You’ve just gotten the asthma diagnosis and are panicking. Asthma has no cure, which makes it a chronic condition. Life is not over though, just because of an asthma diagnosis. This article will outline some simple ways you can begin to manage asthma safely and effectively.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for someone with asthma. This is because your lungs and airway are already compromised by your condition.
If you suffer from asthma, and have many attacks that are related to your allergy symptoms, there is a medication that is injected and provides long term effects. Your allergist may recommend a variety of medications to control your reactions and the onset of asthma.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. By decreasing the humidity you have in your home, it will decrease the dust mites, which will then decrease your asthma from flaring up. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
Cleaning Products
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Inhale for three quick breaths, and then take one deep breath so that you can allow your lungs to fill with air, and then force the air out again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. Regardless of whether spetum is generated, it will aid in returning breathing back to a normal state.
There are certain types of household cleaning products that can trigger asthma attacks, and using multiple products is particularly dangerous. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. 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.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Using products in your home such as incense, perfume or air fresheners can increase the amount of microscopic pollutants indoors and trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Try to make it your goal to keep the indoor air as fresh and allergen free as possible.
If you’re flying with asthma medications, be sure you get a prescription from your physician. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. Many illnesses have side effects which can cause your asthma to get much worse, leading your doctor to increase treatment. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
It’s a very good habit to use your asthma inhaler as a daily preventative, although the drug residue can cause issues for your gums and teeth. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
Humidity in the home can create an environment that is ideal for mold and mildew to grow. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. A dry home will help you out a lot more. When you are using a heater in winter time, you can run a dehumidifier for help controlling humidity. In the summer, running your air conditioner will allow you to keep your humidity down.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. The frequency of your inhaler usage should remind you to monitor the environmental conditions around you and other issues relating to the way you manage your asthma.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. Sweeping can stir up some asthmatic triggers that will exacerbate your symptoms. Dusting with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster can be a considerable help in reducing the amount of dust and other things that might start an attack.
If you are flying with your asthma medications, especially a large piece of equipment such as a nebulizer, be sure to bring along a written prescription from your doctor. Written proof of needing your equipment can help you with any issues you might have in the security line.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoking can actually trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from chemical fumes, vapors, and cigarette smoke at all times. Your asthma symptoms will be exacerbated by these things. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. Your medication may need to be adjusted or an alternative treatment considered if you find that you need to use it 3 or more times per week. How often an inhaler is used can help to monitor the environment.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping can stir up some asthmatic triggers that will exacerbate your symptoms. Use damp rags instead of a dry feather duster so triggers won’t be filling the air.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. 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. You’re less likely to have an asthma attack while asleep or upon first waking up if your bedding is fresh and clean.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. Not cleaning a humidifier allows bacteria to grow in the machine’s moist water tank area, and the machine will pump dangerous allergens into yoru environment every time you use it.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. Asthma’s not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.
Don’t panic when you have an asthma attack. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. If there is someone nearby, have them call an ambulance or drive you to the nearest hospital. You can slow your breathing by placing a paper bag over your mouth and nose to slow your breathing until you get medical attention.
Try to gain as much information about affliction as possible. Education is a priceless tool in finding the proper treatment for your asthma. Keep yourself up to date about new findings and find a good doctor. You can only properly treat the condition once you gain knowledge about it and the treatments that are available.
Dealing with asthma is rather like being a Boy Scout; the important part is to be prepared. You can avoid the serious complications of an asthma attack by managing your symptoms properly. This article is stop number one for increasing your knowledge about asthma treatments!
Always wear a face mask, if you are going to do any painting, in order to protect your airways from the fumes. Paint chemicals are a powerful irritant that can cause an asthma attack if inhaled without a mask. Don’t use certain chemicals and substances that could aggravate your asthma.