With asthma, the worst case scenario is that you won’t even be able to do simple exercises for fear of causing a fatal asthma attack. You need to take the appropriate measures to manage the disease. Apply these simple tips to reduce your symptoms and prevent it from taking over your life.
What triggers your asthma? 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. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
It is very important that an asthma sufferer refrain from smoking, if you do then it is advisable you quit now. Although smoking is bad for all people, it is especially worse for asthma patients because it cuts off the oxygen supply that you need in order for your lungs to function and keep away asthma attacks.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. For others, it may be linked to physical exertion. Figure out what sets off your asthma so you can avoid it.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others experience an attack from physical activities. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Breathe out hard and fast. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! 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. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. If you cough or produce sputum, don’t worry. Just remain focused on your objective, which is to regain a normal rate of breathing.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Consider a leokotriene inhibitor if your asthma is not controlled by other methods. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, make sure that you consume enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke can seriously affect the lungs and is a common asthma trigger. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. Any one of these things can aggravate asthma symptoms and cause an episode. When anyone lights up a cigarette or cigar in your presence, politely inform them that you have asthma and ask them not to smoke beside you.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Avoid smoking. People know that smoking is dangerous, but it is even more dangerous to those with asthma. Smoke irritates the lungs of an asthma sufferer, so avoid the presence of people who smoke if you have asthma.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
Asthma sufferers should definitely stay indoors more when pollen increases. A lot of the same things that can bother people with allergies will bother people with asthma as well. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. You should immediately use your inhaler and use the inhaler again 30 seconds later. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. To calm yourself on the drive, bring a paper bag and breathe into it, as this will slow your breathing.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
If you need to use your inhaler more often than twice each week, this means your asthma isn’t adequately controlled and a medication change is required. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. It also isn’t working right if you’re having to refill the inhaler more than two times a year.
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. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Take in every piece of asthma information available to you. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. You can do this only if you learn all about your condition plus the treatment options available to you.
Treatment Plan
Have your asthma situation checked out by a doctor every so often, so that you are not blindsided by changes in your condition. This will give your doctor a chance to assess your current asthma condition, and make any needed adjustments to your medication. The responsibility of scheduling these appointments falls on you. Make sure you attend each and every one so that your doctor can stay updated on how your treatment plan is working in order to help you remain healthy.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
If you are going to be painting in your house, wear a mask, as it will protect you from harmful fumes. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Avoid substances and chemicals which can worsen your asthma.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
Up your intake of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. Pyridoxine is instrumental in producing certain molecules that help to relax bronchial tissue. Foods that are rich in B6 include the easy-to-find banana.