There are millions of people out there who are scared to run even a short distance for fear of bringing about an asthma attack. You can live your life to the fullest by understanding the different treatment options available to you. The next few paragraphs will give you basic information about the nature of asthma, as well as how to treat it effectively.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
If you are an asthmatic, it is vital that you never smoke, and if you already do, you should quit as soon as possible. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, however it is especially bad for asthmatics. Your lungs are already compromised from the asthma and adding smoke to that will cut off the vital oxygen supply your lungs need to breathe.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Others have asthma attacks when they participate in physical activities. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.
Asthma Symptoms
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. Force air out of your lungs with quick, powerful exhalations. You want to force all of the air from your lungs. Take three short breaths, then one last deep breath to ensure your lungs have enough air, then forcefully breath out. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. It also will push all of your air out of the lungs so that you can get more air in. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Smoking is especially dangerous for asthmatics. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you use an inhibitor, you may find that the your asthma attacks significantly decrease.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. Exhale with maximum force! Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale with force again. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Learn how to use an inhaler in the correct manner if you do not already know. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The only way the inhaler can help is if the medication can reach your lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
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.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
Social Worker
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feathers can decrease lung function and cause asthma symptoms. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
If you have asthma and lack the health insurance coverage to deal with asthma treatment, talk to a social worker. Asthma medications are a necessity, and a social worker can help you find an affordable way to keep your prescriptions current.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. Your doctor may be able to prescribe more effective treatments and you may be suffering symptoms you’re not aware are related to your asthma.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Reducing the amount of humidity in your home reduces the number of dust mites, which in turn reduces the chances of your asthma flaring up. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. 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.
It is crucial that you know how to properly use your asthma treatments, particularly rescue inhalers. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Asthma is a serious, chronic health condition, and it’s vital that you take medicine to manage the disease properly and use the rescue medications as directed.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, can pollute the air triggering your asthma. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. In some serious cases, people have dropped dead due to an asthma attack without ever knowing they had asthma in the first place. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
You can tackle an asthma problem on your own or one that troubles someone you care about with a little more confidence now that you’ve reviewed some basic advice about the condition and some of its possible treatments. Asthma sufferers, be it you or someone you know, should realize that having asthma does not have to ruin your life.
When cleaning your house, clean floors with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up dust and other things that can trigger your asthma. Dust will adhere to a wet towel instead of being loose in the air like feather dusters do where it can aggravate your asthma.