You’ve just gotten the asthma diagnosis and are panicking. Asthma has no cure, which makes it a chronic condition. It doesn’t mean your life has to stop because of being diagnosed with asthma. This article will explain some helpful tips that can aid you to manage your asthma diagnosis.
What kind of asthma do 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. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
If you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be near vapors or other types of 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.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
Don’t smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor prevents the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a type of chemical substance which may cause inflammation and could cause an attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Asthma Attack
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. Avoid smoking altogether. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. If you are around people who smoke, leave the area very fast.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Using products with scents, like perfume, incense and air fresheners, boosts the amount of air pollution indoors and can bring on an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. So do whatever you can to stay away from vapors, chemical fumes and smoke from cigarettes. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
If you are going to be flying and are bringing your asthma medicine with you, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. Smoking is one of the worst things a person with asthma can do. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping can stir up some asthmatic triggers that will exacerbate your symptoms. Dusting can actually just move the dust around, sending particles into the air, and into your lungs triggering an asthma attack, so try wiping things down with a damp cloth to minimize the amount of allergens you are exposed to.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can breed in moist parts of the machine, and if it is unclean when you turn it on, it will just pump out allergens.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You can get rid of these by washing your sheets and other linens in very hot water each week. You will breathe easier at night when you have freshly washed and clean bed linens.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. Other asthma sufferers often have the best tricks for dealing with dangerous situations, and fighting the battle against asthma. It is essential that you have a strong support network.
Avoid smoking. People know that smoking is dangerous, but it is even more dangerous to those with asthma. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
Eat a lot of foods that have vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. How does this work? Pyridoxine is a chemical that reduces constriction in the bronchial tubes. This constriction is what brings on asthma attacks. You can find a good supply of vitamin B6 in natural foods such as bananas.
Stay Indoors
Keep the place you live clean, and make sure to sweep it regularly. Also, you need to wash pillows, sheets and blankets often. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.
Asthma sufferers should definitely stay indoors more when pollen increases. 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. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
If you’re having asthma attacks without control medications at hand, get a shot of something caffeinated. Coffee, strong black tea, or chocolate can reduce your asthma attack symptoms. It helps constrict the blood vessels and opens the airways.
Don’t panic when you have an asthma attack. Calmly use the inhaler. Use it again after 30 seconds has elapsed. If this does not help and your attack gets worse, you need to get immediate medical assistance. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.
Make sure that smoking does not ever occur near an asthma sufferer. If there is a smoker present, they should be directed to smoke outside or away from asthma sufferers. Heavy smokers can cause a person with asthma to have a full blown asthma attack, because they still carry the smell of smoke in their clothes.
90% of dealing with asthma is about preparing for attacks. Knowing all that you can about your particular type of asthma, and the different ways to address it is the best preventative course of action you can take. This guide is your initial step in building your knowledge on how to combat asthma effectively.
If you have a child with asthma who is under the age of five, watch for signs of an attack that require a trip to the emergency room. These signs include: having difficulty when speaking because air intake is insufficient, sucking in the stomach in an attempt to breathe and gasping for air. These symptoms, even one of them, could indicate an urgent need for medical care.