One of the most unnerving aspects of asthma is the fact that the disorder affects the sufferer’s ability to breathe. Since asthma attacks can occur without warning and can be fatal if not immediately treated, it’s easy to live in fear of asthma, rather than participating in daily activities. This article is filled with helpful information about the hows and whys of asthma and offers useful advice on living with the condition and its effects.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Refrain from smoking! Stay away from vapors and chemical fumes, too. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. Leave a room if people smoke, or ask them to stop.
There are many different types of asthma. Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. For example, if your asthma is brought on by bronchitis, you should keep your rescue inhaler with you during times when you are sick. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Never turn on a fan when the room you are in is very dusty. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
Keep clear of anything that you know to be a trigger for your asthma. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Try to locate a calming location, and be certain to adhere to any directions given by the inhaler’s maker. Remember that using an inhaler is only going to help you if the medication contained within makes its way to the lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
Chemical Fumes
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. They are believed to aid respiratory function and to be instrumental in keeping your asthma in check. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Refrain from smoking! Avoid breathing in any of the vapors or other chemical fumes. Chemical fumes will trigger asthma attacks that you won’t be able to put an end to. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
If you’re having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
If allergens are causing you to suffer from frequent asthma attacks that are moderate to severe, there is an injectable medication that can provide you with long-term relief. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
Know how to use your inhaler properly! Find a comfy spot, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You can inhale all you want, but it’s useless if the medication doesn’t make it to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
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 lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. These culprits include dust, spores and mold. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Support Group
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. Some people have even died from having an asthma attack, and they didn’t even know they had asthma. If you often have difficulty breathing or a persistent cough, it would be wise to make an appointment with your physician, so he or she can confirm whether you have asthma. If you do, your doctor can then prescribe medications to manage or treat it.
Try joining an in-person or virtual asthma support group. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. When you have written proof that these items are necessary it can help speed along the security procedures.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These triggers inside the home are usually spores, mold and dust. Have an inspector who focuses on allergens and irritants come into your home once a year to help you detect what you have and learn how to remove it. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
During spring or other high-pollen times, don’t go outside unless you have to so that you can avoid a pollen-triggered asthma attack. Although asthma is not an allergy, many of the same irritants that trouble allergy sufferers affect asthma sufferers too. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This warms the air before you bring it into your lungs. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
If you experience a sudden asthma attack, staying calm is extremely important. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Call an ambulance or have someone present drive you to the nearest hospital. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
Rescue Medication
Try to gain as much information about affliction as possible. The more you know about asthma, the more proactive a treatment you can devise for yourself. You will know that you are using the most effective methods if you stay current with asthma information. You can do this by educating yourself on your condition and the treatment options that are available to you.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
You must use a protective mask when you paint, so make sure you have one before you start your project. Wearing the mask will keep the irritants away from your lungs and esophagus, keeping your asthma under control. Avoid chemicals, substances and scents that aggravate your asthma.
Asthma isn’t often something that pops up over night, but instead takes time to develop and the symptoms are slowly noticeable. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
Speaking with people in an asthmatic support group, or chatting with friends who also have asthma, can be helpful. Other asthma sufferers often have the best tricks for dealing with dangerous situations, and fighting the battle against asthma. Support from other people is so important.
If asthma is not properly treated it can be lethal. That said, however, if you make the preceding tips a part of your self-care routine, you should not only not have to worry about killing yourself, but you’ll also be able to live a full, healthy life.
Eat more foods rich in vitamin B6. Vitamin B6, aka pyridoxine, is found to reduce asthma attack frequency in a lot of studies. How does this work? Pyridoxine is a chemical that reduces constriction in the bronchial tubes. This constriction is what brings on asthma attacks. You can find good reserves of vitamin B6 in bananas.