For millions of asthma sufferers, even easy physical tasks can seem overwhelming. Luckily, there are many ways to treat asthma that can eliminate fear from daily life. The advice below will provide helpful information that can help you manage this respiratory condition.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. 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.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Exhale with maximum force! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
Keep rooms free of dust, and do not turn on a fan if you do have dusty rooms. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. If you wish to have a breeze, open a window instead of running a fan.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you have asthma and these other conditions, let your physician know.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier for your home. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
During a mild to moderate attack, force all of the air out of your lungs. Exhale quickly and with power. This will force the air from your lungs. Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. 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. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Many things in the home release chemicals that irritate the lungs, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Locate a quiet place, and follow the label to a tee. The inhaler only can help if it’s medicine reaches the lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Keep yourself safe from these outbreaks by getting a yearly shot.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma can be quite debilitating, especially if the asthma is severe, and this condition can interfere with daily life. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Try joining an in-person or virtual asthma support group. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. In some serious cases, people have dropped dead due to an asthma attack without ever knowing they had asthma in the first place. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Bed Linens
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. 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.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. These things can cause your asthma symptoms to greatly increase. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Don’t smoke. Most people are educated about how dangerous smoking is, but it is much more harmful for people who have asthma. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. These days, information about the quality of local air is readily available, so people with asthma can avoid spending time outside when the air is full of things that irritate their lungs.
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. Write down potential asthma triggers in a journal and talk to your doctor about them. After you figure out what your triggers are, do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.
The easy and effective advice in the article above will give you the confidence you need to manage the common symptoms of asthma, and offer support to loved ones who suffer. Just because someone has asthma doesn’t mean that his life is over.
Remain watchful toward allergy attacks and change your medication if you experience more than two attacks per week. Most health professionals agree that having attacks more than twice a week is both dangerous and avoidable.