Asthma can be an especially frightening condition because of the way it makes it difficult to get the air you need to survive. It can pop up for no reason and may be fatal. This creates limits on your life. This article is here to help you prevent asthma attacks and manage your condition efficiently to live a normal life.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Many chemicals that are in these products can cause the triggering of asthma attacks. If you clean the home, there are many natural products that are safe to use.
If you’re suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. It would be better to just open a window if you are needing to get some airflow.
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 as fast and hard as you can. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, stay away from all types of cigarette smoke. Smoking is off limits. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. Omalizumab can effectively control allergy symptoms you may be experiencing and can be suggested by your local allergist if it fits your needs.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
If you have asthma and do not have health insurance, you should consider seeing a social worker. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. 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.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. This means that you should take all standard precautions to avoid illness, such as washing your hands, getting vaccinated and avoiding those who are sick.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Cleaning Products
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Flu Shot
If you have asthma, don’t smoke. People know that smoking is dangerous, but it is even more dangerous to those with 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.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
You need to be educated in properly using your inhaler if you suffer from asthma. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Every single time that you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you must, for a couple of seconds, breathe deeply. A rescue inhaler will not help you if you aren’t breathing it in correctly.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. They can offer you tips about handling different situations and help you manage your asthma. Surround yourself with people who understand asthma and support your fight against it.
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Asthma, especially the more severe forms, cause many problems that interfere with the quality of life and present many challenges. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Keep your home clean and well swept. You should wash sheets, pillows, and blankets very frequently. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. When you have a build-up of dust in the air, your lungs will suffer and that can set off an attack.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. Use a dehumidifier during the winter time so that you can keep humidity in control when you use a heater. You can use the air conditioning in your household during summer time to get the same affect.
If you have two or more attacks in a week, it is probably time to change your medication. That many attacks in a week can be dangerous, and does not even need to happen according to medical professionals.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
Be on the lookout for symptoms of allergic reactions to food in your kids. If they develop hives or have difficulty breathing after consuming a specific food, have their pediatrician test them for that allergy. Allergies can be a sign that asthma is not far behind.
If not properly treated and controlled, asthma can be fatal. The information in this article should have shed some light on what methods of management are available to asthmatics and what you need to do to be able to live a healthy and happy life with asthma.
Be aware of the signs of an asthma attack, if you have an asthmatic child less than 5 years old, in order to know when professional medical care will be necessary. This includes: gasping, difficulty speaking and sucking in air beneath the ribcage in an effort to breathe freely. Any of these symptoms means you have to seek medical help for your child right away.