Your lungs are pretty important for healthy body function, so it’s not all surprising that a condition like asthma can put a damper on activities of daily living. Don’t give up, though; there are ways to participate in many activities while keeping your asthma control. You can make peace with your asthma and enjoy your life more if you follow wise asthma-management advice like that presented below.
Figure out what type of asthma you are suffering with. If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
If you suffer with asthma, avoid cleaning products. The chemicals in these products make you more prone to an asthma attack. When you are tidying your home consider using natural products that are effective for cleaning rather than traditional cleansers.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
You should ensure that every family member in your household gets a flu vaccine yearly. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections if you have asthma. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. In addition, cleaning the house regularly can greatly contribute to keeping these substances from building up.
Using over four kinds of cleaning products in the home can trigger asthma attacks. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
It is essential that you learn the proper ways to use all of your asthma medications, especially those used in rescue situations. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. People can even die from their very first asthma attack as they’re not prepared for it! Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. You may find that the stress of traveling makes an asthma attack more likely. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
During the week, you should take note each time your rescue inhaler is used. 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. If you notice an increased use in your inhaler, reexamine your management plan and check for any changes in your surroundings that may be triggering the asthma.
Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. A flare up can come at any time and your doctor can always look into safer medications for your particular symptoms.
For asthma sufferers having contact with pets or other animals need to be minimized. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. While your asthma treatment should start with your primary care doctor, visiting one or two asthma specialists can make a real difference in how well you understand and manage your condition. There are a number of different approaches used to treat asthma. See what a pulmonololist, an allergist or a nutritionist has to say about your asthma problems.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.
Do not smoke! Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Smoke greatly irritates the sensitive lungs of the person with asthma, so in addition to not smoking, someone with asthma should avoid people that are smoking.
If you have asthma, don’t stop using your inhaler unless your doctor tells you to. However, watch for infections in your gums or other mouth discomfort after using your inhaler. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
If you do have an asthma attack, make sure to stay calm. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. To slow down your breathing along the way, breathe into a paper bag.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. Your primary physician should always be your first stop when dealing with asthma, but you may find it helpful to add a specialist’s knowledge. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
You need to be educated in properly using your inhaler if you suffer from asthma. You can’t just spray into your mouth and softly inhale. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. Follow the instructions on your inhaler exactly to get the most benefit.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. There is a general awareness that smoking is not good for your health. But for the asthmatic, smoking can quickly have serious consequences. Smoking is very bad for people who suffer from asthma, be sure not to smoke, but not to be around people that smoke.
If you find it necessary to use an inhaler more than two times a week, you should talk to your doctor about changing your medication. Frequent use may be a signal that the medication is not effective. Additionally, if your inhaler needs refills more often than about every six months, you are in the same situation and should see your physician.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.
Joining a network of those who suffer from asthma, or simply talking to others who suffer from the condition, can have a positive impact on you. They are there to help you win this battle with asthma through great tips and well planned ideas. As with anything else, having the right support system can make a difference in how asthma affects your life.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can build up in the moisture of these machines, and get relayed into the very environment that you are attempting to make more conducive to your condition.
Asthma can be a lifelong fight, but it can also get easier everyday as long as you follow sound advice from your doctor or the tips laid out here. Medical technology keeps advancing, so maybe soon new medications or other treatments will be available that can help all relieve their asthma symptoms instantaneously.
You need to be educated in properly using your inhaler if you suffer from asthma. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Once you spray the inhaler you must take deep breaths for a couple of seconds. Proper use of your inhaler is key when you have asthma.