Asthma is a disease that can easily go out of control if left unchecked. An asthma attack can be dangerous, even fatal. It is important to talk to your doctor about it, as well as take time to research to learn more, too. This article contains a number of tips that can assist you in taking control of your asthma.
Cleaning products should be avoided when you have asthma. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
What kind of asthma do you have? 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. 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. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Beta blockers that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease can develop asthma like symptoms. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Know your asthma causes so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you may suffer from an attack.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Make sure to take the right medication for controlling everyday asthma symptoms, but also have quick relief medication with you in case of an attack. Your physician and allergist are the ones to approach with any questions you have about this disease and its treatment.
If you are an asthmatic who also has allergies, injected allergy medication may be just the thing you need to get relief. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. Your regular medication may also need to be combined with other treatments your doctor may recommend.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
If you are on the road, be certain to travel with your inhaler at all hours. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You also have little control over your surroundings as you travel, and this may result in an increase in symptoms or frequency of attacks.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. The easiest way to start is by performing routine hand-washing, limiting your touching of surfaces while in public places, and getting vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
If you are going on a trip on a plane and need to take your asthma medicine, take your prescription with you! If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
Asthma attacks have been found to be more likely in homes where four or more different cleaning products are in use. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
Preventative Inhaler
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Simple everyday things such as air fresheners, incense and perfume can cause indoor air pollution levels to increase and trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
It’s important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
If you have hay fever or a cold, chances are your asthma treatment will be increased. These illnesses have side effects that can cause asthma to flare up and make an increase in medication necessary. Your doctor may need to add new treatments to your typical asthma regimen until you are well.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If you are utilizing your inhaler more than two times per day, you might not be controlling asthma as well as you think you are! 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.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
You should get a second opinion. Your PCP can be the person you go to for help with asthma, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a specialist. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. There are actually many people that have passed away from an asthma attack without ever knowing they were even at risk. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Stop smoking. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. 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.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
It is important to keep away from humidifiers that have not been sanitized if you suffer from asthma or allergies. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. While asthma isn’t a type of allergy, those with asthma are frequently bothered by the same kinds of irritants that cause problems for allergy sufferers. Now that local air quality information is available in most areas, asthma sufferers can minimize their outdoor exposure when potential irritants are in the air.
If you are dealing with asthma it is critical you understand how to properly use an inhaler. When you spray the inhaler into your mouth, you cannot just lightly inhale. Every time you spray the inhaler, deeply inhale for a couple seconds. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
You should visit your doctor regularly throughout the year, so they can keep you apprised on the status of your asthma. At your doctor’s visit, the doctor will evaluate your asthma and make any changes to your treatment plan if they are required. You are responsible to schedule these appointments so you can stay healthy.
Make certain you have checkups scheduled with your physician every few months so you keep on top of your asthma. Your physician needs to have the opportunity to see what is happening with you, and alter your treatment plan if necessary. You are in charge of scheduling your visits with your physician in order for him or her to properly take care of you.
You must use a protective mask when you paint, so make sure you have one before you start your project. Paint fumes can be irritating to asthma sufferers, but a mask creates a protective shield. Do not go use certain chemicals that will make your asthma worse.
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.
Asthma is caused by environmental factors, genetics, or sometimes both. If your family has a history of asthma, pay special attention to any respiratory symptoms that may indicate that you or a family member is developing asthma. Keep yourself and your family away from environmental hazards like smoke, pollution, excess dust and mold spores.