So, you have just received an asthma diagnosis, and you feel stressed and panicky. Asthma, being a chronic condition, has no cure. Although there is no cure for asthma, treatments and medications exist to help asthma sufferers enjoy normal activities. This article offers ways in which you can effectively and safely manage asthma.
What triggers your asthma? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
You should not smoke or be anywhere near smoke if you suffer from asthma. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. It pushes air from your lungs so you can breathe more in. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Asthma Symptoms
If allergies lead to constant attacks from your asthma, there has been a recent solution that is administered via injection that provides long term care! Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications to manage common symptoms of asthma. In case of an attack, you need to have in your possession a medication that will provide almost instant relief. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. 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.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. 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.
Support Group
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. A dry home will help you out a lot more. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
Most homes are full of common asthma triggers. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
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. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. Always consult with a doctor to see if a persistent cough or difficulty breathing is a sign that you require treatment for asthma. There may even be things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. Having evidence from a doctor that the medication is necessary for your health will greatly help with security at the airport.
It is important to track how often you use your fast-acting inhaler each week. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. How often an inhaler is used can help to monitor the environment.
Asthma sufferers should minimize their contact with animals and pets. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
Visit at least two different doctors. Your family doctor will be in charge of your asthma treatment, but seeing a specialist can provide you with invaluable help. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. 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. Some specialists to consider visiting are those who deal directly with allergies or nutrition. This is a great way to attack asthma from all angles.
If you tend to suffer from any allergies or asthmatic conditions, always clean vaporizers very thoroughly, as well humidifiers and any associated apparatus. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers. If you don’t know what yours are, keep a journal to potentially show you what they are. After you figure out what your triggers are, do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.
If you’re finding that you need to use your inhaler 3 or more times a week, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching medications. Frequent use may be a signal that the medication is not effective. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
Asthma can be the result of genetics, environment or a combination of both. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs of asthma if your family has a history of the condition. Environmental conditions like mold spores, extra dust, pollution and smoke may cause asthma, so protect yourself and your kids from these hazards.
As the above article has demonstrated, it’s vital that you’re as prepared as possible in regards to managing asthma. If you educate yourself about the type of asthma that is affecting you, and the measures you can take to work through an attack, you can learn to manage your illness on a daily basis. This article will help you build your knowledge so you can effectively combat asthma.
Know what symptoms indicate a serious asthma attack that requires immediate medical intervention is occurring. Two common symptoms of an unusually serious asthma attack are asthma medication having no effect and lips and extremities that are blue or gray in color. Your child may also experience trouble speaking.