Have you been diagnosed with asthma and wonder what this means? You are not isolated with your health issues. A lot of folks are curious to learn more about asthma, yet they are hindered by not knowing where to look. Read on to get a firm foundation of knowledge about your asthma, and find some tips and techniques you might not already know.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, however it is especially bad for asthmatics. Your lungs are already compromised from the asthma and adding smoke to that will cut off the vital oxygen supply your lungs need to breathe.
What type of asthma do you suffer from? If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
Cleaning Products
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. Many of the harsh chemicals inside cleaning products might trigger symptoms or even a full blown asthma attack. If you’re the one who regularly cleans the house, look for natural cleaning products which are much safer to use.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. Breathe out hard and fast. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. Never smoke yourself! Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Make certain you are doing the most you can each day to keep your symptoms under control. Take the proper medications needed for everyday symptoms, and always have quick relief medication by you at all times in the event an attack occurs. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Exhale quickly and hard. This will force the air from your 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. The breathing rhythm that you create by doing this will cause you to be aware of every breath you take. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. It would be better to just open a window if you are needing to get some airflow.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in closeted areas, the functioning of your lungs can decrease, and you may suffer an attack.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Products that contain strong scents, like incense, perfume, or air freshener can trigger an asthma attack just by lingering in the air. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
If you suffer from asthma, you should refrain from sleeping on a pillow that contains feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Emergency Medication
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is a condition traditionally treated with a combination of a regular medicine and an emergency medicinal inhaler. 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.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. How often you use your rescue inhaler should serve as a reminder that your environment needs to be monitored.
In wrapping up, asthma sufferers often are interested in learning more about this medical condition that they deal with everyday. The purpose here was to show you critical asthma advice that you can hopefully use, to alleviate the stress that this condition provides. Put these tips to use and you could find that the asthma just fades into the background and becomes a normal part of your routine!
Visit at least two different doctors. The first place to consider visiting is your main doctor, but they might also be able to recommend a specialist. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.