When you’re having an asthma attack, you may have a lot of trouble breathing. This can terrify you even if you’ve had an attack before and know what’s going on. Its onset can be instantaneous, and can even result in death. To figure out where asthma attacks come from and what you can do to reduce your risk and manage your asthma condition, take a look at the helpful advice below.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Keep your child away from cigarette smoke and any other kind of fumes.
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. You want to force all of the air from your lungs. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. It also keeps air flowing out of the lung,s so that you can refill them. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. Asthmatics should also never smoke. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. If you see people smoking in your vicinity, you should get away from them as soon as possible.
If you’re a sufferer of asthma, stay away from cigarette smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, stop. Inhaling the chemical-laden fumes and even the vapors from cigarettes can be extremely harmful. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. Never visit a home or establishment where people will be smoking, and if people start to smoke, walk out.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. 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.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Be knowledgeable about the factors that cause asthma attacks in order to avoid the triggers or develop a plan for managing the symptoms of asthma. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These include dust, mold and spores. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you 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. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.
If you’re flying with asthma medications, be sure you get a prescription from your physician. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
Using a preventative inhaler is important, but you need to know the side effects it can cause such as mouth infections. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. These can include 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. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. A treatment made up of a daily medication plus a rescue inhaler can help to keep asthma under control. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
Allergens, pollen and other irritants can collect in your linens and aggravate your asthma. A weekly wash cycle using hot water can eliminate these potential triggers for asthma attacks. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
For asthma sufferers having contact with pets or other animals need to be minimized. An allergy to an animal will worsen asthma symptoms, and an animal can carry enough dust or pollen to trigger an attack.
Untreated or unmanaged, this condition can turn fatal. The information in this article should have shed some light on what methods of management are available to asthmatics and what you need to do to be able to live a healthy and happy life with asthma.
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. Similarly, if you need to purchase refill inhalers more than twice a year, your medication is ineffective.