A wide variety of people suffer from asthma. In addition to going to the appropriate medical experts, you should always watch out for several warning signs that could worsen your symptoms. The following paragraphs will give you the information you need to deal with asthma attacks, and more importantly, reduce the frequency of future attacks.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.
Particular Asthma
When you suffer a medium-intensity attack, try and forcefully exhale all air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and forcefully. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. Being aware of your particular asthma condition can help you to effectively treat it on a daily basis. For instance, people with exercise-induced asthma would do well to carry an inhaler in their gym bag! You can avoid a crisis by knowing your symptoms’ patterns.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
Avoid anything that is known to trigger your asthma. Some people have allergies that cause asthma, and allergens such as dust and pollen can cause an attack. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
You may have to take more asthma medicine if you suffer from seasonal hay fever or catch a cold. Treatment may be increased in these cases as many illnesses have side effects that can cause flare ups in your asthma. Your physician may even recommend that you take additional medication until you recover.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. You should not smoke! Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Make sure you get a flu shot each year if you have asthma or if your child does. Get vaccinated every flu season to avoid a high number of infections.
Utilize the inhaler correctly. Discover a location that is peaceful, and ensure you follow all the instructions that are given by the manufacturer. The inhaler is only beneficial if the medicine gets to your lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Be sure to hold the mist in your lungs for about ten seconds.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Make a special effort to avoid agents that bring on even minor asthma symptoms, much less a major attack.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. 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.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Do not allow smoking in your house, and keep food in your kitchen. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Avoid smoke, if you don’t want to have an asthma attack. Smoke can cause asthma attacks. The fumes from chemicals, or smoke from cigarettes, should be avoided at all costs. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. If you know someone who smokes, politely ask that they do not smoke in your presence.
Stand ready for a boost to your asthma treatment should you suffer from illnesses like colds or hay fever. Some illnesses create issues that make it necessary to increase medication temporarily. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
Contact with animals and pets should be avoided for asthma sufferers. Asthmatics can be affected by the dander or pollen that comes from the animals, even if they have no allergies to them. This can be a very risky situation to put yourself in and should be avoided.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Try to avoid these items as much as humanly possible so as to not trigger a full attack.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Sleep with a feather-less pillow if you have asthma. Feathers can have a negative effect on the lungs and can worsen asthma symptoms. The same reasoning applies to all bedding – only purchase bed sheets and comforters that are manufactured from hypoallergenic materials.
The only way that you should use a vaporizer or humidifier when you have asthma or allergies is if it has been cleaned thoroughly. Bacteria can grow inside the machine because of the moist environment, and you will be releasing that right into the air if you are using it.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
If you end up using your inhaler more than twice a week, then you need to consult a physician and change your medication. This means your inhaler isn’t working right. In addition, if you must change the cartridge in the inhaler more than two times in a year, you may need to see your doctor regarding a medication switch.
Do not neglect your condition. There are many serious consequences to uncontrolled asthma, so it is important to keep it under control. Always have a backup inhaler with you, and try to limit your exposure to irritating airborne contaminants. By implementing this advice, your symptoms may improve and you can keep your asthma under control.
Try to gain as much information about affliction as possible. The more you know, the more proactive you’ll be in your own treatment. You will know that you are using the most effective methods if you stay current with asthma information. You can easily know this information by further developing your knowledge about your condition, as well as, discovering treatment options.