Asthma has a vast impact on people’s lives because it affects one of the most important organs, the lungs. Don’t give up, though; there are ways to participate in many activities while keeping your asthma control. Heed the excellent advice laid out here, so it is possible to cope well with asthma.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
If you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be near vapors or other types of fumes. You should not smoke and consider which jobs are appropriate for you, especially if you are thinking about working in a factory.
In order to prevent asthma attacks, keep away from triggers. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma, and it can also trigger an asthma attack. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
When suffering from asthma, there are vitamins that can help, including E and C. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. Open a window instead to get the air flowing.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, even if it’s secondhand. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
Medication Available
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
There is good reason to make sure you have your rescue medicine for asthma in a convenient, easy to reach place. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. The vitamins can help to boost the immune system, which will help you to stay healthy and less ill, which means you will have less asthma attacks.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. Being a part of a support group can help provide you with honest information about products and helpful hints, as well as medical news.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Lowering humidity will reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, and help your asthma improve. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. These are harmful substances that can trigger asthma attacks. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.
Flu Shot
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. When you have asthma, you should be on a maintenance medication and have an emergency medicine for asthma attacks. Usually this is in the form of an inhaler. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Prevent those flu infections before they happen by getting a flu shot each year.
When taking asthma medications on a plane trip, bring written medical prescriptions provided by your doctor. If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. It is best to do all that is possible to avoid triggers that can cause attacks.
While using an inhaler can potentially cause mouth or gum sores, it is still important to use it daily if you suffer from severe asthma. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. Clean your linen and pillow case every week to prevent asthma attacks. Fresh, laundered bedding will help you sleep that much easier at night.
Some of asthma’s major triggers can be right in your home. These include dust, mold and spores. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. Cleaning your house on a regular basis is one way to keep these substances from accumulating.
Visit at least two different doctors. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Asthma centers, allergists, pulmonologists, and nutritionists can all help ensure you are attacking your asthma on all fronts.
Asthma Treatment
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. Grab your inhaler and use it, then wait to see if it helps. If not, then use it again in thirty seconds. If your attack worsens, get help. Go to the hospital immediately or call 911. Breathe into a paper bag for assistance in slowing your breathing during the trip to the hospital.
Be sure you understand how to use the medication you’re given for asthma properly, especially your rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. Because asthma has no cure, you must treat it carefully by taking your maintenance medication every day and using your emergency medication responsibly.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is crucial that you are using your inhaler the proper way. You should not just stick it between your lips and spray. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Proper techniques with your inhaler will keep your symptoms from increasing out of control.
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. There have been a few cases where a person dies from their first attack, because they didn’t know they suffered from the condition. Because of this, persistent respiratory problems need to be checked out by a doctor, who may prescribe medication to treat existing symptoms or prevent new ones from appearing.
Take in every piece of asthma information available to you. Education is a priceless tool in finding the proper treatment for your asthma. Stay current with treatment technology and get yourself the best care that you can. You can only properly treat the condition once you gain knowledge about it and the treatments that are available.
Use your inhaler when you need to, but be aware that this product can cause infections near your gums and teeth. To best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.
Joining a network of those who suffer from asthma, or simply talking to others who suffer from the condition, can have a positive impact on you. They can offer you tips about handling different situations and help you manage your asthma. Support from people around you is key.
When you are trying to prevent asthma, you should avoid smoke. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. The fumes from chemicals, or smoke from cigarettes, should be avoided at all costs. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
Asthma can be triggered by environmental factors such as allergens, or it could be genetic. If you have a family member with asthma, keep a close watch on your children and yourself for any asthma related symptoms. Keep yourself and your family away from environmental hazards like smoke, pollution, excess dust and mold spores.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. A lot of times the hair or dander will cause an asthma attack, but even if you do not have an allergy to the pet itself they often carry pollen and dust with them.
Make sure that you gradually increase you current lung capacity and build the muscles that you need. Don’t bring on an asthma attack by beginning a strenuous workout that you can’t complete due to asthma.
Vitamin B6
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. Coffee, strong black tea, or chocolate can reduce your asthma attack symptoms. Caffeine works because it constricts blood vessels and opens up the airways.
Include more vitamin B6 foods in your diet. Vitamin B6 — also called pyridoxine– can reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks. Through this research, it has been proven that pyridoxine helps produce molecules that aid in relaxing the bronchial tissue. Foods that are rich in B6 include the easy-to-find banana.
Lower you chance of getting the flu by getting a vaccination every year. Even if you don’t tend to get hit by the flu, it’s better to be safe than sorry by taking the time to get vaccinated. If you have asthma, the flu virus is more likely to lead to serious sinus or respiratory infections.
Asthma can be a lifelong fight, but it can also get easier everyday as long as you follow sound advice from your doctor or the tips laid out here. Already you can deal very effectively with most asthma problems. The medical state-of-the-art advances every day, and someday, asthma may be even easier to treat.
If you’re an asthma sufferer, make sure to warm-up before doing strenuous exercises and cool-downs afterwords. Doing both can prevent serious attacks during or after exercising.