Whether you or a family member is affected, asthma can make you afraid. You need to be aware of the things asthma could do and what it entails, in order to be able to properly manage asthma. These tips should be helpful to you in figuring out what to expect from your asthma and when.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
If you are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
Talk to a social worker if you’re not eligible for any health insurance and you’re an asthma sufferer. 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.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. Try to avoid getting any respiratory infections if you have asthma. It’s important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
A leukotriene inhibitor can be helpful if you have asthma. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Get the inhibitor to prevent the leukotrienes, and your asthma attacks may drop in number.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. Loading up on these vitamins will energize your immune system, aiding your body in preventing the illnesses that worsen or trigger asthma.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. 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, it is best to buy unscented products. Products with a fragrance raise the air pollution indoors, and increase the risk of an attack being triggered. Some of these products include incense, scented body sprays and air fresheners. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Get a flu shot every season and make sure your family does as well. Do everything you can to avoid a respiratory infection if you have asthma. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Only permit food in designated eating areas, such as the kitchen or dining room, and don’t allow smoking inside the house at all. After using chemical to clean, air out the house.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Those who experience asthma are susceptible to some common things like pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. Your physician might also work an additional treatment into your therapy until such time as you are healthier.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers contained in the pillow could trigger the symptoms related to asthma and it could prevent your lungs from functioning efficiently. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.
Even if you are feeling great, never skip your regular asthma checkup. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. During the cold, winter months, a dehumidifier can help. In the summer, an air conditioner naturally takes out a lot of the humidity in the air.
The more humid your home is, the easier it is for mildew and mold to grow. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This will keep you from breathing cold air. 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.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
Make sure you understand the correct way to use your asthma medication, especially any rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated by using a regular medicine supplemented with a rescue medicine, like an inhaler. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. Wash sheets on a weekly basis to rid them of allergens. Use hot water to wash the sheets. You should also wash pillowcases. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. Even people that do not have allergies are prone to suffer an asthma attack from the pollen and dust on animals.
Knowing the correct way to use an inhaler is essential. Spraying it into your mouth and then inhaling doesn’t work. Once you spray the inhaler you must take deep breaths for a couple of seconds. Follow the instructions on your inhaler exactly to get the most benefit.
Stay away from smoking. Smoking is one of the worst things a person with asthma can do. Not only should smoking be avoided, you need to be careful to stay away from people who do smoke because it is extremely harmful and will irritate your sensitive asthmatic lungs.
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. Pyridoxine is essential because it produces certain substances that relax bronchial tissues. Bananas are a great-tasting source of vitamin B6.
There are many things you should be aware of when dealing with asthma. This article has provided you with quite a few tips to help you manage asthma, whether it’s you or a loved one. You can lessen the effect that asthma has on their life!
Ensure your house is clean and tidy. Keeping your bedding clean and washed regularly can really make a difference when trying to control your asthma. By doing this, you get rid of dust and dust mites. Both of these things can trigger an asthma attack. Of course you sleep with your face literally touching your bedding, so a build up of dust can quickly trigger an attack, which is why it is so important to keep your bed dust-free.