Asthma, like any respiratory condition, can be extremely scary, since it interferes with your ability to take in oxygen, which is required to live. Its onset may be rapid and unforeseeable; it may restrict your activity and even threaten your life. This article provides a wealth of information about why asthma attacks occur, and it gives you some tips for coping with it and lessening the limits it might put on you.
There are many different types of asthma. Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
Asthma Symptoms
If you suffer from asthma, stay away from the fumes of household cleaning products. Cleaning products are often full of chemicals, and breathing those chemicals in can irritate your lungs. If you’re the one who regularly cleans the house, look for natural cleaning products which are much safer to use.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. Find out from your allergist and your doctor what is best for you.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. With less humidity, there will be fewer dust mites, and that means that there is less of a chance that your asthma will flare up. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. A lot of people use inhalers improperly, so be sure that you’re adhering to the manufacturer’s suggested instructions. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. While inhaling air, spray the proper amount of inhalant into your mouth. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. They are believed to aid respiratory function and to be instrumental in keeping your asthma in check. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
Your home might harbor several of the major triggers of asthma attacks. These causes can include dust, spores and mold. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. The majority of asthma sufferers suffer attacks when exposed to some common trigger, including allergens or cigarette smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
A preventative inhaler should be used every day, but you should know that this can cause infections near the teeth and gums in your mouth. You can prevent any of these mouth issues by brushing your teeth and gargling mouthwash as soon as you use the inhaler.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
Dust, pollen, allergens and other asthma aggravators tend to collect in bed linens. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Stay away from smoking. Most people know that smoking is dangerous, but if you have asthma there are more serious consequences. An asthmatic’s lungs are more vulnerable than those of a healthy individual, which makes it especially important to abstain from smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
Asthma often takes time to develop, the symptoms appearing slowly. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. 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 do not take the steps necessary to control your asthma, it can potentially be fatal. When you follow the advice from this article, you will manage your asthma through better breathing and improved activity.
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If someone is smoking around you, you have every right to nicely ask them to not to.