Your doctor has just informed you that you have asthma, and you feel very worried about what to do next. Asthma is a life-long health condition without a cure. Your life does not have to stop after you have been diagnosed with asthma. You will gain some insights here on how to get control of asthma in an effective and manageable way.
There are many different types of asthma. When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. Knowing your asthma symptom patterns will help keep you safe.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. If you have exercised-induced asthma, for example, you’ll want to bring your inhaler with you to the gym or other locations where you might be involved in physical activity. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. If you are responsible for cleaning your residence, think about purchasing natural products, which are less likely to set off your asthma.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Many medications for heart disease and hypertension can also cause asthma symptoms. Tell your doctor if you are an asthmatic and you are using these medications.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. They are believed to aid respiratory function and to be instrumental in keeping your asthma in check. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
A dehumidifier is a beneficial investment for anyone with asthma. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers cause the air in your home to become dry, which means less humidity.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. You need to inhale air while spraying the requisite dosage in your mouth. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
If you have asthma, it is imperative that you stay away from smokers. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, fill the air with irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
When dealing with hay fever or a cold, you will notice an increase in your asthma symptoms. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. A new flare-up may be just around the corner, or your doctor may have news of a more effective new medication you can try.
Avoid pillows with feathers if you have asthma. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
If you’re flying and bringing along your asthma medications, bring a doctor’s written prescription with you. When you can prove that an item is medically necessary, it can save a lot of time and hassle while working through airport security.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
Using a preventative inhaler is important, but you need to know the side effects it can cause such as mouth infections. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Keep in mind that mopping your floors with a wet mop will cause less asthma problems than sweeping will. An asthma attack is one possible outcome of a sweeping session that fills the air around you with allergens and dust. When you dust, use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster which can spread these triggers.
Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
Asthma sufferers should avoid close contact with all animals. 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.
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. Some people have even died from having an asthma attack, and they didn’t even know they had asthma. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. 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. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
If you’re flying with asthma medications, be sure you get a prescription from your physician. If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
Do not smoke. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. Sensitive asthmatic lungs are easily irritated by smoke, so they need to avoid smoking and to avoid situations where there are people who smoke.
As this article has shown, being prepared can help you to live your life despite being diagnosed with asthma. By understanding this disease and how to manage it, you can keep it from escalating into a crisis situation. Reading this article has been the first important step in getting control of this disease.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. If the machine stays wet, it can breed bacteria and you’ll end up pumping harmful allergens out into the air.