If you have recently been handed a diagnosis of asthma, you may find yourself in a panic. No cure exists for asthma. Your life does not have to stop after you have been diagnosed with asthma. This article can give you some tips about how to deal with asthma.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. 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.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. 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.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Never smoke a cigarette! Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
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. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. An antibody medicine under the name Omalizumab can be used to reduce these symptoms caused by allergies and might be prescribed by your allergist.
Make sure if you have an inhaler that you are using it the right way. Find a spot that is peaceful, and then follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. The inhaler will only reduce symptoms if the medication can get to your lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. When you are afflicted with asthma, steer as clear as you can of all types of respiratory infections. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
Social Worker
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. By bringing down the humidity level, it will reduce dust mites and reduce asthma flare-ups. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
Consider buying a dehumidifier for the home if you have asthma. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
If you’ve got asthma, don’t smoke or be near smokers. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Avoid smoking inside, and only let people eat in the kitchen. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. Fragrances are present in hundreds of common consumer products, including cleaning supplies, perfumes, detergents and room sprays. Any of these items could easily increase the of triggering an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. During the cold, winter months, a dehumidifier can help. In the summer, an air conditioner naturally takes out a lot of the humidity in the air.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
Monitor how often, each week, you need your rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. The amount you utilize your inhaler can remind you to always monitor your environment as a means of effectively managing your asthma.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
Anyone with asthma should stay far away from smoke. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. Avoid triggers like vapors, chemical fumes, and cigarette smoke as much as you can. Exposure to these substances can worsen your asthma considerably. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Pay attention to how often you reach for your asthma 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. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. Use fresh linens to make up your bed on a regular basis. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
Smoking cigarettes is not a choice that should be made. Most people are educated about how dangerous smoking is, but it is much more harmful for people who have asthma. Smoke is very irritating to sensitive lungs, so take care not to smoke or be around others who are.
Do not smoke! Most people know how dangerous smoking is, but for someone afflicted with asthma, the dangers are ten times more serious. 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.
Follow up with your doctor three or four times a year to manage your asthma. Your physician needs to evaluate how you are right now, and decide if any changes need to be made. The responsibility of scheduling these appointments falls on you. Make sure you attend each and every one so that your doctor can stay updated on how your treatment plan is working in order to help you remain healthy.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Many areas provide air quality information publicly, allowing you to stay indoors when the air outside is poor.
A key way to manage your asthma is working to identify all of the things that trigger your attacks. If you aren’t sure what causes your asthma to act up, keep a journal. Write down what you were doing and where you were just prior to each attack. Bring your journal to your doctor’s office during each appointment so that she can help you figure out your asthma triggers. After you identify your triggers, make every effort to stay away from them.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. You should use your inhaler immediately upon the first signs of an attack. Once you have used it, use it again 30 seconds later. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.
Preparation and forethought are at the foundation of any asthma plan. By understanding this disease and how to manage it, you can keep it from escalating into a crisis situation. This guide is your initial step in building your knowledge on how to combat asthma effectively.
Be on the lookout for allergy attacks. You should switch medications if you have more than two asthma attacks each week. Getting more than two attacks a week is dangerous for your health and you should take action.