You are starting to panic because you have been told you have asthma. Asthma is a disease that is chronic, which means you cannot cure it. However, you shouldn’t consider your life to be over just because you have received this diagnosis. Keep reading to gain insight as to what you can do to keep this serious disease under control.
You should avoid smoking and any type of fumes if you suffer from asthma. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
Exacerbate Asthma
What triggers your asthma? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Keep your child away from cigarette smoke and any other kind of fumes.
Asthma is a chronic condition, requiring constant health management. 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. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Get the air all out of the lungs. Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. You can choose to ingest this vitamins by eating foods that are rich in the vitamins or through a supplement. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Get the air all out of the lungs. Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
If you have asthma, avoid people who are smoking. The functionality of your lungs can be dramatically impaired if you inhale tobacco smoke, especially in areas with little ventilation, and you run a greater risk of attack.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
Asthma Attacks
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. 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.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. Protect yourself against allergens, dust mites and fungus to avoid exacerbating your asthma symptoms. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack 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.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Go to several doctors. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and also nutritionists can assist you in exploring every avenue of treatment for your asthma.
Breathing Cold
Finding out what causes your asthma attacks can be the most effective way to prevent them. A notebook is a good idea for finding specific triggers, so you can talk about them with your physician. Once you’ve figured out what your triggers are, work to remove them from your environmental and avoid them in your day to day life.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Keep the place you live clean, and make sure to sweep it regularly. Also, wash all of your bed linens regularly. Cleaning will prevent dust and mites from building up, lessening the risk of asthma attacks. When you have a build-up of dust in the air, your lungs will suffer and that can set off an attack.
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. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
If someone in your home has asthma, do not allow smoking in your vehicle or home. Those who smoke should do it outside, a good distance away from your home and from the asthma sufferer. Smokers that have the scent on them can trigger asthma attacks.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
Make sure to get vaccinated yearly for the flu. Flu vaccinations are a proactive strategy against attacks that is worth the time and effort. If you have asthma attacks, you have a greater chance of seriously suffering from sinus and respiratory infections of the flu.
As seen here, it is important that you are prepared in order to manage asthma. You can avoid the serious complications of an asthma attack by managing your symptoms properly. After reading this article, you should know how to manage your asthma better.
If your child is under age 5 and has been diagnosed with asthma, you should be watchful for signals of an attack requiring immediate medical attention. Some symptoms to watch for include: an inability to inhale adequate air, difficulty making sounds and speaking, extreme concavity of the abdomen while inhaling and gasping for breath. If you see any of these symptoms, your child is in need of immediate medical care.