Asthma has a vast impact on people’s lives because it affects one of the most important organs, the lungs. That doesn’t mean that there is no way to manage your condition and lead a normal life as asthma is not the end to living! This article will help you make the right choices when it comes to a life with asthma and help you avoid the wrong ones.
You should stay away from anything you might believe which can trigger an asthma attack. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
If you have any children who suffer from asthma, avoid smoking around them at all costs. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. Try to keep your children out of environments that are smokey to ensure the health of their lungs.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
Cigarette Smoke
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. Any of these things can trigger an asthma attack. Leave a room if people smoke, or ask them to stop.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Remember that using an inhaler is only going to help you if the medication contained within makes its way to the lungs. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. You should keep your breath held for 10 seconds at a minimum to let the medicated mist fill up your lungs.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. This type of inhibitor is designed to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. 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.
If you suffer from asthma and you are not eligible for health insurance, speak with a social worker. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
Think about buying a dehumidifier if your asthma symptoms are bad. Lowering the level of humidity present in your home can reduce the numbers of dust mites, a prime trigger of asthma. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smokers, even if you do not smoke yourself. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
Avoid pillows stuffed with goosedown or other feathers if you have an asthma problem. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
Unscented products are the safest option for those who suffer from asthma. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. In addition, paint that is fresh or carpet that is new release odors that can cause breathing irritations that lead to an asthma attack. Keep the air inside your house as fresh as you can.
Keep your medication with you, especially when you are traveling. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. The change in environment can also have a negative impact, since it is impossible to control. This can lead to more frequent attacks or attacks with symptoms that are worse than normal.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
Make regular asthma checkups with your doctor, even if you are not having any issues come up. A flare-up can occur at any time, and your physician may have learned of a prescription medication that can treat your symptoms more safely and effectively.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
A handful of primary initiators of asthma, and its attack triggers, lie right in your residence. These causes are sources, such as, but not limited to dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Asthma Treatment
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
Be sure to thoroughly understand how to utilize asthma medication correctly, particularly any rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Asthma is considered a chronic condition. For this reason, you should take the management of it very seriously.
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.
If you are willing to adhere to the treatment plan established by your physician and follow sound medical advice, you will find that living with asthma is by no means impossible. There are new medications and treatments being developed all the time. Soon, asthma will be more easy to deal with than ever.
Bed linens tend to collect asthma triggers like pollen, dust and other allergens. You can cut down on these irritants or eliminate them altogether by washing your bedding and pillow cases in very hot water once a week. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.