A wide variety of people suffer from asthma. Along with seeing your doctor, you need to also be aware of the warning signs that can make your symptoms worse. The following paragraphs will give you the information you need to deal with asthma attacks, and more importantly, reduce the frequency of future attacks.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Also, beta blockers, such as medicines used to control heart disease and high blood pressure. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. For some people, this can be pollen or other allergy triggers. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Make sure to take the right medication for controlling everyday asthma symptoms, but also have quick relief medication with you in case of an attack. Speak with an allergist or your doctor to determine the best care for you.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
Avoid using a fan in any room that has excessive dust. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. Open a window to bring clean, cool air inside instead.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
Talk to your doctor about getting a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
You may want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier for your home if you suffer from asthma. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. If you have asthma, it’s important to prevent all respiratory infections, if at all possible. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Cleaning Products
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. A great way to prevent this is to purchase some organic, non-chemical cleaning products. These all-natural products are safe when inhaled.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
When dealing with hay fever or a cold, you will notice an increase in your asthma symptoms. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. When you inhale tobacco smoke, you are severely increasing the likelihood of an asthma attack. This is especially true in small, confined areas with little to no ventilation.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
Scented Products
Asthma usually takes an extended interval of time to fully develop, and the warning signs are rarely obvious. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Certain things around the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. You should attempt to minimize your contact with cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, and noxious vapors. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. When anyone lights up a cigarette or cigar in your presence, politely inform them that you have asthma and ask them not to smoke beside you.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Keep food consumption to the kitchen and the dining room, and never allow anyone to smoke in the house. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
If you or someone in your family has asthma, all family members need to get flu shots every year. You can ward off a great number of these infections by having annual vaccinations.
Asthma can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or a little bit of both. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, watch very closely for any asthma-like symptoms in yourself or your children. Irritants in the environment, including smoke, pollution, dust and mold, can also contribute to asthma development, so you should minimize your family’s exposure to these substances.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
Keep a close watch on your allergy attacks and switch up your medication when experiencing several attacks per week. Medical professionals generally agree that when asthma is under control, there should be no more that two attacks in one week.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Observe your children mindfully for any symptoms or warning signals of food allergy. If you see any development of hives, or difficulty in breathing after they have consumed a specific food, you should have the doctor test them for allergies. Your child could develop asthma later in life after having these types of allergies.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. 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. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
Make sure you are annually vaccinated against the flu. Even if you have never been affected by the cold or flu in the past, it is still recommended you get it just in case. Flu, colds and sinus infections, which you are more vulnerable to being asthmatic, can affect your ability to breathe.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. During winter time, use a dehumidifier if necessary to control humidity while running your heater, and use your air conditioner during summer months to keep air dry.
If you have a child with asthma who is under the age of five, watch for signs of an attack that require a trip to the emergency room. Symptoms of a severe attack include: inability to breathe or speak effectively and gasping for air. If you notice any of these signs, get your child immediate medical care.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cool air has been known to trigger an asthma attack, particularly in very young children who have severe or moderate asthma.
If you have asthma, make sure that you do warm-ups before doing any strenuous exercise, and also cool down once you are finished. Doing both of these things will help prevent you from having a serious asthma attack during your exercise or after it.
Asthma is a serious condition. Asthma can lead to serious medical complications and even death, which is why you should do everything you can to avoid attacks. For example, always keep with you an inhaler which is good should you suffer from an attack. Also, lessen the amount of allergens and airborne dust in your home. If you use them, you may find that you can reduce your symptoms and feel better.
If you require the use of a quick-relief inhaler more than a time or two each week, or if asthma attacks wake you up at night, you may need to switch asthma medications. Inquire with your doctor!