With asthma, the worst case scenario is that you won’t even be able to do simple exercises for fear of causing a fatal asthma attack. Take asthma seriously by learning all that you can to manage it properly. Apply treatments and take medication properly to improve you asthma symptoms.
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. If your child is in an area where people are smoking, remove him quickly to avoid an asthma attack.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. 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.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid cleaning products. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you are the person in your house who does the cleaning, there natural product solutions which are safe for you to use.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Asthma Symptoms
Use your inhaler as directed. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler can only help you if the medication actually reaches the lungs. Inhale deeply as you dispense the correct amount into your mouth. Don’t exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. The medication you take for high blood pressure can also cause asthma symptoms. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Consider consulting a social worker if your asthma medication is not covered by an insurance policy. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
Make sure that your rescue medication is at hand at all times during your travels. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. 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.
Make certain that all members of your family get their annual flu shot. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. When it’s cold, a dehumidifier can keep moisture to a minimum; in hot months, your A/C unit will do the same thing.
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.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Inhalation of cold air is proven to initiate asthma attacks, and younger kids afflicted with asthma of moderate or severe proportions are especially at risk.
If you suffer from asthma, it is best to buy unscented products. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Keep the air inside as fresh as you can.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Keep yourself safe from these outbreaks by getting a yearly shot.
If you are going on a plane trip with asthma medications, make sure to bring your written prescription along with you. If you have written proof about the item you have,and that it is medically necessary, there will be less hassles going through security.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. 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.
Take note of how often, from a weekly standpoint, you use the rescue inhaler. Using it two times or may may mean that your asthma is not as controlled as you may think it is. It could also mean that something else is bringing on these frequent attacks. The frequency of your inhaler use is a good way to remember to check out your environmental surroundings and be mindful of all factors relating to your asthma regimen.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a support group may help. You can find support groups online or in your community. Asthma, especially severe asthma, can be a debilitating condition and prevent you from participating fully in daily life. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
Avoid smoke to prevent asthma and asthma attacks. Smoke can induce an asthma attack. Stay away from cigarettes, chemicals, and anything else that may emit smoke. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can have a significant effect on your asthma symptoms. If someone smokes around you, ask them politely if they could smoke when you are not around.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. These can very easily cause an attack. Try, then, to ensure your home is dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Go to several doctors. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. You can greatly reduce this by using a wet sponge, damp rag, or moist cloth instead of your old-fashioned feather duster.
People who suffer from asthma should stay inside as much as they can when the pollen count is up. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. Technology has brought with it real-time air quality reports that can be consulted before exposure to outdoor air that may cause irritation to asthmatics.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, allergists or even nutritionists will be able to work with you, make certain that you check out all outlets offering treatment.
It is important to visit with your doctor often, every two months or so, in order to stay on top of your asthma. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. You have to take it upon yourself to make and keep these crucial appointments so that your doctor can assist you in managing your condition as effectively as possible.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. There is a general awareness that smoking is not good for your health. But for the asthmatic, smoking can quickly have serious consequences. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
Asthma is a lung disease that is caused by environmental or genetic factors. If there are members of your family with asthma, it is important to monitor yourself as well as your children for asthma-like symptoms. You should try to prevent yourself and your children from being exposed to potentially hazardous environmental elements that can trigger asthma attacks, such as smoke, pollution, dust and mold spores.
Watch the pollen counts and adjust your activity accordingly to protect yourself from seasonal asthma issues. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. The air quality information should be used to find out when it is better to stay indoors to avoid irritants present in the air.
If you have an asthma emergency but you don’t have your inhaler on hand, try using caffeine as a substitute. Any source of caffeine will help control asthma attack symptoms, including chocolate, coffee, or black tea. The caffeine constricts your blood vessels, opening up your airway.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can’t do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you’ll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.
Be mindful of watching your children for food allergies symptoms. If you happen to notice difficulty breathing, or skin rashes when your child eats a certain food, it would be wise for you to visit a doctor to have them tested for allergies. Food allergies are often a sign that a child may develop asthma.