Asthma can be quite the problem for all people, young to old. Not only should you regularly see a medical professional, but you should also keep an eye on certain triggers. By following the ideas presented here, you can lessen your symptoms of asthma and reduce the chances that you will have an asthma attack.
What triggers your asthma? 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. Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Social Worker
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. Make sure you do your best in avoiding respiratory infections at all costs if you have asthma. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
If you deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
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. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Once you have cleaned your house, air it out; you should also eliminate utilizing any toxic chemicals inside.
It is best to use products that are unscented in the home with someone who is asthmatic. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
Asthma Support Group
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. 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.
Try joining an in-person or virtual asthma support group. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. Some people have even died from having an asthma attack, and they didn’t even know they had asthma. Always consult with a doctor to see if a persistent cough or difficulty breathing is a sign that you require treatment for asthma. There may even be things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. Protect yourself against allergens, dust mites and fungus to avoid exacerbating your asthma symptoms. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. When you are using a heater in winter time, you can run a dehumidifier for help controlling humidity. In the summer, running your air conditioner will allow you to keep your humidity down.
While using an inhaler can potentially cause mouth or gum sores, it is still important to use it daily if you suffer from severe asthma. One effective way in preventing these side effects and problems is to brush and gargle right away after you use your inhaler.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Animals are a danger to asthma sufferers who are already allergic to them, but pets also carry a wide array of dust particles and pollen, so avoiding them is a good move for anyone dealing with asthma.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
Bed Linens
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. You should immediately use your inhaler and use the inhaler again 30 seconds later. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Have someone call emergency services or drive you to the nearest hospital. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
Bed linens often collect asthma aggravators, such as pollen, dust and allergens. Use fresh linens to make up your bed on a regular basis. Fresh bed linens, laundered on a regular basis, will keep you breathing clearly and easily at night while you slumber.
Have your asthma situation checked out by a doctor every so often, so that you are not blindsided by changes in your condition. Your doctor should make changes to your treatment if they feel your condition has changed. It is important that you keep these appointments so that your doctor is able to keep you healthy.
Consult with multiple doctors. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Nutritionists, allergists, and pulmonologists are just some of the advisers who can change your life for the better.
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. They can help you with advice on what you can do in some situations, and they can also help you with information on how to to fight your asthma. One of the keys to fighting asthma is having the support of the people in your life.
Smoking is particularly bad for people with asthma. A lot of people know smoking is bad, but with asthma, it can be even worse. Not only should smoking be avoided, you need to be careful to stay away from people who do smoke because it is extremely harmful and will irritate your sensitive asthmatic lungs.
Up your intake of vitamin B6. Known as pyridoxine, vitamin B6 has been proven to reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Pyridoxine is very important in the production of certain molecules that will help relax bronchial tissues. Bananas are an easily accessible source of vitamin B6.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.
Knowing your catalysts for asthma attacks is the first step to preventing them. Consider keeping a journal to help you identify possible asthma triggers and discuss the results with your doctor. Once you know your triggers, do what you can to eliminate them from where you are, as much as possible.
Asthma is a serious condition. Asthma can lead to serious medical complications and even death, which is why you should do everything you can to avoid attacks. So, carry an emergency inhaler with you at all times, or you can take precautions like making sure your house is always free of dirt and dust. Hopefully, you follow these tips, so you can get a handle on your asthma, and control the symptoms better.
Keep track of any allergy symptoms you suffer and talk to your doctor if you have more than 2 attacks in any given week. Medical professionals agree that more than two attacks in any given week can be hazardous to your health.