Living through a bout of asthma is quite unsettling, as is the knowledge that the disease will never entirely go away. It is entirely possible to enjoy a full, healthy lifestyle though, as long as you understand how to treat your asthma. Read further to learn some helpful ways to cope with asthma.
If you have asthma, you should definitely avoid smoking or being exposed to any kind of fumes or vapors. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
You should avoid smoking and any type of fumes if you suffer from asthma. Because of this, you should avoid any kind of tobacco smoke and take any job that you want to apply for into consideration; factories could expose you to a variety of smoke, vapors and dust.
Some medications that you may take unknowingly can cause you to have asthma symptoms. Aspirin and some other NSAIDs may do this. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
You need ongoing treatment for asthma because it’s an ongoing disease. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
Using more than 4 different kinds of cleaning products for your house has been known to increase risks associated to asthma attacks. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
If you suffer from asthma and allergy attacks, ask your doctor for a long-lasting allergy injection. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. Three triggers comprise the asthma triad of doom: spores, dust and mold. To keep these triggers out of your home, have a professional inspector come to your home each year to remove these nasties from your home. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
If you suffer from asthma, taking enough Vitamin E and C can help you. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, make sure to have with you any written doctors prescriptions, especially when carrying some large asthma equipment like a nebulizer. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
Try using a inhaler that prevents asthma every day, but you should know that one of the side effects is mouth infections of teeth and gums. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
Monitor your weekly inhaler use and tally how many times you need to use it to control an attack. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
Make sure you are going to different doctors. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. You’ll want to visit an asthma center, or consult with a pulmonologist to get additional help improving your lung function. In addition, you should get tested for allergies so that you can avoid allergic reactions that trigger asthma attacks.
If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
If you are having an asthma attack, it is crucial that you remain calm. Locate your inhaler, inhale deeply with the spray, and allow 30 seconds to pass before you reuse it. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can’t speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Try breathing in a paper bag to slow your breathing on the way there.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. Whenever you can, avoid the things that trigger your asthma.
If you use your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, see a doctor to have your medication adjusted. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. Similarly, if you need to purchase refill inhalers more than twice a year, your medication is ineffective.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Schedule regular visits with your doctor to check up on your asthma. Ideally these should occur every few months. Your doctor will be able to assess the effectiveness of treatments, and adjust them, if necessary. Taking on the responsibility of scheduling these regular appointments will help your doctor help you to stay healthy.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. When you travel, you sometimes strain your body a little more than you think, which can make you a bit more susceptible to having asthma attacks. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
Asthma is a lung disease that is caused by environmental or genetic factors. If you have a family member with asthma, watch your children and yourself for asthma symptoms. Environmental conditions like mold spores, extra dust, pollution and smoke may cause asthma, so protect yourself and your kids from these hazards.
Some of the major causes of asthma, and triggers for asthma attacks, can exist right in the home. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. Keep your house clean to keep these asthma triggers out of your home.
If you get at least two attacks a week, it might be time to try a different medication. Doctors agree that suffering from more than two asthma attacks every week is not only dangerous, but avoidable.
Use your maintenance or preventative inhaler every day. However, you should know that the drug may cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Work on gradually training your lungs to be able to take more stress. Do not gamble with your chances of triggering an attack by attempting a workout that is beyond your current skills.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. Sweeping sends dust and dander back into the air and could trigger an asthma attack. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Watch for these symptoms of serious asthma attack to know whether or not you should rush your child to the emergency room. If your kid is having an attack, you’ll see discolored lips and fingernails and increased medication use. In addition, your kid may have a tough time talking.
Avoid smoke if you want to prevent asthma. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You should stay far away from smoke of any kind, chemicals and vapors. These can aggravate your asthma symptoms. If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
It is important to eliminate cigarette smoking anywhere an asthma sufferer is likely to be. If you know someone who smokes, ask that they do so outdoors away from the asthmatic. People who are heavy smokers don’t even have to smoke; the heavy scent of smoke in their clothing can trigger asthma attacks.
Do not make the decision to smoke. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. Smoking is very bad for people who suffer from asthma, be sure not to smoke, but not to be around people that smoke.
If you suffer from asthma, it is crucial to learn how to manage it. Things will become easier when you learn how to manage your asthma. We as a society have learned a lot about asthma, so the tips laid out here can help improve your life.
Asthma sufferers should stay indoors as much as possible when pollen counts rise. Even though asthma is not considered to be an allergy, asthma is triggered by the same things that cause allergies. Now there’s information on local air quality available so you can monitor whether you’re going to be exposed to hard to breath air.