Asthma can make your life difficult, frustrating and sad. Taking an outside walk, for example, might become impossible if you suffer with asthma. But, to make things worse, the disease is incurable and the symptoms are very hard to control. Read the tips in this article to learn how to handle your asthma.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? 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. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
Be careful of chemical cleaners if you are asthmatic. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
What triggers your asthma? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. 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.
A lot of medications can trigger an asthma attack without you knowing. Aspirin and other NSAIDs are known to be asthma triggers. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. 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. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications in order to manage everyday asthma symptoms. In addition, you should have a quick-fix medication handy in the event you suffer from an attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out quick and forcefully. Force all the air out of the lungs! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. Regardless of whether spetum is generated, it will aid in returning breathing back to a normal state.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. On smog-free, low pollen days, open your windows to improve airflow in the house.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Social Worker
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. It is essential that you can buy your asthma medicine, and a social worker might help you find a hospital or clinic that can provide your medicine at reduced cost, or free.
If you have asthma, try to avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke. When you breathe in smoke, particularly in an enclosed area, your lungs cannot function as well, and it increases your risk of having an asthma attack.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Food should not be eaten outside of the kitchen, and there should be no indoor smoking. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same goes for bedding – try to buy a comforter and sheets that are made from hypoallergenic materials.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
When the weather starts to turn colder, wear a scarf or shawl that covers your mouth and nose to help prevent asthma attacks. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, you should always strive to maintain a dry home. During winter, use a device to dehumidify in the winter, and air condition in the summer.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. A treatment made up of a daily medication plus a rescue inhaler can help to keep asthma under control. Because you will have asthma for the rest of your life, it is important that you take your maintenance medication properly, and that you use your emergency medication correctly.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Asthma doesn’t go away, so it’s important to be vigilant about taking your daily medication and using your rescue inhaler when an attack occurs.
If you’re flying with asthma medications, be sure you get a prescription from your physician. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
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. If you often have difficulty breathing or a persistent cough, it would be wise to make an appointment with your physician, so he or she can confirm whether you have asthma. If you do, your doctor can then prescribe medications to manage or treat it.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
As was previously stated, asthma is a condition whose affects should not be taken lightly. If you feel like you are losing control of the situation, go see a doctor. Understand that it will require some pretty large changes in your life if you wish to live healthily, but they can be accommodated in a minimal and even enjoyable manner.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Some asthma sufferers are allergic to animal fur or dander on top of their asthma, but even those who don’t have such an allergy can bring on an attack if they breathe in too much of these irritants.