Asthma is a medical condition that can take over your life if you do not treat it. Asthma attacks are severe and can sometimes even be fatal. You should always seek advice from medical experts, but when that’s not enough, you need to take active steps yourself. Here are a few easy tips to help you get a handle on your asthma symptoms.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. 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 to your allergist and doctor to see what they recommend for you.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! 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. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. This inhibitor can prevent leukotrienes, which makes you less likely to have an asthma attack.
It is crucial that you stay away from all types of cigarette smoke if you suffer from asthma. Never smoke yourself! Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. This can trigger an asthma attack, which may be difficult to stop. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
Talk to a social worker if you’re not eligible for any health insurance and you’re an asthma sufferer. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor is for the prevention of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a type of chemical substance which may cause inflammation and could cause an attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Move to a quiet area, and then simply follow manufacturer’s instructions. Remember that using an inhaler is only going to help you if the medication contained within makes its way to the lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
If you deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you that can trigger your asthma. Newly installed carpet or fresh paint in the home are both known to release chemical irritants. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Using four or more cleaners in your home can contribute to asthma attacks. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. If you are using scented products like perfume, incense, or air fresheners you should up the level of air pollution in your home. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Avoid smoking inside, and only let people eat in the kitchen. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Some triggers include spores, dust and mold. 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. Cleaning the house on a regular basis will also help prevent the buildup of these hazardous substances.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
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. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
See more than one doctor. Although your primary doctor can treat your asthma, a specialist may be able to provide further help. Nutritionists, allergists, and pulmonologists are just some of the advisers who can change your life for the better.
Maintenance Medication
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. Asthmatic lungs are extremely sensitive, and should not be exposed to smoke. Someone who has asthma should not only avoid smoking, but should also try to avoid being exposed to people smoking in their vicinity.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Because you will have asthma for the rest of your life, it is important that you take your maintenance medication properly, and that you use your emergency medication correctly.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
It is important to use your maintenance inhaler daily as prescribed. However, understand that most types of inhalers contain ingredients which may make your mouth more susceptible to infections. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. Spraying it into your mouth and then inhaling doesn’t work. Breath deeply each time you push your inhaler button. Properly using your asthma inhaler is one of the most important ways you, as a person with asthma, can protect your health.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
Check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you are maintaining your asthma condition correctly and successfully. At your doctor’s visit, the doctor will evaluate your asthma and make any changes to your treatment plan if they are required. You are responsible for ensuring you schedule checkups with your doctor in order for him or her to follow up on you, and ensure you remain healthy.
If you experience a sudden asthma attack, staying calm is extremely important. Use the inhaler, wait thirty seconds, and use once more. If this does not lessen the attack, get help quickly. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. Try putting a paper bag up to your mouth and breathing into it to help slow your breaths.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. The fumes from paint can easily cause your asthma to flare up. Having a mask will help you to prevent this. Avoid all substances and chemicals which trigger problems with your asthma.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Asthma may be caused by environmental factors, genetics, or possibly both. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Asthma sufferers need to be especially careful to avoid smoke, dust mites, extremely high air pollution levels and allergens.