If you have recently been handed a diagnosis of asthma, you may find yourself in a panic. There is no getting rid of asthma if you have the condition. But there is no cause to believe that you need to surrender to asthma, or that it has to take over your life. This article offers ways in which you can effectively and safely manage asthma.
It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. A lot of these products contain harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These chemicals wreak havoc on you and can trigger an attack. There are many all-natural organic cleaning products available that may help eliminate asthmatic problems.
People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. Stay away from jobs that would expose you to toxic or heavy vapors, and refrain from any tobacco use.
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you have any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
What triggers your asthma? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. 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. Knowing when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. 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. To determine the best options for you personally, consult your physician and an allergist.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. You should take care to also make sure your child does not get exposed to other environments where people might be smoking.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out fast and hard. Really expel the air from your lungs! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. Not only will you breathe in rhythm, but you’ll focus more intently on how you are breathing and become aware of breathing problems. It also pushes the air out of your lungs, so that more air can come in. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking is detrimental to anyone’s health, but those with asthma suffer especially because cigarettes lessen the oxygen supply that is crucial for the lungs to function properly and prevent an asthma attack.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. Omalizumab is an antibody medication that is used to control these allergic reaction symptoms and may be recommended by your allergist.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. Asthma sufferers are often sensitive to chemical cleaners; using these products can sometimes trigger asthma attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
To cut the risk of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as you can, particularly the bedroom of the person with asthma. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. They are believed to aid respiratory function and to be instrumental in keeping your asthma in check. These vitamins can be easily obtained, either through your diet or a supplement. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. If you lessen your humidity in the house, you will stave off dust mites that may make your asthma flare. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. Traveling can make asthma symptoms worse, and it is difficult, nearly impossible to control environmental triggers during travel.
Cleaning Products
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. 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.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Try using organic cleaning products that are not comprised of irritating chemicals.
Understanding how to properly administer your asthma medications is important, particularly in regard to rescue medications. Asthma typically is treated so that the sufferer has a regular maintenance medication, but is also prescribed a rescue medication, like an inhaler. Asthma is an illness that is chronic in nature, so it is imperative to take the management medicine as directed and only using the rescue inhaler when necessary.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. Your doctor may choose to also add an additional treatment until the illness gets better.
Asthma takes a long time to develop and doesn’t yield obvious symptoms. Many individuals died from their very first asthma attack because they weren’t aware they had the risk factors for an attack. Discuss with your doctor if you are having problems trying to catch your breath or have had a persistent cough for a while. There is the possibility that you have developed asthma, and if so, your doctor can tell you what the best method to treat it would be.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
If you need to travel with your asthma medication, particularly if you plan on bringing a nebulizer or other large equipment, it can be helpful to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining their use. Having proof that it belongs to you and is medically necessary will make the security check easier.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
It is important to remain calm during an asthma attack. Wait thirty seconds to try your inhaler after using it the first time. If this doesn’t start to control your attack, get assistance right away. Go to the hospital. If the attack is particularly bad, have a friend take you or call 911. Slow your breathing by inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag while you are waiting for help.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. Such irritants include mold spores, dust, smoke and chemical fumes. Stay on top of your health and reduce the likelihood of attacks. You can do this by having it inspected every year to get rid of triggers. Regularly cleaning your house can also contribute to preventing buildup of these substances.
You need to be educated in properly using your inhaler if you suffer from asthma. Spraying it inside your mouth and inhaling is not all it takes. Each time you spray your inhaler, breath in deeply for a few seconds. If you have asthma, there’s no way around it: you need to get familiar with the right method of using your inhaler.
During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. You can help warm the air with these things before they bring any harm to your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
Joining a network of those who suffer from asthma, or simply talking to others who suffer from the condition, can have a positive impact on you. People who have experience with the same disease as you can often provide a number of suggestions or tricks that work in specific situations – all of which can make your battle with asthma a little earlier. Gaining the support of those around you is crucial.
If you are taking an airplane and you need to travel with your asthma apparatus or medications, bring your written prescription with you. Having evidence from a doctor that the medication is necessary for your health will greatly help with security at the airport.
Add more vitamin B6 to your diet. Studies have shown that pyridoxine, also known as vitamin B6, can reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. This vitamin boosts the production of a molecule that helps bronchial tissues relax. One excellent source of vitamin B6 is bananas.
To live with asthma, you have to be prepared. Having a knowledge of your type of asthma and the ways you can manage it from day to day is the best way to avoid crises. By reading this article, you have taken an important step in gaining the understanding you need to keep your asthma in check.
Know what your triggers are to safeguard yourself against asthma. Write down potential asthma triggers in a journal and talk to your doctor about them. Many people have success controlling their asthma by eliminating known asthma triggers.