Asthma can be very scary, whether you have it or someone you care about does. Don’t shy away from learning about how serious this disease and its complications can be. You need as many facts as possible about asthma so that you can keep it under proper control. The following tips will help you better understand what to expect when coping with asthma.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
If you suffer from asthma and you smoke, it’s crucial that you quit. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can provoke an inflammation that causes an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. An excellent antibody medication that works well to control asthma symptoms, brought on by allergic reactions is called Omalizumab, and can be administered by your allergist.
Properly use the inhaler every time you must use it. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. Hold your breath at least ten seconds, so that the medicated mist can fill your lungs.
Immune System
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. If you have asthma, it’s most likely triggered by things such as being around animals or pollen. Most asthmatics also can’t tolerate smoke. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
During the months that are colder, wear a shawl, muffler or scarf that will cover your nose and mouth to help you avoid asthma attacks. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. Your doctor may be able to prescribe more effective treatments and you may be suffering symptoms you’re not aware are related to your asthma.
Rescue Medication
Try joining an in-person or virtual asthma support group. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated by using a regular medicine supplemented with a rescue medicine, like an inhaler. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
If your home is damp, it can encourage the growth of mildew and mold. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Asthma is a disease that can develop slowly over time, making it sometimes difficult to spot the symptoms. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
Make note of how often, on a weekly basis, you use your inhaler. It is possible that your asthma may be out of control or that there are extenuating circumstances that are exacerbating your condition. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke can seriously affect the lungs and is a common asthma trigger. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. Exposure to these substances can worsen your asthma considerably. If there’s smoke around you, ask politely for the person to stop smoking.
Do not make the decision to smoke. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
Avoid aggravating your asthma condition while sleeping by covering your mattress and pillows with plastic before putting clean linens on. 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. You will breathe easier at night when you have freshly washed and clean bed linens.
Asthma Sufferers
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
Asthma sufferers should definitely stay indoors more when pollen increases. The same pollens and other irritants that cause trouble for allergy sufferers are also concerns for asthma sufferers, even though the two are quite distinct conditions. Since data on air quality is now widely published, those with asthma have the ability to avoid being outside when concentrations of irritants are high.
Try to gain as much information about affliction as possible. When you’re educated about your asthma, you can be proactive with the treatment. Stay current with treatment technology and get yourself the best care that you can. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about asthma and its treatment.
Don’t use a humidifier unless it’s been cleaned thoroughly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. People who have experience with the same disease as you can often provide a number of suggestions or tricks that work in specific situations – all of which can make your battle with asthma a little earlier. It is essential that you have a strong support network.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. Locate your inhaler, inhale deeply with the spray, and allow 30 seconds to pass before you reuse it. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. If there is someone nearby, have them call an ambulance or drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. 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. After you figure them out, try to stay away from your triggers, and take them out of your environment if you can.
There is much to learn about asthma. The tips in this article are just a few that will help you to manage your asthma, or someone else who is suffering from it. You can lessen the effect that asthma has on their life!
The following symptoms can signify a serious attack worthy of emergency room attention. The symptoms of a severe attack include reduced efficacy of medication, even in higher doses, along with gray or blue lips and fingernails. If your child is having difficultly talking normally, this may also be an indication of a life threatening attack.