If you do not treat your asthma, it can quickly become dangerous. Not only can asthma attacks prove severe, some are flat out fatal. It is important to get the assistance of a medical professional; however, this should stop you from taking steps yourself. With these easy to follow pieces of advice, you can live a healthier life with asthma.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. You should not smoke and consider which jobs are appropriate for you, especially if you are thinking about working in a factory.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. You also need to be sure that your child isn’t around those that choose to smoke.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
Always use your inhaler in the proper manner. Go to a quiet place, and be sure to follow all instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. While inhaling, spray the dosage in your mouth. Then, don’t breathe for around 10 seconds so that the medication permeates your lungs.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
Avoid pillows stuffed with goosedown or other feathers if you have an asthma problem. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
Asthma Support Group
You may want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier for your home if you suffer from asthma. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
Try joining an in-person or virtual asthma support group. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. On top of that, an asthma support group will keep you apprised of the latest developments in asthma medication and other significant medical breakthroughs.
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These include dust, mold and spores. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. 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.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. These can very easily cause an attack. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
Those who have asthma should avoid down pillows. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.