Asthma can be a challenging condition. It can stop you from engaging in the simplest of tasks, even going for a walk. To make matters worse, there is no cure for asthma, and it is hard to manage the symptoms. Follow the tips below to prevent asthma attacks and manage your symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. Asthma triggers will vary greatly between individuals. If you have allergy related asthma, you will want to avoid pollen and dust. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. There are some beta blockers that are given to those trying to control their heart disease or who have high blood pressure that may be harmful to an asthmatic, as well. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
Don’t turn on the fan if the dust in a room is aggravating your asthma. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. Instead, you should consider opening a window to get some fresh clean air going through your lungs.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. Take the proper medications for controlling your asthma daily, and keep quick relief medication somewhere on you just in case you have a sudden attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
A dehumidifier can significantly reduce the asthma attacks experienced by you or other afflicted members of your household. A dehumidifier will reduce attacks by taking extra humidity and, by extension, dust mites and other debris out of your air. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
When you are suffering from an asthma attack, exhale all of the oxygen from your lungs. Exhale as quickly as possible, expelling air forcefully out of your lungs. Really expel the air from your lungs! Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. Breathing in this rhythmic manner helps you to concentrate on the breaths you’re taking. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. You might cough or produce sputum, but that is fine; you are trying to get breathing under control again.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. Tobacco smoke causes your lung function to decrease, increasing the risk of a very severe attack, especially in enclosed rooms without much air flow or ventilation.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Smoking is off limits. Stay away from vapors and all chemical fumes so you are not able to breathe them in. This may cause an asthma attack you can’t stop. You should give up on the smokes if you have asthma and also make sure to avoid other people who are smoking.
If you deal with asthma in your life, always choose products that are free of scents. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Try to keep the indoor air as clean and fresh as possible.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Find a good place and follow all of the directions that have been provided by the maker of the product. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Food must only be allowed in the kitchen area, and there should be no smoking in the house at all. Try not to use bleach or other irritants inside, and always thoroughly change the air in your house after cleaning.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke because it is as dangerous to asthmatics as smoking a cigarette. When you inhale smoke, especially in close quarters, lung functioning is decreased, and it can trigger an attack.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. Smoke, pollen, or pet dander are common triggers. Avoid these things when you can to breathe easier.
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. New carpeting and even a fresh coat of paint can aggravate the airway and lungs as well. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
If you plan to take a trip, you must always keep your rescue medication with you at all times. Traveling tends to put extra stain on the body, and you’re more susceptible to your asthma triggers under these conditions. You can’t control the weather or the environment when you travel, so keep in mind you are more vulnerable to symptoms and attacks when you go to a new area.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Look into becoming a part of a support group. There are many to choose from both online and offline. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
If the air in your home is humid, it provides an ideal incubator for mold or mildew. These can very easily cause an attack. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Smoke is one of the primary triggers of asthma. Keep away from chemical fumes, chemical vapor, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. These environmental conditions can exacerbate your asthma symptoms. If there’s smoke around you, ask politely for the person to stop smoking.
Know the right way to take your asthma medication, and above all any rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated with an everyday medication that is sometimes supplemented with an emergency treatment, like an inhaler. It’s important to use both forms of medication properly to treat your chronic condition.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Asthmatics can be affected by the dander or pollen that comes from the animals, even if they have no allergies to them. This can be a very risky situation to put yourself in and should be avoided.
Asthma develops gradually, and its symptoms may not be very noticeable. 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.
People who suffer from asthma should stay inside as much as they can when the pollen count is up. While asthma isn’t an allergy, many allergy irritants can affect it. Air quality readings are often available locally, and utilizing this information is key in minimizing exposure to harmful airborne irritants.
As the above article has stated, asthma is a terrible condition that should never be taken lightly. You need to do everything you can to prevent the symptoms from occurring, and seek help from a doctor if you feel that you can no longer control the symptoms on your own. Use these suggestions to reduce your symptoms so you can avoid having asthma control your life.
Go to your doctor a few times every year to check up on your asthma, and ensure that it is being managed effectively. Your doctor should make changes to your treatment if they feel your condition has changed. You have to take it upon yourself to make and keep these crucial appointments so that your doctor can assist you in managing your condition as effectively as possible.