If you have been afflicted with asthma, it can be extremely terrifying. Know all that you can about your asthma so that you know what to expect in all situations. You need to be prepared for what could occur and when it could occur when you have asthma. The following information could be very useful to you.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. 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. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications in order to manage everyday asthma symptoms. In addition, you should have a quick-fix medication handy in the event you suffer from an attack. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. The fan will cause the dust to circulate through the air, which can cause you to suffer an asthma attack. It is much better to open a window when you are in need of some air flow.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are molecules that cause the tracheal muscles to contract; having too many leukotrienes makes asthma attacks more likely. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Social Worker
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Organic cleaning products should be selected due to their lack of irritating chemicals.
If you suffer from asthma and you are not eligible for health insurance, speak 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 suffer from asthma, avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke yourself. When you breathe in smoke, particularly in an enclosed area, your lungs cannot function as well, and it increases your risk of having an asthma attack.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. 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. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
Be keenly aware of the triggers for your asthma attacks. If you know the cause, you can stay away to prevent asthma attacks. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy unscented products. Using products with scents, like perfume, incense and air fresheners, boosts the amount of air pollution indoors and can bring on an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. 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 is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. There are many cases where people have died from their first asthma attack, without even being aware that they were at risk. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, be sure to get flu shots every year. This is doubly important for asthmatic children. Prevent these infections from occurring by going to get vaccinated each year.
If you are taking your prescriptions with you on a flight, make sure to take your prescription. Having proof that it belongs to you and is medically necessary will make the security check easier.
Support Group
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. 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.
You can join an online or offline support group. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full life. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
There is much to learn about asthma. The information that was presented here is only the tip of the iceberg of advice that is available for asthma sufferers. You and your doctor can work together to manage your asthma, and improve your quality of life.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. Sleeping with fresh bed linens will ensure you can breathe easy when you sleep.