Do you suffer from asthma attacks or other symptoms? The tips you will find below will help you control these annoying symptoms.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Learning about your type of asthma will help you to deal with it. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Never smoke yourself! Do not breathe in the vapors or any other chemical fumes. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Try to determine your asthma triggers, so you can avoid them and prevent attacks.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor could add another treatment into your regimen until the illness is better.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. You want to force all of the air from your lungs. Breathe in by taking three quick breaths, followed by one very deep breath. Doing this will fill your lungs completely, and allow you to expel the air forcefully again. The breathing rhythm that you create by doing this will cause you to be aware of every breath you take. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Use your inhaler as directed. An inhaler is most effective if used in a relaxed location and according to the maker’s instructions. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Annual Flu
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. It is impossible to predict the next attack. Furthermore, newer or safer asthma medications may be approved in the time since you last visited your doctor.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
During the months that are colder, wear a shawl, muffler or scarf that will cover your nose and mouth to help you avoid asthma attacks. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. 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.
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 written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
To cut the risk of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as you can, particularly the bedroom of the person with asthma. Only eat in the kitchen, and never let anyone smoke inside the house. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you are sure it’s been thoroughly cleaned. If it is not clean you end up getting bacteria growth in the damp interior of the machine, and that ends up flooding the air you want to humidify with allergens.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. An inhaler is not of much use if you aren’t taking it correctly.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Learn all that you can learn about the condition you have. The more you know, the more proactive you’ll be in your own treatment. You will know that you are using the most effective methods if you stay current with asthma information. Make sure to explore new and different options to keep the symptoms of your condition under control.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. These can include dust, mold and spores. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Make sure you are getting enough vitamin B6. Getting increased amounts of B6, also called pyridoxine, has been scientifically shown to make asthma attacks less frequent. Pyridoxine improves the flow of blood and oxygen to your bronchial tubes. Bananas are also a wonderful source of vitamin B6.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
One thing that you must do is figure out what triggers your asthma attacks. You may even want to keep an asthma trigger journal so you can discuss this with your doctor. After you identify substances that trigger your asthma symptoms, you can avoid those substances in your environment or ask your doctor whether there is a medication that will allow you to go into an environment with those triggers and remain free of asthma symptoms.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent any of these mouth issues by brushing your teeth and gargling mouthwash as soon as you use the inhaler.
The etiology of asthma is both genetic and environmental. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Things in the environment, like smoke, pollution, excessive dust and mold spores can trigger asthma; therefore, be sure that you and your children avoid these agents.
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Sometimes smoke can cause an asthma attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
Know what asthma symptoms are an indicator of a life threatening attack that requires a trip to the hospital emergency room for your child. Some symptoms of a dangerous attack include blue or gray nails and lips and a lack of response to medications. Children in the midst of a serious asthma attack may have trouble communicating their condition.
If you read this article, you’ll learn some ways you can keep your asthma under better control. But knowing about the tips is only half the battle. It’s still up to you to apply them. Even if you only briefly ignore the signs that indicate an asthma attack may be on the horizon, your symptoms can quickly reemerge. By following the tips in this article, you will be able to manage asthma better.
Be sure to get the flu vaccine every year. It’s a good idea to be prepared and vaccinated, even if you normally sail through cold and flu season without incident. It is easy for an asthma sufferer to develop a sinus or respiratory illness, which can create serious complications.