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. It is critical that you follow all available measures to keep your asthma well managed. Use these simple ideas to manage your asthma symptoms and regain your life.
What type of asthma are you having to deal with? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. For example, if your asthma is brought on by bronchitis, you should keep your rescue inhaler with you during times when you are sick. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
If you suffer from asthma, it is vital that you avoid smoking; if you do, you should quit. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
It is vital that neither you, nor anyone else, smoke around a child with asthma. Secondhand smoke can actually cause asthma to appear. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. For others, it may be linked to physical exertion. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
When you have asthma, you need to be careful around chemical cleaning products. Many chemicals that are in these products can cause the triggering of asthma attacks. Instead of relying on harsh cleaners, check out some organic solutions. They might cost a few dollars more, but the difference is well worth it.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Make your exhalations quick and forceful. Forcefully push the air out from your lungs. Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. This method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. You may cough or generate sputum, this is okay, your main goal is to get your breathing back on track again.
Stay away from anything that you are aware of that may trigger your asthma. This can vary from person to person, as small particles like dust can cause asthma attacks. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Knowing exactly what sets off your asthma is thus, very important.
If the room you are in appears to be dusty, refrain from turning on any fans. The fan will circulate the dust along with the air, which can cause it to get into your lungs and make your asthma worse. It’s better to open the window if you’re in need of fresh air.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. As soon as you inhale any smoke from tobacco, your lungs become sensitive, which increases your risk of an attack. Just avoid any type of smoke, especially in small areas, and keep your lungs healthy to be safe.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
Figure out your asthma triggers. Once you know what they are, you can change your lifestyle to prevent asthma attacks. If you can’t avoid a trigger, you can pack your inhaler, take allergy pills or engage in other preventive measures so you don’t have an attack. A lot of people who suffer from asthma have the same triggers, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Whenever you can, stay away from these agents that can trigger symptoms or cause full-blown asthma attacks.
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
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.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. The vitamins will help improve the immune system, which will help you fight off illnesses that cause asthma.