You are starting to panic because you have been told you have asthma. Asthma is a life-long health condition without a cure. However, a diagnosis of asthma does not mean your life has to be drastically altered. The following article will advise you of some of the measures you can take to get the symptoms of asthma under control.
If you suffer from asthma, you should not smoke or expose yourself to any type of vapors or fumes. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
Do you know which type of asthma you suffer from? Learning about your type of asthma will help you manage its impact on your life. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma should consider carrying an emergency inhaler in their bag. Knowing your symptoms’ patterns can help you avoid big problems.
Quit smoking or avoid smoke if you suffer from asthma. Smoking is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health; however, when you have asthma, smoking restricts the oxygen your lungs needs to breathe and function properly. If your lung function is affected, you run the risk of having more frequent attacks.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. Others experience an attack from physical activities. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
Dust will make you have an attack, so keep the air calm in dirty rooms. This could trigger an asthma attack because this will move the dust around. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
If you are a person with asthma and have persistent attacks related to allergy symptoms, a medication that can be used for a long term effect is one that can be injected. Known as Omalizumab, this antibody medicine can control the body’s allergic senses and lower the symptoms or reactions that asthma patients suffer.
Asthma is a chronic condition that is ongoing over time, and as such, will require a continual treatment and management regimen. Your doctor may prescribe medications that must be taken daily. In addition, you will likely have medication to take in the event of an attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Opt for organic cleaning products that do not contain irritating chemicals.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
Always choose unscented products for your home if you have asthma. 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. Freshly painted walls and brand-new carpet can also give off odors that cause irritation to airways. Keep the air inside your home clean and fresh, and free of any asthma triggers.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. The effects of some illnesses can exacerbate the effects of your asthma, causing the need for more treatments. Your physician may even recommend that you take additional medication until you recover.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. Let in plenty of fresh air if the weather permits, and avoid using harsh chemicals to bleach.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. These culprits include dust, spores and mold. To stay healthy and reduce the chance of asthma attacks, you should have an inspector visit your house yearly to remove these harmful agents. Also, cleaning your house can help with this buildup.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. Both of these substances are known to trigger asthma attacks. You should therefore try to keep your home dry. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. This applies to bedding, as well, so it’s best to make sure that everything on your bed is hypoallergenic.
Asthma Attacks
While traveling, always keep emergency asthma medication on hand and close by. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
Avoid cold-induced asthma attacks by protecting your mouth and nose with a scarf. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. By breathing in cold air, it has been proven that it could trigger an asthma attack more so in children that are younger and suffer from severe to moderate asthma.
Many of the biggest triggers for asthma can, and do, exist in your home. These can include dust, mold and spores. If you want to prevent and manage these sources of asthma attacks, have regular home inspections by a professional, and get identified harming agents cleaned out. Additionally, cleaning your home on a regular schedule prevents these unwanted visitors from taking residence en masse.
You should use your inhaler everyday regularly; however, be forewarned that the medicine can potentially lead to mouth infections, especially around your gums and teeth. Immediately brush your teeth followed by a quick gargle after using your inhaler. This is a great way to prevent any kind of complications in your mouth.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. That way the air is warmed before it enters your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
When cleaning your house, clean floors with a wet mop instead of a broom. When you are sweeping with a broom, you stir up triggers like dirt and dust mites that can cause you to go into an asthma attack. A damp rag should be used when dusting because a feather duster can cause dust to kick up and lead to an asthma attack.
Don’t smoke. A lot of people know smoking is bad, but with asthma, it can be even worse. Smoke can severely irritate an asthma sufferer’s lungs; so, if you do suffer from asthma, stay away from both smoking and being around smoke in general.
When you are making an effort to control asthma, do not smoke. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from chemical fumes, vapors, and cigarette smoke at all times. These can increase symptoms of asthma. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
If asthma does strike, don’t lose your cool. Calmly use the inhaler. Use it again after 30 seconds has elapsed. If you do this and you notice that your attack is worsening then you need to get help. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. Slow your breathing by inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag while you are waiting for help.
If the pollen count is rising, stay indoors when possible. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. 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.
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. It’s not enough to spray a little into your mouth and breathe softly. You must breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Without proper breathing techniques with your inhaler, your symptoms will worsen.
If you need to use your inhaler more often than twice each week, this means your asthma isn’t adequately controlled and a medication change is required. If you need to use your inhaler that often, the medicine in it isn’t working as well as it should. Also, if you have to refill your inhaler more than twice in one year, then a visit to the doctor for a medication change is also in order.
Always use an appropriately-designed mask when painting to guard against breathing paint fumes. Paint chemicals are a powerful irritant that can cause an asthma attack if inhaled without a mask. Avoid all substances and chemicals which trigger problems with your asthma.
As you can read, the trick of managing asthma is preparing well. A good knowledge of how to prevent asthma attacks and how to manage your symptoms will make living with asthma easier. Reading this article has been the first important step in getting control of this disease.
The mere act of discussing your asthma condition with other people can have a soothing and positive effect. Other asthma sufferers often have the best tricks for dealing with dangerous situations, and fighting the battle against asthma. Gaining support from the people you love and those who care is vital to the process.