If you are one of the many people who are struggling to cope with asthma, our information guide will definitely help you. The following information is compiled from great resources, and will give you the ability to quickly learn what you need to do to live a productive and happy life with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking isn’t healthy for anyone, but if you are afflicted with asthma, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs is just begging for an attack.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. Make sure you keep your child away from other people who are smoking, too.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
If you find yourself in a room that is dusty, don’t turn on any kind of fan. Dust blown around by fans can cause your asthma to rear up. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Asthma Symptoms
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Learn how to use an inhaler in the correct manner if you do not already know. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Don’t smoke! Do not breathe in the vapors or any other chemical fumes. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to a social worker. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Attacks Related
Lower the chances of asthma attacks by keeping a spotless home, particularly in the areas where you sleep. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. An antibody medicine known as omalizumab is very effective at countering asthma attacks related to allergies. Ask your allergist about it.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. The effects of some illnesses can exacerbate the effects of your asthma, causing the need for more treatments. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
A leukotriene inhibitor should be taken into consideration when asthma is a struggle. It works to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The prescription will help to decrease home much leukotriene is in your system and therefore, the number of asthma attacks you have.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. A flare-up can occur at any time, and your physician may have learned of a prescription medication that can treat your symptoms more safely and effectively.
Social Worker
When flying and bringing along asthma medications and equipment, be sure to pack your prescriptions. This is especially true for large items like a nebulizer. Without a written prescription stating that the item is medically necessary, you may experience frustration and delays at security checkpoints.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to a social worker. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
Avoid smoke to prevent asthma and asthma attacks. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Do not smoke. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma then you should avoid cigarettes and smokers like the plague. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Be proactive in controlling your asthma with regular visits to your doctor. Frequent check-ups help your doctor evaluate the effectiveness of your current treatment plan and revise the plan as needed. It is up to you to work with your doctor at regular appointments to keep your treatment plan working.
Unscented products are best for asthma sufferers. If you are using scented products like perfume, incense, or air fresheners you should up the level of air pollution in your home. Put down some new carpeting and throw up a coat of paint to get rid of indoor odors. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. Paint fumes can be irritating to asthma sufferers, but a mask creates a protective shield. Do not go use certain chemicals that will make your asthma worse.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Most with asthma share common triggers, like pet dander, pollen or smoke. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
A support group for those with asthma can really help, and so can simply talking to people about your condition. People who have to live with the disease will be able to share their own experiences, and give you tips on how to cope. Support from people around you is key.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
The best way to avoid having an asthma attack is to know what your trigger are. A journal is a good way to identify what has triggered an attack and provides you with a simple way to keep your doctor informed. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.
Keep all your doctors appointments even if your asthma symptoms aren’t bothering you. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Asthma can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or a little bit of both. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs of asthma if your family has a history of the condition. Asthma sufferers need to be especially careful to avoid smoke, dust mites, extremely high air pollution levels and allergens.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
Watch for allergy attacks and replace your medication accordingly, if you are experiencing an attack more than twice a week. Two asthma attacks a week or more is very avoidable danger to your overall health.
The information here will surely help to guide you through your asthma, as well as gain more control over it. With the information in this article, you can start living an active lifestyle, and start enjoying things you’ve been missing.
Try to strengthen yourself, and increase your lung capacity gradually. Do not gamble with your chances of triggering an attack by attempting a workout that is beyond your current skills.