You’ve just gotten the asthma diagnosis and are panicking. No cure exists for asthma. However, your life does not have to come to an end upon being told you have asthma. This article will outline some simple ways you can begin to manage asthma safely and effectively.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
If you suffer from asthma, you should not smoke or expose yourself to any type of vapors or fumes. That means you have to avoid all tobacco, and seriously consider think about what jobs you take; for example, factories are probably not a healthy place for you because of all the vapors and smoke.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Also, do not let your child around others who smoke.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking is horrible for people, it is really bad if asthma becomes worse and blocks oxygen to your body, you need oxygen to work and stave off asthma.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
Keep away from any and everything that you know triggers your asthma attacks. Allergens such as dust and pollen can bring on an asthma attack at any time. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. These vitamins can improve your immune system to prevent asthma triggers.
Heart Disease
Products with no scent are the safest and best option for an asthma sufferer. Scented products, like air fresheners, incense and perfume, raise indoor pollution levels and can trigger asthma attacks. In addition, paint that is fresh or carpet that is new release odors that can cause breathing irritations that lead to an asthma attack. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. It is often hard to maintain the right kind of environment when you are traveling, and this may heighten the risk of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms.
If you are suffering from asthma, stay away from any type of cigarette smoke. Never smoke a cigarette! Do not breathe in the vapors or any other chemical fumes. This can set off an Asthma attack that you might not be able to stop. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
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 can be an extremely debilitating health issue and can stop you from participating in life the way you want to. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Smoke is one of the primary triggers of asthma. Do what you can to avoid chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and other vapors. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. A leukotriene inhibitor prevents the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Consider using more than just one doctor. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Certain specialists, such as pulmonologists and allergists, can provide extra treatment options for your asthma.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. These particular vitamins are believed to better your lung function and help manage your symptoms of asthma. You can take a supplement or consume these vitamins in food. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
Avoid smoking and people who are smokers. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Your lungs could become very irritated if you smoke, and you should avoid being around others that are smoking.
It has been shown that use of four or more different kinds of cleaning products can raise the risk of asthma attacks. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
If you have asthma and allergies and use a humidifier, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned as often as necessary. Bacteria could breed in this moist environment and get into the air once you turn the humidifier on.
While everyone appreciates the look and feel of a clean house, asthma sufferers in particular benefit from a healthy environment as it can decrease the risk of asthma attacks, especially in a sleeping area. Food should not be eaten outside of the kitchen, and there should be no indoor smoking. 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 use your inhaler over two times a week, talk to your doctor about changing your medicine. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. Also, if you refill the inhaler more than 2 times each year, there is the same result, which means making an appointment with your doctor.
If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. Side effects that are associated with most illnesses can serve as triggers for asthma and may cause an increase in your asthma treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
Finding out what causes your asthma attacks can be the most effective way to prevent them. Write down anything that triggers an asthma attack, then share what you’ve written with your asthma specialist. Once you know your triggers, you can avoid and eliminate them as much as possible.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. Both of these allergens can be contributing factors in asthma attacks. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. You can maintain a dry home by using a dehumidifier and heater in the colder months, and air conditioning when it is warm.
The causative factors in asthma range from environmental factors to genetic factors. Most of the time, both environment and genetics play a role in determining whether you will be impacted by this disease. If asthma has occurred in your family, be aware of any symptoms of asthma you or your children may exhibit. Asthma can also be caused by repeated exposure to certain air quality problems, such as pollen, dust, mold, smoke and pollution. Stay away from such environmental contaminants and keep your children away from them, too.
Asthma Attacks
Strengthen your core and gradually increase lung capacity. The last thing you should do is a frenetic workout. You will surely trigger an attack. Start slow and build your stamina.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Cool air has been known to trigger an asthma attack, particularly in very young children who have severe or moderate asthma.
There are some symptoms of severe asthma attacks that you should be aware of. If your child suffering from asthma manifests these systems, rush him to the ER! Signs that an asthma attack is underway can include blue or gray tints to the lips and fingernails. It is also possible your child will not respond to heightened doses of medication during an attack. If your child is having difficultly talking normally, this may also be an indication of a life threatening attack.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is generally treated with a rescue medication, usually an inhaler, in addition to a regularly-taken maintenance medication. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
If you are in the middle of an asthma attack without your emergency inhaler, try to get some caffeine quickly. Chocolate, strong black tea or coffee can help reduce the symptoms of an asthma attack. The caffeine constricts your blood vessels and leads to the opening of your airways.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. Sometimes, a person can die from their first asthma attack without actually knowing they had the disease to begin with! Therefore, if you find yourself having difficulties breathing or with a chronic cough, it is essential that you see a doctor and get tested for asthma. The sooner you get the needed treatment and medication, the better.
Monitor your children for food allergies. Food allergies often manifest as red, raised hives and difficulty breathing. You may also discuss allergy testing with your child’s pediatrician. Allergies might be a symptom of an asthmatic condition that will appear later.
If you are going to be flying and are bringing your asthma medicine with you, take written prescriptions from your physician with you, especially if you will be taking large equipment like a nebulizer. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
Keeping your environment dry and clean can help reduce the number of attacks you have in your home. Using a dehumidifier will control moisture levels in your house. You can reduce the number of asthma attacks you suffer in the summer by controlling the humidity levels and keeping them steady.
The key to successfully managing asthma is preparation. If you educate yourself about the type of asthma that is affecting you, and the measures you can take to work through an attack, you can learn to manage your illness on a daily basis. This article is stop number one for increasing your knowledge about asthma treatments!
If your child suffers from asthma and he is under five years old, be mindful of the signals of an asthma attack that would require emergency medical care. The symptoms of a pending attack include: gasping for air, struggling to breathe, a difficulty speaking, and frenetic, panicked behavior. If your child is showing any of these signs, they need urgent medical attention.