Asthma is a very dangerous condition that can really inhibit your lifestyle. But, you should be aware that the symptoms of asthma are manageable with appropriate strategies, medicine and tools. This article has a lot of different strategies.
There are many different types of asthma. Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. As far as triggers that cause asthma attacks or causes of the condition in general, secondhand cigarette smoke ranks right up there. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. Do not smoke! Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, however it is especially bad for asthmatics. Your lungs are already compromised from the asthma and adding smoke to that will cut off the vital oxygen supply your lungs need to breathe.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. For example, Omalizumab can be used to keep your allergic reactions to a minimum and your asthma under control.
If you have asthma, you need to avoid any kind of tobacco smoke. You should not smoke! 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.
Studies show that using a variety of cleaning products in the home can actually increase the odds of triggering an asthma attack. Choose instead organic products that are not filled with harmful chemicals.
If the room that you’re in is dusty, do not turn on a fan. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
Pay attention to your symptom triggers. The more aware of your triggers you become, the easier it will be to avoid them and reduce the number of attacks you suffer. There are some quite common triggers that can invoke an attack in asthma sufferers, for example cigarette smoke, pollen, or pet hair and dander. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Leukotrienes has a hand in causing swelling and inflammation in your lungs, and may trigger a asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.
If you are asthmatic, it may be a good idea to use a pillow that is not filled with feathers. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
Asthma Attacks
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Try to use organic based cleaning products that are not harmful to asthma sufferers.
Some of the main triggers of asthma attacks happen right inside the home. These include dust, mold and spores. Have your home inspected for and cleaned of these things to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. Common triggers among asthma sufferers are smoke, pollen, or pet dander. If able, avoid anything that results in symptoms of asthma or an asthma attack.
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
When you are traveling, be sure to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times. Travel adds stress on your physical body, and it might increase your chances of falling prey to asthma triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
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. If you’ve got written proof, it’ll save you a lot of hassle when you’re at a security check.
Attend your regular asthma checkups, even if things seem to be going well. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. During the cold, winter months, a dehumidifier can help. In the summer, an air conditioner naturally takes out a lot of the humidity in the air.
Cigarette Smoke
While using an inhaler can potentially cause mouth or gum sores, it is still important to use it daily if you suffer from severe asthma. Always brush and gargle as soon as you’ve finished using your inhaler to prevent mouth infections.
Avoid all types of smoke, including cigarette smoke, if you have asthma. Smoke can seriously affect the lungs and is a common asthma trigger. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors, and any type of wood or cigarette smoke. The more you are exposed to fumes, vapors and smoke, the more likely you are to have an asthma attack. Ask your family to smoke outside, and consider moving if they refuse.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. The same pollens and other irritants that cause trouble for allergy sufferers are also concerns for asthma sufferers, even though the two are quite distinct conditions. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. While your primary care physician should be your go-to source for asthma help, consider making an appointment with a specialist or two. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, allergists or even nutritionists will be able to work with you, make certain that you check out all outlets offering treatment.
If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it is crucial that you understand how to properly use your inhaler. It is not as simple as spraying it into your mouth and breathing in. Whenever you spray your inhaler, inhale deeply for multiple seconds. Follow the instructions on your inhaler exactly to get the most benefit.
Don’t use a humidifier unless it’s been cleaned thoroughly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. If it is not clean you end up getting bacteria growth in the damp interior of the machine, and that ends up flooding the air you want to humidify with allergens.
If inhaler use happens more than two times in each of your weeks, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor about this and possibly adjust your medication. It means the medication used to calm acute attacks is either ineffective or not effective enough. This also goes for refills. If you find yourself refilling your inhaler in excess of twice a year, then you need to change medications.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If the attack gets worse, then seek help immediately. Have someone call an ambulance for you, or have them bring you to a hospital. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.
Speaking with people in an asthmatic support group, or chatting with friends who also have asthma, can be helpful. They can provide you with advice and tips on how to better deal with fighting asthma. Support given by those around you who are also afflicted with asthma can really make all the difference.
Make certain you have checkups scheduled with your physician every few months so you keep on top of your asthma. Your doctor needs to be able to evaluate your current situation and make any necessary changes. The responsibility of scheduling these appointments falls on you. Make sure you attend each and every one so that your doctor can stay updated on how your treatment plan is working in order to help you remain healthy.
Keeping your home neat, clean, and regularly swept can really help to reduce the number of asthma attacks you have. Also make sure to wash your bedding frequently. Keeping your home clean allows you to keep dust and dust mite levels low; both of these can trigger an asthma attack. The buildup of dust in the air is an irritant and increases the possibility of an asthmatic attack.
Vitamin B6.
If you or someone in your family suffers from asthma, you must not permit smoking in your house, your vehicle and your immediate environment. If there is a smoker present, they should be directed to smoke outside or away from asthma sufferers. Asthma attacks can be triggered simply by the odor of smoke that clings to a smoker’s clothing.
Don’t skimp on vitamin B6. B6, another name for pyridoxine, has been proven to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks related to asthma. Pyridoxine produces molecules that facilitate the relaxation of bronchial tissues. A banana is a great food that is rich in vitamin B6.
Keeping your home clean and dry is a good way to reduce attacks. A dehumidifier can be very useful to keep the moisture at acceptable levels if used on a daily basis. Keeping your home humidity levels low all year is an easy way to reduce weather-related attacks.
As the above article has stated, asthma is very serious, and can threaten your life if you do not treat it. Never leave home without your inhaler. If there’s pollen or other allergens in the air, stay indoors as much as possible, and consider moving to an area of the country where the air is cleaner if pollution is a problem where you live. Use this information to help you understand and control the symptoms of your asthma.
If you have an asthmatic child under 5 years old, you must carefully monitor for attacks that may require immediate medical intervention. The symptoms of a pending attack include: gasping for air, struggling to breathe, a difficulty speaking, and frenetic, panicked behavior. These signs indicate that your kid needs medical attention now.