Asthma is a very dangerous condition that can really inhibit your lifestyle. If you use several different coping mechanisms and take the correct medication, you can usually manage most of your symptoms. Read on to learn some coping strategies for asthmatics.
What type of asthma do you suffer from? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. 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.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. There are many all-natural organic cleaning products available that may help eliminate asthmatic problems.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. Respiratory infections can seriously hurt those who suffer from asthma, so take measures to avoid contracting them. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
Asthma Triggers
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Knowing exactly what sets off your asthma is thus, very important.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. Inhaling smoke from tobacco products can compromise your lung function, which then makes you more susceptible to an attack. The risk of an attack from cigarette smoke is increased as the space you are in decreases.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections if you have asthma. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
Immune System
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. Traveling causes extra strain on your already stressed body, which makes your body more susceptible to bothersome asthma triggers. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Fragrances are present in hundreds of common consumer products, including cleaning supplies, perfumes, detergents and room sprays. Any of these items could easily increase the of triggering an attack. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. You cannot be certain when you will next have an issue with your asthma, or when there may be a better medication available to utilize for your condition.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. These include mold, dust and spores. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. 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.
Asthma Attacks
Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. 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.
As was mentioned before, asthma is a very serious condition that can become life-threatening if left unchecked and untreated. Never leave home without your inhaler. If there’s pollen or other allergens in the air, stay indoors as much as possible, and consider moving to an area of the country where the air is cleaner if pollution is a problem where you live. Use the tips laid out here to conquer your asthma, and stop it from cramping your freedom.
Avoid smoke, if you don’t want to have an asthma attack. Breathing in smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.