Asthma is scary, regardless of who is affected by it. You should know that asthma can be horrible to deal with, make sure you can deal with it. Know what you need to do and how to go about it by arming yourself with the knowledge in these tips.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
Cleaning Products
You want to make sure you can avoid situations that could trigger your asthma. For some people, this is allergy related; things like pollen and dust can start an attack. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you’re the one that cleans your home, try organic or natural cleaning solutions that are much less risky to your health.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Breathe out hard and fast. Force your lungs to expel as much air as possible. Inhale three times with short breaths, and then on the fourth one take a deeper breath so your lungs are full of air but still comfortable. Then breath out as hard as you can again. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Allow the mist to fill up your lungs by holding your breath at least ten seconds.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This will make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. 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.
If you have asthma and find yourself having frequent attacks caused by alleries, it may be time to consider a long-lasting medication. There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. 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.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
Using more than four different types of cleaning products in your home has been shown to increase the risk of an asthma attack. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Those who experience asthma are susceptible to some common things like pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Feathers can trigger asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
If you suffer from asthma, you should refrain from sleeping on a pillow that contains feathers. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Extremely severe asthma can be debilitating and prevent one from living a full 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.
As stated earlier, there is a lot that you should know about asthma. The article above is a starting point in helping you or someone you love deal with asthma. By taking all of this advice together, you are sure to help limit the toll that asthma has taken on your life.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.