Asthma is a serious medical condition that can affect anyone, from a teenager to a senior citizen. In addition to going to the appropriate medical experts, you should always watch out for several warning signs that could worsen your symptoms. The information provided in this article should help you learn to live a more fulfilled life with less asthma attacks.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. Certain asthma sufferers experience attacks when they around around allergy triggers, such as dust or pollen. For others, physical activities can cause them. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. If you wish to have a breeze, open a window instead of running a fan.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Social Worker
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. It is essential that you can buy your asthma medicine, and a social worker might help you find a hospital or clinic that can provide your medicine at reduced cost, or free.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Speak to an allergist and doctor to see what’s best for you.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. It is widely believed that these vitamins can help control asthma symptoms by improving lung function. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
If you suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. The feathers can make it harder to breathe right and trigger an attack. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Rescue Medication
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
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. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Asthma typically develops over a long time, and sometimes the symptoms aren’t very obvious. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
It is essential that you learn the proper ways to use all of your asthma medications, especially those used in rescue situations. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. While asthma is different than allergies, often the same types of things that bother those with allergies trigger irritation in asthmatics as well. 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.
When taking asthma medications on a plane trip, bring written medical prescriptions provided by your doctor. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
If you use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. This also applies to anyone who needs to refill their inhaler more than two times in a single year.
If you need to use your inhaler more often than twice each week, this means your asthma isn’t adequately controlled and a medication change is required. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. Similarly, if you need to purchase refill inhalers more than twice a year, your medication is ineffective.
Treatment Plan
Be proactive in controlling your asthma with regular visits to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to assess the effectiveness of treatments, and adjust them, if necessary. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.
When you have asthma, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. Frequent check-ups help your doctor evaluate the effectiveness of your current treatment plan and revise the plan as needed. The responsibility of scheduling these appointments falls on you. Make sure you attend each and every one so that your doctor can stay updated on how your treatment plan is working in order to help you remain healthy.
Always wear a face mask, if you are going to do any painting, in order to protect your airways from the fumes. Paint chemicals are a powerful irritant that can cause an asthma attack if inhaled without a mask. Take similar steps to avoid any chemical or other substance that tends to trigger your asthma attacks.
Asthma is a serious condition. You could die from an asthma attack, so it is best to avoid the triggers that cause you to have them in the first place. For instance, always carry around an emergency inhaler, and try to reduce the amount of airborne dust and allergens in your house. Apply these tips to gain control over your condition.
Attending a support group of asthma sufferers, or just sharing with people who have this condition, can really benefit you. Other asthma sufferers often have the best tricks for dealing with dangerous situations, and fighting the battle against asthma. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.