Asthma is a scary condition, and asthma attacks can look very frightening. It is important to be knowledgeable about asthma and the symptoms associated with it so you can better manage the effects. Read on for some advice designed to help you understand the way asthma works and what symptoms to expect.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you need to avoid smoking and exposure to fumes or vapors of any kind. Because of this, you should avoid any kind of tobacco smoke and take any job that you want to apply for into consideration; factories could expose you to a variety of smoke, vapors and dust.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? 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. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Smoking is bad in general for everyone, but it is particularly worse for asthma suffers because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the lungs, putting you at higher risk for asthma attacks.
Asthma is a chronic condition, requiring constant health management. It is crucial that you have the proper medications for controlling asthma, as well as medication, such as a rescue inhaler to treat sudden attacks. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. This inhibitor can prevent leukotrienes, which makes you less likely to have an asthma attack.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Find a spot that is out of the way, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
Social Worker
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers keep your home dry by keeping the humidity out.
Many of the biggest triggers for asthma can, and do, exist in your home. These include dust, mold and spores. 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. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
Any time that pollen counts go up, anyone suffering from asthma would be wise to keep their outdoors time to a minimum. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. These days, information about the quality of local air is readily available, so people with asthma can avoid spending time outside when the air is full of things that irritate their lungs.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. Use your inhaler, wait 30 seconds and use it again. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Call an ambulance or have someone present drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathe into a paper bag, which will reduce your breathing rate during the trip.
Be certain you are aware of what triggers an asthma attack so you can avoid it, or at least be prepared to handle the symptoms. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
You have to know the proper way to use an inhaler if you suffer from asthma. You should not just stick it between your lips and spray. Every time you use your inhaler, be sure to breathe deeply and slowly. Proper use of your inhaler is key when you have asthma.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. This can indicate that the inhaler you are using is not working for you. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
Rescue Medication
If you are having more than a couple of asthma attacks per week, you should go to your doctor and eliminate triggers. Having an asthma attack twice a week is a danger to your health, and that frequency can be prevented.
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. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
Attempt to build strength, and capacity in your lungs, gradually. Do not try to start with a hard workout that you will not be able to finish because your asthma will get in the way.
When you are trying to prevent asthma, you should avoid smoke. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Vapors, cigarette smoke, and chemical fumes should be avoided. All of these air-borne pollutants can greatly increase your asthma symptoms. Ask any smokers not to smoke in your presence.
There are certain symptoms that you should look for to help you understand whether your child is having an asthma attack and needs to be transported to the hospital. You might notice a gray or blue tone to their lips or fingernails, and their medication may not be working. Also, your child could have difficulty talking.
Asthma sufferers should minimize their contact with animals and pets. 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.
You need to get a flu shot every year. Even if you have never been affected by the cold or flu in the past, it is still recommended you get it just in case. You have an easier chance of catching a flu virus, or sinus and respiratory infections if you suffer from constant asthma attacks.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. Use fresh linens to make up your bed on a regular basis. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
In order to lower the amount of asthma attacks that you have at home, make sure your house is a dry, clean environment. You should use a dehumidifier regularly in the home to control the moisture level. By keeping humidity levels where they should be, you will not suffer from as many seasonal attacks.
Asthma sufferers should definitely stay indoors more when pollen increases. While asthma is different than allergies, often the same types of things that bother those with allergies trigger irritation in asthmatics as well. 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.
If you suffer from asthma, you should always avoid doing a lot of exercise outside in air that is cold and dry. If your bronchial airways experience this type of weather, it can trigger an asthma attack. Thus, if you want to exercise outdoors, ensure it is humid and a little warm before you begin.
There is much to learn about asthma. This article has only some of the tips that you can use to manage your asthma, or help others cope with this condition. With their help, you can make asthma something you manage, rather than something that rules your life.
If you suffer from asthma and find yourself having to use your quick-relief inhaler frequently, over once or twice a week, or if you wake up in the night from asthma attacks more than two nights per week, it may be time to try a different asthma medication. Talk to your doctor.