If you suffer from asthma, you know that this chronic condition can limit your freedom and happiness. Yet, you should keep in mind that there is much you can do to manage your asthma if you combine certain medications along with key coping strategies that you learn. Read this article to learn more about strategies you should use.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. 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. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. There are many all-natural organic cleaning products available that may help eliminate asthmatic problems.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. A lot of agents in cleaners tend to trigger asthma attacks and symptoms. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
Asthma is a disease that is ongoing and must be attended to every day. 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. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
If you find yourself in a room that is dusty, don’t turn on any kind of fan. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. On smog-free, low pollen days, open your windows to improve airflow in the house.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Get the air all out of the lungs. Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
If you’re someone who gets an asthma attack related to allergy like symptoms, there’s medication you can use to help. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
If you find that you are in a dusty room, do not put on any type of fan. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Talk to a social worker if you have asthma and no health insurance. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
While everyone appreciates the look and feel of a clean house, asthma sufferers in particular benefit from a healthy environment as it can decrease the risk of asthma attacks, especially in a sleeping area. Only permit food in designated eating areas, such as the kitchen or dining room, and don’t allow smoking inside the house at all. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. During the cold, winter months, a dehumidifier can help. In the summer, an air conditioner naturally takes out a lot of the humidity in the air.
Rescue Medication
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 before it gets in your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Be sure to thoroughly understand how to utilize asthma medication correctly, particularly any rescue medication. Typical asthma treatment includes regular medicine supplemented by a rescue inhaler. Asthma is not curable, so it is very important that you take your medication properly and only use your rescue medication if you need it.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
Inhalers are important to use every day, but be aware that inhalers have been known to cause infections near the teeth and gums. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. 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.
Keep in mind that mopping your floors with a wet mop will cause less asthma problems than sweeping will. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. 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.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. 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.
Again, asthma isn’t to be taken lightly. If you ignore your symptoms, you could end up in the hospital or even die. Always have an emergency rescue inhaler around you at all times and stay away from your triggers. Apply these tips to help you overcome your asthma symptoms, and prevent them from restricting your freedom.
If you are going to paint your home, purchase a mask beforehand so that you will not breath the fumes. Paint can irritate asthma a great deal, so a mask will create a protective shield to combat this issue. In general, you should avoid anything that will trigger an asthma attack or worsen your asthma symptoms.