Untreated asthma symptoms can lead to serious difficulties if not controlled properly. Asthma attacks can cause serious health problems, and even death. Although you should try to obtain guidance from health professionals, in some cases, it is simply not enough. In such instances, it is up to you to do something about it. With these easy to follow pieces of advice, you can live a healthier life with asthma.
Smoking is a horrible habit, even deadly, for an asthma sufferer. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
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. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. You should not smoke yourself! Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
If you have mild to moderate asthma attack, breathe out forcefully to get every bit of air out from your lungs. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Take in three breaths, and then a deeper breath until your lungs are full of air. Then exhale 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 may generate sputum or cough but that is alright, since your main objective is getting you to breathe normally again.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. The fan will circulate the dust along with the air, which can cause it to get into your lungs and make your asthma worse. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
If you suffer from asthma, make sure that you consume enough Vitamin C and Vitamin E. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. Certain things around the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
Think about getting a home dehumidifier if you have asthma. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. When you breathe in smoke, especially in small spaces, it diminishes breathing ability, which greatly increases the probability of an asthma attack.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. When you travel, you sometimes strain your body a little more than you think, which can make you a bit more susceptible to having asthma attacks. Influencing the environment around you is nearly impossible while on the road, which is another opportunity for deteriorating symptoms or attack triggers.
If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Mold and mildew grow in a home due to the humidity that creates a friendly environment for them. These substances are prime triggers for asthma attacks. 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.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These are dust, mold and spores. To keep yourself healthy and avoid asthma attacks, you may need to hire an inspector to come out once a year to test your home and remove any irritants. Conscientious house-cleaning can help prevent buildup of substances in your home that might trigger an asthma attack.
Asthma Attacks
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This warms the air before you bring it into 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.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it enters your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
Be sure to thoroughly understand how to utilize asthma medication correctly, particularly any rescue medication. Asthma treatment is generally two-pronged: Daily asthma treatment and additional emergency medicine to relieve attacks as they happen. 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.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
If you are flying with your asthma medications, especially a large piece of equipment such as a nebulizer, be sure to bring along a written prescription from your doctor. Carrying written prescription information will help you to avoid security hassles, and you won’t have to worry about your medication being confiscated.
If you are cleaning, you should use a mop that is damp instead of a dry broom. Sweeping the floor kicks up dust and other debris that can set off an attack of your asthma. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
For people with serious asthma, exposure to household pets should be limited. While allergies from animals can complicate asthma, those without allergies can get asthma attacks from dust or pollen that the animals carry.
Contact with animals and pets should be avoided for asthma sufferers. While allergies to dander or animal hair can possibly complicate your asthma, even those with no such allergies can have asthma attacks by inhaling the pollen and dust animals usually carry about with them.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are permanent and can’t go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Use your inhaler, wait 30 seconds and use it again. If you feel your ashtma attack worsening, get immediate help. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.