about how to handle your asthma, you can confidently handle it, and support others with the condition. Just because someone has asthma doesn’t mean that his life is over.
Attempt to build strength, and capacity in your lungs, gradually. Avoid attempting a strenuous workout if you know that it will likely trigger an asthma attack.