Asthma can be scary for the reason that it prevents you from breathing normally. Asthma may be quite restrictive and an attack can occur without warning, resulting in a life threatening situation. The information here can help make it clear what triggers asthma attacks, and it can provide you with ways to manage it and keep its effects limited.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
If you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be near vapors or other types of fumes. Stay away from jobs that would expose you to toxic or heavy vapors, and refrain from any tobacco use.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some of these include aspirin and NSAIDs. 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 have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Exhale with maximum force! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It also will push all of your air out of the lungs so that you can get more air in. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. 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.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
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.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
Think about the benefits of joining an online or in-person support group. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full life. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. 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.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Feather pillows can be bad for those with asthma. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. This extends to the rest of your bedding, as well. There are hypoallergenic comforters and sheets you can use to limit asthma symptoms.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. Exposure to these substances can worsen your asthma considerably. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.
You can join an online or offline support group. Asthma, especially if it is severe, can be quite debilitating and can keep you from being an active participant in life. 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.
If you have asthma, schedule checkups ever few months with your doctor to stay on top of your condition. This will allow your doctor to stay updated on your condition as it improves or weakens, and make the necessary changes to your treatments. The responsibility of scheduling these appointments falls on you. Make sure you attend each and every one so that your doctor can stay updated on how your treatment plan is working in order to help you remain healthy.
It can be fatal, too, if not controlled or treated. When you follow the advice from this article, you will manage your asthma through better breathing and improved activity.
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers. Start an attack journal to help identify these triggers, and share what you record with your doctor. Once they are known, do whatever it takes to prevent triggers from going off, and if possible, just wipe them out of your life and environment completely.