Asthma is a dangerous condition that has the potential to seriously affect your life. To prevent your asthma from becoming dangerous, you must learn how to properly care for your condition. This article has some tips and methods that will help you to better manage your asthma.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
When you have asthma, it is vital that you avoid cleaning products. Many of the chemicals in cleaning products can trigger asthma symptoms or attacks. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
If you suffer from asthma, strong cleaning products should be avoided. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
Asthma Symptoms
An increased propensity for asthma attacks has been linked with the utilization of multiple cleaning products. The more you use, the greater the risk of an attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Discover a location that is peaceful, and ensure you follow all the instructions that are given by the manufacturer. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
Avoid pillows stuffed with goosedown or other feathers if you have an asthma problem. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Cleaning Products
Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
To stay out in front of your asthma, make sure that you see the doctor to receive regular checkups. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.
To cut the risk of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as you can, particularly the bedroom of the person with asthma. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Don’t use strong cleaners or bleach and air out the house immediately following cleaning.
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. These can very easily cause an attack. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
You should know what triggers your asthma attacks; this will allow you to either avoid them or be ready to manage the symptoms. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. If at all possible, strive to avoid substances and locations that trigger your asthma symptoms or attacks.
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, make sure to have with you any written doctors prescriptions, especially when carrying some large asthma equipment like a nebulizer. Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
If you have symptoms that are getting more severe, see your doctor. As much as possible, take steps to use these tips to manage your symptoms, and improve life quality.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.