You’ve just gotten the asthma diagnosis and are panicking. No cure exists for asthma. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. This article is like a virtual library full of information on asthma symptoms and treatments.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
Are you informed about what type of asthma you suffer from? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. When you are tidying your home consider using natural products that are effective for cleaning rather than traditional cleansers.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Really force that air out of your lungs! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. For others, physical activities can cause them. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some of these include aspirin and NSAIDs. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. For example, Omalizumab can be used to keep your allergic reactions to a minimum and your asthma under control.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Push that air from your lungs with all that you’ve got! 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. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
Never use a fan in a dirty, dust-filled room. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. If you wish to have a breeze, open a window instead of running a fan.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, even if it’s secondhand. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
If you’re someone who gets an asthma attack related to allergy like symptoms, there’s medication you can use to help. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Feathers can trigger asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
Asthma Attacks
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Use a dehumidifier, and the air you breath will be much less likely to cause your asthma to flare up.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. During winter time, use a dehumidifier if necessary to control humidity while running your heater, and use your air conditioner during summer months to keep air dry.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
If you have asthma, or if your children have asthma, it is vital that you receive the flu shot yearly. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
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 who have asthma should avoid down pillows. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. You can get rid of these by washing your sheets and other linens in very hot water each week. If there are always fresh linens on your bed, you are much more likely to sleep restfully without unexpected asthma attacks.
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 way, the air will be warm before entering 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.
Stay away from smoking. If you have asthma, you could have serious health complications from smoking. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. How frequently you need to use the inhaler can help you recognize any environmental changes you need to make.
Keep your living area swept and clean. Also make sure to wash your bedding frequently. By doing this, you stop the accumulation of dust mites, a common trigger for asthma attacks. When the dust has a chance to build up, the air can irritate asthma sufferers and put them more at risk of having an attack.
Bed Linens
If you are experiencing 3 or more asthma attacks per week, it is a serious signal that you may need to adjust your medication. Doctors and nurses alike are in agreement that if you suffer from two or more attacks per week, you are at unnecessary risk.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
One important way for you to limit asthma agitation is by banning smoking in areas where affected persons will be, namely your living space and car. If you know someone who smokes, ask that they do so outdoors away from the asthmatic. A heavy smoker can trigger someone’s asthma attack simply because they are carrying a heavy smoke scent on their clothing.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
Keeping your home clean and dry will help you to avoid asthma attacks. A dehumidifier will control your home’s moisture. Maintaining a steady level of humidity in your home will help you to control your attacks.
As you are now aware, living with asthma has to do with preparation. You can avoid the serious complications of an asthma attack by managing your symptoms properly. After reading this article, you should know how to manage your asthma better.
If your child is younger than five and has asthma, always watch to see if an attack will require that you take them to the ER. Serious symptoms to watch for include: gasping, difficulty speaking due to lack of air, and trying to breathe while sucking in the stomach area below the rib cage. Any of these symptoms means you have to seek medical help for your child right away.