This information is for you if you have trouble managing your asthma. The advice in this article will help you cope with asthma and live an easier life.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. Particular cases of asthma can respond differently to the same treatment, so you need to know all that you can about your case to treat it most effectively. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals if you are an asthma sufferer. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
The symptoms of asthma might not always be apparent, but for those that suffer from the disease, the condition never goes away entirely. It is crucial that you have the proper medications for controlling asthma, as well as medication, such as a rescue inhaler to treat sudden attacks. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. This can vary from person to person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. This prescription will prevent the product of leukotrines and help to abate the symptoms of asthma. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. 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.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. Try hard to push the air out from your lungs! Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. The breathing rhythm that you create by doing this will cause you to be aware of every breath you take. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
Travel with your rescue medication on your person 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.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. While inhaling, spray the dosage in your mouth. Continue holding your breath for approximately 10 seconds. This way, the medication will soak into the cells of your lungs.
You can join an online or offline support group. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full life. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. Counting how many times you reach for your inhaler can be a good aid to remind you of what environments you need to control and what else you may need to manage.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. These vitamins help to control asthma symptoms and improve the function of your lungs. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
When cleaning your house, clean floors with a wet mop instead of a broom. An asthma attack is one possible outcome of a sweeping session that fills the air around you with allergens and dust. A moist rag chosen over a feather duster is the best choice for an asthmatic.
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. 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. Conscientious house-cleaning can help prevent buildup of substances in your home that might trigger an asthma attack.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. All of these air-borne pollutants can greatly increase your asthma symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Though dander allergies are often seen in conjunction with asthma, even asthmatics who are not allergic may have attacks that are triggered by the ancillary irritants transported by animals, including pollen and dust.
Avoiding smoke is key in controlling asthma. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. You should stay far away from smoke of any kind, chemicals and vapors. All of these will increase your asthma symptoms. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
Asthma sufferers need to stay inside as much as they can when the air’s pollen content is high. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. These days, information about the quality of local air is readily available, so people with asthma can avoid spending time outside when the air is full of things that irritate their lungs.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. While allergies from animals can complicate asthma, those without allergies can get asthma attacks from dust or pollen that the animals carry.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies, make sure you clean your humidifier before using it. If the machine stays wet, it can breed bacteria and you’ll end up pumping harmful allergens out into the air.
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. 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. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
If you frequently use your inhaler (more than two to three times per week), you should talk to your doctor about alternative methods of treatment or a different prescription. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Even though asthma is not technically an allergy, those who suffer from allergies often find their condition is exacerbated by the same irritants and triggers that those afflicted with asthma are affected by as well. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
Talking to other asthma sufferers, or attending a formal support group, can be a very effective way to cope with asthma. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. Being with supportive people will give you the motivation to take control.
If you need to use your inhaler more often than twice each week, this means your asthma isn’t adequately controlled and a medication change is required. This level of frequency can mean your medication is ineffective for your needs. Having to restock your inhaler more frequently than once every six months is also a concern.
Vitamin B6
Finding out as much as you can about asthma is a good way to help you manage your asthma. When you’re knowledgeable about your condition, you’ll be able to advocate for yourself and seek out the best possible treatment. Stay as current as you can to ensure you get the best possible care. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about asthma and its treatment.
Consume more foods which contain vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 — also called pyridoxine– can reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Pyridoxine improves the flow of blood and oxygen to your bronchial tubes. You can find a good supply of vitamin B6 in natural foods such as bananas.
Always wear a face mask, if you are going to do any painting, in order to protect your airways from the fumes. Asthma is strongly irritated by paint, so a mask will put a shield between you and it, and lessen the problem. Learn what type of chemicals trigger your asthma and try to stay away from them.
Asthma can be the result of genetics, environment or a combination of both. If you have a family history of asthma, be especially attentive when asthma like symptoms manifest in another family member. Air pollutants like smoke and mold spores can trigger an asthma attack, so keep your home clean to avoid irritation.
Joining a support group, or finding friends with a similar condition, can help you. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. Support from people around you is key.
You can soon enjoy a more active, healthier lifestyle by taking a few steps to better manage your asthma, just use the information provided in the guide as a starting point. With the information in this article, you can start living an active lifestyle, and start enjoying things you’ve been missing.
Finding out what causes your asthma attacks can be the most effective way to prevent them. Think about maintaining a journal or diary that you can review for recurring situations that led to an attack. These situations can help you detect your triggers. You can then pass this information on to your doctor. After you identify substances that trigger your asthma symptoms, you can avoid those substances in your environment or ask your doctor whether there is a medication that will allow you to go into an environment with those triggers and remain free of asthma symptoms.