Asthma can be a challenging condition. It takes away your ability to do simple every day tasks, like going for a walk outside. To make matters worse, there is no cure for asthma, and it is hard to manage the symptoms. Follow the tips below to prevent asthma attacks and manage your symptoms.
Ensure your child is never around smoke to handle their asthma. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
What type of asthma do you suffer from? One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. If you have exercised-induced asthma, for example, you’ll want to bring your inhaler with you to the gym or other locations where you might be involved in physical activity. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Try to force the air out of your lungs! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. 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. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. You might even get a new treatment added onto our existing program until the illness subsides.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
Don’t skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven’t had any recent asthma attacks. 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.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. 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.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
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. Having proof that it belongs to you and is medically necessary will make the security check easier.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
Consult with multiple doctors. Your primary physician should always be your first stop when dealing with asthma, but you may find it helpful to add a specialist’s knowledge. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and nutritionists can help you take advantage of the many treatments available to those with asthma.
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. If the inhaler does not provide immediate help, get medical help right away. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. To calm yourself on the drive, bring a paper bag and breathe into it, as this will slow your breathing.
Don’t smoke. Pretty much everyone is aware that smoking is dangerous, but for people suffering with asthma, it can have devastating effects. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
Learn as much as you can about asthma. Having the right information can enable you to choose the treatments that are right for you, and help reduce symptoms. Keep up to date on the different treatments and always be sure to have the best possible care for yourself. There is no other way to get the best care possible than educating yourself on asthma, and staying informed about your treatment options.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. Now that local air quality information is available in most areas, asthma sufferers can minimize their outdoor exposure when potential irritants are in the air.
Always wear a face mask, if you are going to do any painting, in order to protect your airways from the fumes. Paint could irritate asthma greatly, but using a mask will act as a protective shield needed to fight this issue. Use proper safety equipment to protect yourself from chemicals that can agitate your asthma condition.
Don’t use a humidifier unless it’s been cleaned thoroughly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. Support from people who understand your situation is key.
Talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication if you find yourself using the inhaler 3 or more times per week. Frequent asthma attacks indicate that your inhaled medication isn’t keeping your asthma under control. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
As has already been mentioned, asthma is a severe medical ailment that should not be taken lightly. Take the appropriate steps to prevent and reduce symptoms, and consult professional help if you think that the symptoms are starting to get out of control. Use these suggestions to reduce your symptoms so you can avoid having asthma control your life.
Speaking with people in an asthmatic support group, or chatting with friends who also have asthma, can be helpful. Your support group can give you some suggestions on how deal with certain situations, and help you to fight your asthma. It is essential that you have a strong support network.