You can still live the active life you want, despite having asthma, as long as you find the information you need to face the daily challenges asthma presents. You can keep your asthma in check and prevent it from lowering your quality of life through a variety of methods, techniques and treatments. Here are some suggestions that can help you live with asthma.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. 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.
Figure out what type of asthma you are suffering with. When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health 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. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
Asthma Symptoms
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. Your inhaler will only help if you breathe very deeply. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. 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.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
Flu Shot
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. If you choose to sweep, you’re swirling up a tornado of dust and allergens, both of which are common triggers for asthma symptoms. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. The fumes from chemicals, or smoke from cigarettes, should be avoided at all costs. Things like this can make your asthma worse. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. You can eliminate or reduce these inducers by washing your pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
If you do have an asthma attack, make sure to stay calm. Locate your inhaler, inhale deeply with the spray, and allow 30 seconds to pass before you reuse it. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. If there is someone nearby, have them call an ambulance or drive you to the nearest hospital. To slow down your breathing along the way, breathe into a paper bag.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. It’s not enough to spray a little into your mouth and breathe softly. You must breathe deeply for at least a few seconds when using your inhaler. If you are having trouble using it correctly, ask your doctor for help at your next visit.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. They are a nuisance for people with asthma; the asthma attacks they trigger require you to eliminate them. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. During winter time, use a dehumidifier if necessary to control humidity while running your heater, and use your air conditioner during summer months to keep air dry.
Finding out as much as you can about asthma is a good way to help you manage your asthma. The more you educate yourself about your asthma condition, the more you are able to be proactive about your treatment. Stay as current as you can to ensure you get the best possible care. You can easily know this information by further developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering treatment options.
Fresh Linens
Genetics and/or environmental factors can cause asthma. If your family has a history of asthma, pay special attention to any respiratory symptoms that may indicate that you or a family member is developing asthma. Environmental conditions like mold spores, extra dust, pollution and smoke may cause asthma, so protect yourself and your kids from these hazards.
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 will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
If you do not have your inhaler or medication present when you have an asthma attack, find some caffeine. Strong black tea, coffee and chocolate can help reduce attack symptoms. The caffeine in these foods can constrict blood vessels, allowing your airways to open.
Go to several doctors. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and also nutritionists can assist you in exploring every avenue of treatment for your asthma.
A yearly vaccination for the flu virus is a wise idea. 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. Upper-respiratory infections or sinus infections can cause a significant increase in symptoms if you are at risk of asthma attacks.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. Asthma suffers can now minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants and irritants by checking online for current air quality in their areas.
A place you can set aside in your home can help you reduce asthma symptoms in your home. Regular use of a dehumidifier can control the level of moisture in your home. If you work to keep the humidity levels in your home steady, you will decrease the number of seasonal attacks.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. The moist environment of a humidifier can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can irritate allergies or trigger an asthma attack.
Don’t do a lot of exercising outside when it’s cold and the air is dry. When your bronchial airways become dry and cool, this can lead to an asthma attack. Thus, if you want to exercise outdoors, ensure it is humid and a little warm before you begin.
The tips you just read highlight the variety of methods that exist for dealing with asthma. Having asthma does not mean that your life has ended; if you develop a strategy on how to cope with it, you will live a much more satisfying life.
If you have asthma, you should make sure you always do warm-ups before you do any type of strenuous exercise. Immediately after you finish this exercise, you should do cool-downs. Doing these will reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack.