Have you been diagnosed with asthma and wonder what this means? You are in good company. A lot of people want to learn more about asthma, but aren’t sure where to find that kind of information. The advice you learn about asthma in this article may come as a surprise.
Smoking should never be done around children, especially a child who suffers from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. 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.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some over the counter medications can irritate your asthma. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
If you have asthma and have frequent attacks that are related to allergies, there are medicines that can be injected to provide you with long-term relief. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor helps to prevent leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Use the inhaler the right way. Find a spot that is out of the way, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. After inhaling, it’s important that you hold the medication in by holding your breath for 10 seconds at the least.
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. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
Respiratory Infection
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Asthmatics should have a flu shot every year to prevent contracting a serious respiratory infection. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you’re taking the best care of yourself.
If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. Fresh linens, washed regularly, can ensure you breathe better as you sleep.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
Refrain from smoking. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Your lungs could become very irritated if you smoke, and you should avoid being around others that are smoking.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. 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.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. Frequent use of the rescue inhaler means that your management medicine is not working as it should. This same advice also goes for those who must refill their inhalers more frequently than every six months.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. It is advised that you seek out a medical professional if you ever have shortness of breath or experience constant coughing; this may be a sign that you suffer from asthma and need proper medication to prevent an asthma attack and keep your condition under control.
Learn all you can learn about your condition. The more educated you are about your asthma, the more proactive you can be about your treatment. Look into cutting-edge treatments, and seek the best medical care you can find. The best thing to do is learn and research as much as you can about this condition and the treatment options that would be best for you.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. While asthma can be triggered from an animal hair allergy, those free of these allergies can have an attack by the pollen and dust that the animals carry.
Asthma support groups can also provide moral support to help you deal with difficult times and the frustration of asthma. Other sufferers can help you learn how to manage and live with your asthma, by offering tips and advice. Having supportive people that care about you is imperative.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. It’s true your primary doctor should be your main source for all your asthma help, but it may be wise to see one or two asthma specialists. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
You can contract asthma through genetics or through environmental conditions. Common allergens often trigger an asthma attack and create the wheezing breathing
that is characteristic of the disease. Keep an eye out if you have any other family members who have asthma. Protect your children and yourself from the many common pollutants in the air, such as mold, dust and pollen to prevent or reduce asthma symptoms.
In wrapping up, asthma sufferers often are interested in learning more about this medical condition that they deal with everyday. The purpose of this article is to give you important information about asthma that you could use to help ease the stress of having this type of condition. Apply these guidelines to your everyday life, and you will see that having asthma isn’t so bad.
If you are experiencing 3 or more asthma attacks per week, it is a serious signal that you may need to adjust your medication. That many attacks in a week can be dangerous, and does not even need to happen according to medical professionals.