Do you suffer from asthma and wish you were more knowledgeable about this condition? You are not the only one. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to find a concise, accurate guide to this condition. Read the article below for lots of asthma information.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. 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 when an asthma attack is likely to strike can help you avert disaster.
Do all you can to learn not just about asthma, but your particular asthma. One of the best ways to combat asthma and its limiting effects on your life is to know and understand as much as you can about your specific condition. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
It is very important that an asthma sufferer refrain from smoking, if you do then it is advisable you quit now. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals if you are an asthma sufferer. A lot chemicals that are in these items can set off an asthma attack or aggravate other symptoms. If you do the cleaning in your house, use natural solutions that are safer for you to breath in.
If you find yourself having a mild asthma attack, force the air from your lungs until they are empty. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. Exhale with maximum force! Breathe in by taking three quick breaths, followed by one very deep breath. Doing this will fill your lungs completely, and allow you to expel the air forcefully again. Pay attention to what you are doing and follow a regular rhythm. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
If you’re in a dustier room, avoid turning on a fan. Otherwise, the dust will fly into the air and could give you an attack. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can’t get approved for health insurance. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
Social Worker
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. Vitamin C is available in multiple forms. You can find it in citrus fruits, supplements, and in many other places. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.
If your health insurance situation cannot help you with your asthma, talk to 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.
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. When your home has less humidity, there are less dust mites, and that minimizes the chances of an asthma flare-up. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma, you should consider buying a dehumidifier for your home. 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.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Harsh chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can trigger asthma.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. Fragrances are present in hundreds of common consumer products, including cleaning supplies, perfumes, detergents and room sprays. Any of these items could easily increase the of triggering an attack. Other asthma irritants include fresh paint fumes and new carpeting. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
Your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you become ill. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. The doctor may choose to pursue additional treatment options during your illness as well.
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. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
If you are an asthma patient, you may want to sleep with a pillow that does not contain feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Many people who suffer from asthma are unable to live a full life. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling to places can strain your body, and it is more vulnerable to asthma triggers when it is under strain. It is also hard to predict what will come up or to control your environment when you travel, which increases the chances of experiencing more severe symptoms or an attack.
Asthma Attacks
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. These can include dust, mold and spores. Have an inspector come visit your house to remove any harmful agents that you have so that you can stay healthy and lower your risk for an asthma attack. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent 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.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This lets the air warm slightly before you breathe it in. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. In some cases, people do not even know they might have a chance of an asthma attack and their first one proves fatal. 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.
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. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
If you are traveling by plane and must bring inhalers or nebulizers on board, you should bring a written prescription for the equipment. If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
It is no surprise that newly diagnosed asthma sufferers want to learn all they can about their condition. What you’ve learned here can be applied in your life, helping to control your disease and keep stress at a minimum. Apply this article’s advice, and be on your way to a more manageable asthma experience.
Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. It is important to wash your bed linens at least once per week in very hot water if you want to reduce or eliminate the potential aggravators. The freshly laundered linens will make it easier for you to breath when you are sleeping.