If you have been afflicted with asthma, it can be extremely terrifying. Know all that you can about your asthma so that you know what to expect in all situations. You need to know what you can expect and when so these tips will be helpful.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
What kind of asthma do you have? One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. 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.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. 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. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Asthma Problems
If you are suffering from asthma, stay away from any type of cigarette smoke. Refrain from smoking! Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your asthma so that you do not take any medications that could be harmful to you.
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.
It is always a problem if you have asthma and don’t have health insurance, but talking to a social worker may help you resolve this issue. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. 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 E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
IF you have asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
Keep your home meticulously clean to reduce attack potential if there is an asthma sufferer living there, especially the bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. 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.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
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 is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
Some of the most notorious causes of asthma attacks exist in normal households. These generally include dust, mold and spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
During the week, you should take note each time your rescue inhaler is used. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
Get a second opinion. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
As the article mentioned previously, it is important to know as much about asthma as possible. The piece provides only a glimpse of the vast amounts of information aimed at helping asthmatics manage their condition. Follow all directions given by your doctor and use prescription medications exactly according to the manufacturers instructions. This can reduce asthma’s impact on your life.
Ensure that you set up regular appointments with your physician every several months in order to be updated on your condition. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. You should always keep your appointments so that your doctor can follow up on your treatment plans, and work with you to maintain your health.