Asthma is a dangerous medical condition that can affect all people, no matter what their age. You must go to the right doctors, and you should also watch out for a lot of different warning signs that can make your symptoms worse. This article contains several simple suggestions to help you better handle your asthma and lower the chances of an asthma attack.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. 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.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. This means you need to keep away from tobacco products and only seek out jobs where you aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals, smoke or vapors.
During an attack that isn’t severe, force all air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Get the air all out of the lungs. Inhale in three short breaths and one fourth deeper breath so that your lungs are comfortably full of air, then exhale forcefully again. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
Cleaning Products
Avoid using a fan in any room that has excessive dust. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. Open a window to bring clean, cool air inside instead.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications to manage common symptoms of asthma. In case of an attack, you need to have in your possession a medication that will provide almost instant relief. Speak to an allergist and doctor to see what’s best for you.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
If you have moderate asthma attacks, exhale forcefully, so that you force air from your lungs. Exhale as fast and hard as you can. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
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. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
A support group can offer empathy and information about new treatments and medication. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. Furthermore, these groups will keep you informed about any changes in medicines or any other scientific discoveries that are relevant.
If your child or yourself are asthma sufferers it is very important that you get the flu shot every single year. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Asthma can be quite debilitating, especially if the asthma is severe, and this condition can interfere with daily life. Also, other asthma sufferers can alert you to scientific breakthroughs and changes, such as new medications.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. A typical asthma treatment plan is daily medication backed up with an emergency inhaler. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Breathing in air that’s cold can trigger an attack, particularly in younger children that have moderate or severe asthma.
Keep notes on how often you are compelled to use your inhaler each week. When you find you are depending on it more than thrice during a week’s period on an ongoing basis it is a sign your asthma is not under proper control and could lead to serious attacks if not addressed. How frequently you need to use the inhaler can help you recognize any environmental changes you need to make.
Maintenance Medication
Do not smoke. Most people know how dangerous smoking is, but for someone afflicted with asthma, the dangers are ten times more serious. A person with asthma has sensitive lungs that can react adversely to smoke, causing an asthmatic attack. So an asthmatic should not even be in a room where other people are smoking.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
If you are using a vaporizer or humidifier, you should thoroughly clean it prior to use. If it is not clean you end up getting bacteria growth in the damp interior of the machine, and that ends up flooding the air you want to humidify with allergens.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not 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. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
When you suffer from an asthma attack, be sure to remain calm. Wait half a minute and try the inhaler one more time. If your attack worsens, call for help. Have someone call emergency services or drive you to the nearest hospital. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Consult with more than one physician. Your family doctor or primary care physician can be the person you go to regularly for asthma symptoms, but also talk to a few specialists. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
If you find yourself relying on your rescue inhaler more often than twice weekly, it may be necessary to speak with your doctor about changing medication. It means the medication used to calm acute attacks is either ineffective or not effective enough. This also applies to anyone who needs to refill their inhaler more than two times in a single year.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria could breed in this moist environment and get into the air once you turn the humidifier on.
Speaking to your peers, who also suffer from asthma, can be an eye-opening and life-changing experience. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. You need a strong support system!
Asthma should not be treated like a joke. Asthma is a dangerous condition with attacks that have the potential to be lethal. It is crucial to do what ever you can to keep your asthma under control. For example, always carry a rescue inhaler and reduce the airborne allergens and dust in your home. By implementing this advice, your symptoms may improve and you can keep your asthma under control.
Asthma can stem from environmental causes, genetics or other health issues. Common allergens often trigger an asthma attack and create the wheezing breathing
that is characteristic of the disease. Keep an eye out if you have any other family members who have asthma. Air pollutants like smoke and mold spores can trigger an asthma attack, so keep your home clean to avoid irritation.