Dealing with asthma is difficult, but if you manage it properly you can lead a fulfilled life. There are lots of ways to prevent or control asthma from messing up your life. Read this article to find out how you can manage your condition more easily.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you don’t smoke. Smoking is, of course, unhealthy for anyone. The habit is even more dangerous for asthma patients, however, because anything that reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the lungs can trigger an attack.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you need to avoid smoking and exposure to fumes or vapors of any kind. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Try and figure out what gets your asthma started so you know what to avoid.
There are many different types of asthma. Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. If people who have asthma suffer attacks triggered by exercise, they should bring an inhaler with them when they work out. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. This will cause the dust to move around, which could cause an asthma attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Also, you should keep food confined to the kitchen, and opt to smoke outdoors only. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Heart Disease
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Asthma is a chronic condition, requiring constant health management. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. Most with asthma share common triggers, like pet dander, pollen or smoke. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. Decreasing the humidity in the house decreases dust mites, which decreases asthma flare ups. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
Even if you seem to be fine, see your doctor regularly for your asthma checkups. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products with a strong smell such as air fresheners, incense or perfume can trigger asthma attacks. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. Mold and mildew can easily cause severe asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. The majority of individuals afflicted with asthma know there are common irritants like pollen, pet dander and smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Cold air can be a nuisance and breathing it has actually proven to trigger asthma attacks. This is especially true for younger children who have severe or moderate asthma.
Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. You can prevent this by brushing your teeth and gargling immediately following the use of your inhaler.
When flying and bringing along asthma medications and equipment, be sure to pack your prescriptions. This is especially true for large items like a nebulizer. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
Avoid Cigarette Smoke
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. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
If you’d like to avoid asthma attacks, avoid cigarette smoke as much as possible. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. Ask people around you not to smoke in your presence. Don’t be rude about it, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
During the week, you should take note each time your rescue inhaler is used. You should not have to rely on a rescue inhaler more than twice per week. If you find yourself needing it more often, it could be a sign that your asthma is not being controlled well or that there is a new environmental factor causing attacks more frequently. If you have to use your inhaler a lot, you will know that you should more closely monitor your surroundings.
Asthma sufferers should minimize their contact with animals and pets. Though dander allergies are often seen in conjunction with asthma, even asthmatics who are not allergic may have attacks that are triggered by the ancillary irritants transported by animals, including pollen and dust.
Get a second opinion. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. You’ll want to visit an asthma center, or consult with a pulmonologist to get additional help improving your lung function. In addition, you should get tested for allergies so that you can avoid allergic reactions that trigger asthma attacks.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
Smoking is particularly bad for people with asthma. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
In conclusion, there are a number of methods you can try to prevent asthma from controlling your life. Asthma doesn’t have to ruin your life; make some plans on how you can effectively live with it.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. The insides of these machines get really moist and provide great breeding grounds for bacteria, which means the machines would actually be filling the air in your home with the very allergens you are seeking to avoid.