Asthma is a condition that will give you a lifelong struggle. It prevents you from doing simple tasks, such as walking outside. To make matters worse, there is no cure for asthma, and it can be hard to control. That said, there ARE tips and techniques which can make managing your asthma and returning to a full life possible, and we’ve included many in this article. Read on!
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Aspirin along with other NSAIDs can have this effect. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Talk to your doctor and allergist to see what is the best idea for you.
If you are experiencing a moderately severe attack, try to first exhale completely. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. You have to force the air out. Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. Do not be alarmed if you cough or generate excess mucous; this is perfectly normal. Your only concern is to return your breathing to normal.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. Omalizumab is one such medication, and can control the allergic symptoms you may be experienced. An allergist will be able to tell you if this is a good option.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Smoking is off limits. Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. This means you should also be sure to wash your hands frequently and get vaccinated.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor prevents the formation of leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
Proper knowledge of how to use your inhaler is necessary if you have asthma. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier for your home. 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.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure that your diet contains adequate amounts of Vitamin E and Vitamin C. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
If you deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Aim to make the air inside your home allergen free, and as fresh and clean as possible.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Many illnesses have side effects that could cause your asthma to flare up so badly that you need to have an increase in treatment. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to make sure your home is dry. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
If your kid or you suffer from asthma, you should get a yearly flu shot. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
During the months that are colder, wear a shawl, muffler or scarf that will cover your nose and mouth to help you avoid asthma attacks. This will keep you from breathing cold air. By breathing in cold air, it has been proven that it could trigger an asthma attack more so in children that are younger and suffer from severe to moderate asthma.
Asthma Flare
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Carrying your prescriptions along with written proof that they are medically necessary, will cut down on potential problems at the airport checkpoints.
Understand what things make your asthma flare and avoid these things or manage the symptoms. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Using a wet mop is superior to using a broom to clean your floors. When you sweep, you are stirring up asthma triggers that can cause you to have an asthma attack. Using a damp rag instead of a feather duster when you dust will lessen the spread of these triggers.
Even if you are feeling great, don’t skip your asthma check-ups. You can never tell when an attack will strike, or when your physician may have some better or safer advice for you to follow.
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. So do whatever you can to stay away from vapors, chemical fumes and smoke from cigarettes. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. If there’s smoke around you, ask politely for the person to stop smoking.
Asthma is a serious, sometimes debilitating, disease. It is certainly not something to scoff at. Use your self-care skills to minimize the chance of an attack, and get medical attention when you feel a bad attack coming on. Make sure to apply these suggestions to improve your symptoms and to prevent asthma from controlling your life.
Don’t use a humidifier unless it’s been cleaned thoroughly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can build up in the moisture of these machines, and get relayed into the very environment that you are attempting to make more conducive to your condition.