Obviously, your lungs are needed in order for your body to work properly. When you have asthma, your lungs may not function the way they need to, thus, causing disruptions to your daily life. However, asthma doesn’t mean you have to give up on being healthy or having fun. There are many ways asthmatics can stay healthy and live a normal life. This article will help you make the right choices when it comes to a life with asthma and help you avoid the wrong ones.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking is bad in general for everyone, but it is particularly worse for asthma suffers because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the lungs, putting you at higher risk for asthma attacks.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.
If you have asthma, you should keep away from any smoke from cigarettes. Avoid smoking altogether. It is also a good idea to stay away from the fumes or vapors from harsh chemicals, such as those used in cleaning. Inhaling these substances may trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
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. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. While in other people, all it takes is physical activity and an attack can trigger. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Use the inhaler properly. An inhaler is most effective if used in a relaxed location and according to the maker’s instructions. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. Spray the stated dose of medicine into your mouth as you inhale. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can’t breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Exhale hard and fast. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. It also voids your lungs of old air so that new air can enter. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for asthma sufferers. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity and keep the air in your home dry.
Social Worker
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. It is important that you are able to afford your asthma medications, so a social worker may be able to find you a clinic or hospital that offers your medication at little to no cost.
You may want to join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. A support group will help you have a good time and forget about your condition once in a while, as well as as keep you informed about the latest innovations.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. Inhaling smoke from tobacco products can compromise your lung function, which then makes you more susceptible to an attack. The risk of an attack from cigarette smoke is increased as the space you are in decreases.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! Having proof that it belongs to you and is medically necessary will make the security check easier.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Being around animals should be avoided. Animals are a danger to asthma sufferers who are already allergic to them, but pets also carry a wide array of dust particles and pollen, so avoiding them is a good move for anyone dealing with asthma.
You should be ready to increase asthma treatments if you suffer from hay fever or a cold. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
Don’t smoke. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
Asthma Attacks
The only way that you should use a vaporizer or humidifier when you have asthma or allergies is if it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
Know what causes your asthma attacks, as this will enable you to work around them or prepare to treat the asthma attacks that result. Most asthma sufferers have a few common triggers such as smoke, pet dander or pollen. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
It is important to become as knowledgeable as possible about asthma. Knowledge is power, and enlightened proactive steps yield immeasurable dividends in your treatment and management regimen. Stay current with treatment technology and get yourself the best care that you can. The only way you can do this is by arming yourself with condition and treatment knowledge.
Paying attention to useful advice, whether it comes from a doctor or simply a helpful article like this one, can make your long-term relationship with your asthma problems a much more civil one. There are new developments in treatment and medications every year that make asthma easier to manage.
Ensure that you set up regular appointments with your physician every several months in order to be updated on your condition. Your physician must check you out regularly to see if you need to do anything differently with your treatment. It is up to you to schedule these visits with the doctor so he or she can monitor your progress, and work to keep you healthy.