Asthma is truly a very serious medical condition, and it can impact your life greatly. Education and practice are necessary to keep your asthma under control. This article can help you deal with your asthma better.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. For example, if you have exercise-induced asthma, you will want to always make sure you have an inhaler in your gym bag. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. Stay away from jobs that would expose you to toxic or heavy vapors, and refrain from any tobacco use.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. Some people get attacks after being physically active. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Do not smoke around your children if they have asthma. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. Keep your child away from cigarette smoke and any other kind of fumes.
If allergies lead to constant attacks from your asthma, there has been a recent solution that is administered via injection that provides long term care! There are antibody medications used to control allergic reactions that come recommended by allergists.
Some medications are known to cause asthma symptoms. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease – those referred to as beta blockers – can also exacerbate asthma problems. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
When you are dealing with asthma, try getting a lekotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that can bring about inflammation, resulting in an asthma attack. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
Cleaning Products
Make sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. It is important to do things like hand washing and receiving proper vaccinations.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Buy products that are unscented if you suffer from asthma. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. 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.
Make it a habit to always have some rescue medication available when you travel. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. Common asthma triggers include pollen, smoke or dander. Try to avoid the things that make your asthma flare up.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to maintain a dry home. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Even if your asthma is not acting up, attend all of your doctor’s appointments. You can never tell when an attack will strike, or when your physician may have some better or safer advice for you to follow.
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! Having proof in writing from a doctor that states the item is a medical necessity can eliminate security hassles.
You need to know how to properly use asthma medications that are prescribed to you, especially your rescue medication, so that you are prepared if you need to use it during an emergency. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is important to take management medication properly and to use rescue medication appropriately.
Treatment Plan
Asthma develops over an extended time period, and its symptoms aren’t always obvious. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. If you have any trouble breathing or are coughing a lot, you need to see a doctor to determine what it is and if you need any medication or treatment for asthma prevention.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If you use it three or more times each week, your treatment plan may not be working effectively or else an atypical situation may be triggering an increased number of attacks. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
Use your inhaler when you need to, but be aware that this product can cause infections near your gums and teeth. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. You should stay far away from smoke of any kind, chemicals and vapors. These are all common triggers and can aggravate asthma symptoms. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
You should get a second opinion. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. 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.
When cleaning your house, clean floors with a wet mop instead of a broom. Vacuuming or wet-mopping are better than sweeping because they don’t stir up dust and debris that might induce an asthma attack. Dusting can actually just move the dust around, sending particles into the air, and into your lungs triggering an asthma attack, so try wiping things down with a damp cloth to minimize the amount of allergens you are exposed to.
If you use your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, see a doctor to have your medication adjusted. If that’s the case, the medication in the inhaler isn’t working right. Also, if you refill the inhaler more than 2 times each year, there is the same result, which means making an appointment with your doctor.
Do not smoke cigarettes. A lot of people know that smoking is bad for you, but if you have asthma it is far worse. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
When painting, you should buy a protective mask if you suffer from asthma. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. Avoid specific chemicals and substances that could worsen your asthma.
Educate yourself about asthma. The greater your knowledge base regarding asthma, the more involved you can be in determining treatment plans. Keep current with recent developments in asthma treatment and research so that you can maintain cutting edge care in your personal case. You can do this by educating yourself on your condition and the treatment options that are available to you.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. The other members can give you valuable advice on how to cope with the everyday challenges of living with asthma, and how to handle specific situations. Surround yourself with people who understand asthma and support your fight against it.
Make sure that you protect yourself if you’re planning on doing anything like painting your home. You should purchase a protective mask to cut back on fume inhalation. Paint can trigger asthma-related issues, but wearing a mask will provide a protective barrier to circumvent these issues. Avoid chemicals, substances and scents that aggravate your asthma.
Vitamin B6
If you have an asthmatic child under age five, be especially vigilant about watching for an attack that requires urgent medical attention. Difficulty breathing, breathing with a gasping sound and difficulty talking can all be serious signals. If your child is showing any of these signs, they need urgent medical attention.
Include more vitamin B6 foods in your diet. This vitamin, which is sometimes called pyridoxine, offers many benefits, including reducing the overall frequency of severe asthma attacks. Pyridoxine is essential because it produces certain substances that relax bronchial tissues. You can find good reserves of vitamin B6 in bananas.
If you find yourself suffering from warning signs like needing to use your inhaler frequently or waking up to an asthma attack in the middle of the night, it could mean that it’s time to experiment with a new asthma medication. Consult with your doctor.
Keep your home as clean and dust free as possible. Also, wash all of your bed linens regularly. When you keep everything clean, you are preventing dust and mites from building up, which will help stop asthma attacks. As the amount of dust in a home increases, the air becomes contaminated, which increases the probability of an asthma attack.
In managing asthma attacks, it is very important that you have a plan in how to handle it once it begins. This is critical because if you know what to expect when an attack occurs, you’ll be in a better position to effectively cope with asthma.
A place you can set aside in your home can help you reduce asthma symptoms in your home. Reduce the moisture level in your home with a dehumidifier. If you work to keep the humidity levels in your home steady, you will decrease the number of seasonal attacks.
Replace your pillows and pillowcases on a regular basis. Make use of 100% cotton fabrics for your linens. Regular washing and replacement, as well as the use of cotton, will prevent dust mites from harboring in your bedding. Dust mites are a major agitator of asthma and are responsible for many attacks.
See a doctor if you feel that your symptoms have worsened. Use these tips when you can to reduce your symptoms and better your life.
If you or somebody you know is an asthmatic, don’t do anything physical that can trigger an attack, unless your doctor suggests it. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to a trip to the hospital, which isn’t worth it in the end!