Some tasks that seem unremarkable to ordinary people can be terribly challenging to those people, young and old, who have an asthma condition to deal with. Thankfully, there are a lot of different treatment plans available that can help to put you at ease in your everyday life. These suggestions are sure to give you a better idea of how to deal with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Stay away from jobs that would expose you to toxic or heavy vapors, and refrain from any tobacco use.
Are you informed about what type of asthma you suffer from? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
Asthma Attack
Unfortunately, asthma sufferers must realize that their condition is chronic which requires ongoing treatment. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
If you have asthma and have frequent attacks that are related to allergies, there are medicines that can be injected to provide you with long-term relief. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For others, physical activities can cause them. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. After inhaling, it’s important that you hold the medication in by holding your breath for 10 seconds at the least.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
Join a support group, online or in “real life”, to find help from your peers. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the 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. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. 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.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. 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 is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Even if you seem to be fine, see your doctor regularly for your asthma checkups. 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.
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, avoid using a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is consistently and thoroughly cleaned. The moist environment of a humidifier can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can irritate allergies or trigger an asthma attack.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. 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.
Make sure you keep calm if you are having an asthma attack. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Have someone call an ambulance for you, or have them bring you to a hospital. Breathe into a paper bag for assistance in slowing your breathing during the trip to the hospital.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
When you have asthma, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. Your physician needs to evaluate how you are right now, and decide if any changes need to be made. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.
Asthma typically develops over a long time, and sometimes the symptoms aren’t very obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
Up your intake of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 — also called pyridoxine– can reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. How does this work? Pyridoxine is a chemical that reduces constriction in the bronchial tubes. This constriction is what brings on asthma attacks. You can find good reserves of vitamin B6 in bananas.
You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Knowing what triggers your asthma is an extremely important thing to know in order to prevent your attacks. A good way to do this is to keep a small journal or notebook. Record each asthma attack and what was happening when it occurred. Discuss this information with your doctor, and he will help you to identify triggers. Many people have success controlling their asthma by eliminating known asthma triggers.
Stop smoking. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke greatly irritates the sensitive lungs of the person with asthma, so in addition to not smoking, someone with asthma should avoid people that are smoking.
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. If they’re having a serious attack, look for increased medication use that has little or absolutely no effect and blue or grayish lips and fingernails. Your child may also experience trouble speaking.
Remain calm in the event of an asthma attack. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. If your attack worsens, get help. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
Make sure you are aware of food allergies that your children might have. If hives or breathing issues appear after eating, take them to a doctor for an allergy test. These allergies could be indicative of a predisposition to asthma.
Now that you know more about how to handle your asthma, you can confidently handle it, and support others with the condition. Having asthma isn’t the end of your life as you know it. The advice in this article can help comfort you or your loved one.
Get yearly flu vaccinations. Even if the flu or cold seasons do not affect you, it is still better to get vaccinated against them. If you are asthma attack prone, you are also more likely to have suffer from any sinus or respiratory infection, particularly those that are flu-related.