Asthma is a serious affliction, that can limit your abilities, restrict your lifestyle and, at its worst, become life threatening. It is critical that you follow all available measures to keep your asthma well managed. You can use the following tips to take control of your life and not let asthma control it any longer.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Because asthma is a continuing condition, you have to continually manage your health. 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. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. The only way the inhaler can help is if the medication can reach your lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Hold in your breath for 10 seconds so the medicine works properly.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and with power. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. If you see people smoking in your vicinity, you should get away from them as soon as possible.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. If you have asthma, it’s most likely triggered by things such as being around animals or pollen. Most asthmatics also can’t tolerate smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Asthma typically develops over a long time, and sometimes the symptoms aren’t very obvious. In a lot of cases, people die from an asthma attack because they didn’t know they had the condition. Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
If you are flying with your asthma medications, especially a large piece of equipment such as a nebulizer, be sure to bring along a written prescription from your doctor. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
Avoiding smoke is one of the best asthma-prevention tips out there. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Make sure to stay away from chemical fumes and cigarette smoke whenever possible. All of those things can trigger and aggravate asthma 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 suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
Allergens and asthma triggers, such as dust and pollen can cling to your bed linens. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. Medical science is constantly evolving, so the doctor might know about a new treatment for you. Besides, you can never be sure when another attack might come on, so it’s better to be checked out.
Make sure you are going to different doctors. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. A pulmonologist, allergist, nutritionist and the staff at asthma centers can discuss a variety of treatments with you, to help you be sure you are following up on every possible good treatment available.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. They are a nuisance for people with asthma; the asthma attacks they trigger require you to eliminate them. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.