If not managed properly, asthma can have serious consequences. Attacks can be serious, even fatal, unless they are controlled. It is important to get the assistance of a medical professional; however, this should stop you from taking steps yourself. Here are a few easy tips to help you get a handle on your asthma symptoms.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. You should also make sure your child is never in an environment where other people are smoking.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
It is very important that an asthma sufferer refrain from smoking, if you do then it is advisable you quit now. Smoking is bad in general for everyone, but it is particularly worse for asthma suffers because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the lungs, putting you at higher risk for asthma attacks.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. Be sure to take the correct medicines to keep your daily asthma symptoms under control, and always have emergency medication available in case an attack occurs. To determine the best options for you personally, consult your physician and an allergist.
Cleaning Products
When suffering a mild or even moderate asthma attack, attempt to push all air from your lungs. Exhale hard and fast. This will force the air from your lungs. Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. This gives your breathing a rhythm and makes you focus on your breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. If you cough up mucus, don’t worry – just get the breathing back to normal.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
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. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
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.. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh pain and new carpet also let off odors that are irritable to the airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. This prescription will prevent the product of leukotrines and help to abate the symptoms of asthma. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
Social Worker
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
For a deeper and more thorough cleaning, mop your floors instead of simply sweeping them. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
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.
If you have allergies and asthma, you need to avoid using a humidifier or a vaporizer unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.