You should treat asthma as a serious condition that can impact your life negatively. It may not be something you can simply get rid of, but with a little work it becomes manageable. Learning ways to manage your asthma will keep your condition from becoming a potentially life-threatening issue. There are many tips in this article that can help you control your asthma.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some of these include aspirin and NSAIDs. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
Asthma is a disease that is ongoing and must be attended to every day. 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.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger an attack. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and hard. Get the air all out of the lungs. Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Hold your breath for at least 10 seconds to allow the medicated mist to fill your lungs.
If you have asthma, avoid cigarette smoke of all kinds. Don’t smoke! Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. You will need asthma medications, and if you are unable to afford them, a social worker can find a hospital or clinic that can offer you medication for free or for a little cost.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
It’s been proven that you should use no more than four cleaning products in the home. If you do it can increase the risk of asthma attacks. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Increase Asthma
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. The functionality of your lungs can be dramatically impaired if you inhale tobacco smoke, especially in areas with little ventilation, and you run a greater risk of attack.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. 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 see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
Be knowledgeable about the factors that cause asthma attacks in order to avoid the triggers or develop a plan for managing the symptoms of asthma. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
A humid home environment is a healthy environment for mildew and mold to develop. They are a nuisance for people with asthma; the asthma attacks they trigger require you to eliminate them. Therefore, you should always strive to maintain a dry home. 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.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Clean up your house regularly so these substances do not accumulate.
Understand how to properly use your own asthma medication, particularly the rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
Asthma Attacks
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. Having evidence from a doctor that the medication is necessary for your health will greatly help with security at the airport.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
It is important to use your maintenance inhaler daily as prescribed. However, understand that most types of inhalers contain ingredients which may make your mouth more susceptible to infections. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
Talk to your physician if you feel your symptoms aren’t improving. Try using the tips in the article so that you can reduce the frequency of attacks and keep your symptoms in check, and possibly enjoy life more.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering 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.