Asthma is a serious medical condition that can have a huge impact on your life. You have to take the right steps in battling it so that it won’t become severe as prevention is much easier than having to react to a major attack. This article has some tips and methods that will help you to better manage your asthma.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? Being fully informed about the specific type of asthma you have is very important. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. Secondhand smoke is known to be a reason asthma happens. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing 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 are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking is horrible for people, it is really bad if asthma becomes worse and blocks oxygen to your body, you need oxygen to work and stave off asthma.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Get to a place out of the way, and read the directions before starting. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Hold your breath at least ten seconds, so that the medicated mist can fill your lungs.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Social Worker
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see 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.
It is always a problem if you have asthma and don’t have health insurance, but talking to a social worker may help you resolve this issue. Asthma medications are never cheap, but it’s vital that you receive them and that is the social worker’s goal. He or she will deal with the clinics directly in efforts to remedy the situation.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Try organic cleaners that are free of irritating chemicals.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. 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.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Avoid your asthma triggers as much as you can to prevent attacks.
Scented products could cause averse reactions to asthma sufferers. It is safest to use unscented products when possible. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Many things in the home release chemicals that irritate the lungs, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Asthma can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
Be certain you are aware of all your asthma attack triggers so you know both how to steer clear of them and also be ready to take care of your symptoms. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Make a special effort to avoid agents that bring on even minor asthma symptoms, much less a major attack.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
Written Prescription
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. Exposure to these substances can worsen your asthma considerably. If there’s smoke around you, ask politely for the person to stop smoking.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
Being around animals should be avoided. 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.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you use it very often, you may not have it under control. Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
Don’t use humidifiers or vaporizers in your home until they have been rigorously cleaned, if you suffer from either asthma, allergies or both. Bacteria can breed in moist parts of the machine, and if it is unclean when you turn it on, it will just pump out allergens.
When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke is one of the primary triggers of asthma. Stay away from cigarette smoke, fumes, and vapors as much as you can. These can aggravate your asthma symptoms. If there is someone who always smokes around you, you should politely ask this person to smoke when you aren’t present.
Know how to properly use your inhaler if you’ve got asthma. Don’t just breathe normally or shallowly after spraying inhaled medication into your mouth. With each spray, you have to take a deep breath so that the medication gets into your lungs. If you are having trouble using it correctly, ask your doctor for help at your next visit.
Stay away from smoking. A lot of people know that smoking is bad for you, but if you have asthma it is far worse. 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.
Always wear a face mask, if you are going to do any painting, in order to protect your airways from the fumes. Paint fumes can be irritating to asthma sufferers, but a mask creates a protective shield. Avoid substances and chemicals which can worsen your asthma.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. First thing first, use your inhaler, then wait 30 seconds and begin to use it again. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. On your way to the hospital, breath in and out in a paper bag in order to help calm yourself and get your breathing down to a normal pace.
You could gain some comfort from attending a support group geared toward asthmatics or even by just communicating with people with the same issues. They can help you with advice on what you can do in some situations, and they can also help you with information on how to to fight your asthma. Keeping supportive people in your daily life is very important.
If you believe that your symptoms are becoming much worse, make sure you see your doctor. Try using the tips in the article so that you can reduce the frequency of attacks and keep your symptoms in check, and possibly enjoy life more.
Keep your home dusted and mopped. Wash your bedding, including pillows, regularly. By keeping these items clean, you avoid any dust buildup which attracts dust mites, a typical trigger of asthma attacks. Dust build up can increase your chances of getting an asthma attack as causes irritation to your breathing.