Asthma may be a frightening experience, especially when it limits your ability to freely breathe. An asthma attack can happen suddenly, asthma can limit your daily activities, and in some cases asthma has been fatal. This article not only explains some of the triggers of asthma attacks, but also details solutions for reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications in order to manage everyday asthma symptoms. In addition, you should have a quick-fix medication handy in the event you suffer from an attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! These vitamins will also help prevent illnesses by boosting your body’s immune system.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking is horrible for people, it is really bad if asthma becomes worse and blocks oxygen to your body, you need oxygen to work and stave off asthma.
The use of multiple (more than four) household cleansers can cause an increase in asthma attacks. Try using organic cleaning products which don’t contain irritating chemicals.
There are some medications out there that you could be taking which will actually trigger your asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Try to keep your home as clean as possible, especially the bedroom of the asthma sufferer, to reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Asthma is a disease that is continuous. As such, it requires long-term health management. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Speak to your allergist and doctor to see what they recommend for you.
You must have regular asthma reviews, even if you are not having any problems. Your health care provider may have new prescriptions that could benefit you in case the need arises.
Avoid using a fan in any room that has excessive dust. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. If you feel you need airflow, open a window instead.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
Make sure you use the inhaler in the proper, prescribed method. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The medicine must go to your lungs for it to work. Spray the dosage into the mouth while you inhale air. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Most people treat their asthma with regular daily medication, and carry supplemental emergency medication in the form of a rescue inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
Asthma Sufferer
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. 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. The frequency of your inhaler use is a good way to remember to check out your environmental surroundings and be mindful of all factors relating to your asthma regimen.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. So do whatever you can to stay away from vapors, chemical fumes and smoke from cigarettes. These can aggravate your asthma symptoms. If someone starts smoking near you, politely inquire whether they can smoke in your absence.
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
Do not smoke. A lot of people know that smoking is bad for you, but if you have asthma it is far worse. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
If you suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.
Make sure to examine what it is that causes your asthma attacks in order to best avoid having to deal with them. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. If the vaporizer or humidifier has not been thoroughly cleaned there could be bacteria growing inside of it. When you turn it on it will pump allergens that you will inevitably breath in.
Asthma Attack
Be sure you know exactly how to properly use your inhaler if you do have asthma. It is not as simple as spraying a little into your mouth and inhaling. Every time you spray the inhaler, deeply inhale for a couple seconds. A rescue inhaler will not help you if you aren’t breathing it in correctly.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
If you end up using your inhaler more than twice a week, then you need to consult a physician and change your medication. This can indicate that the inhaler you are using is not working for you. Another sign is needing refills 3 or more times per year on your rescue inhaler prescription.
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. You don’t know when another flare-up will happen, or when your physician can offer you safer or superior medicine for your symptoms.
Learn as much as possible about asthma. By being educated, you can treat your symptoms much more effectively. Do your research, and keep current on available treatment information so you can be sure you’re doing all you can to feel well. Make sure to explore new and different options to keep the symptoms of your condition under control.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
If you want to paint something, get a mask to protect yourself from the fumes. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. Avoid specific substances and chemicals that will worsen your asthma.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. These substances can easily trigger asthma attacks. So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. In the winter months, use a dehumidifier in order to get rid of moisture. Your air conditioner will keep it dry in the summer.
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Vitamin B6, known as pyridoxine, reduces the risks of getting an asthma attack. Pyridoxine can produce specific molecules which can relax your bronchial tissue. Bananas are an easily accessible source of vitamin B6.
If you have asthma, clean your floors with a wet mop, instead of sweeping with a traditional broom. Sweeping can trigger an asthma attack due to the copious clouds of minute asthma-triggering particles it kicks up. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
Know the symptoms of a serious asthma attack so you’ll know when it is time to head for the hospital. Seek immediate medical attention if an asthma treatment does not have the intended effect or extremities like the lips and nails take on a bluish gray hue. Also, you kid might have difficulty with speech.
Remain calm in the event of an asthma attack. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If your attack worsens, call for help. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.
If you are having an asthma attack and you have left your controller medications at home, see if you can get a quick shot of caffeine. Strong black tea, coffee or chocolate can aid in mitigating asthma attack symptoms. It works because it opens your airways by constricting your blood vessels.
You must use a protective mask when you paint, so make sure you have one before you start your project. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. In general, you should avoid anything that will trigger an asthma attack or worsen your asthma symptoms.
Make sure that smoking does not ever occur near an asthma sufferer. Smokers should only smoke outside and away from the loved one who suffers from asthma. In some cases just the smell of a heavy smoker’s clothing can cause an asthma attack.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. Keeping a journal will help you and your doctor develop a plan to combat some of the triggers. When you know what they are, do everything possible to keep away from these triggers, and get rid of them from your surroundings whenever you can.
You should always play close attention to the food that your children eat, specifically for signals that may indicate a serious food allergy. If you see any development of hives, or difficulty in breathing after they have consumed a specific food, you should have the doctor test them for allergies. Allergies might be a symptom of an asthmatic condition that will appear later.
It can also kill people who ignore it. You can lead a better life if you read this article and use the tips here about controlling your asthma.
Keep fresh air circulating throughout your home to reduce the chance of asthma attacks. If weather permits, keep the doors and windows open to maximize air circulation. Homes that are insulated contain twice as many allergen levels as homes that are ventilated well. Increasing ventilation is an excellent way to cleanse the air.