From the very young to the very old, asthma is an extremely serious condition regardless of age. In addition to following the advice of your doctor, you should always be watchful of warning signs that indicate your health is at risk. Read this article to find out more about how you can manage your condition on a daily basis and prevent 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. Illnesses like this can often worsen your asthma symptoms, which may require that you up your dosage of certain medications. Your doctor might add additional medication until your sickness gets better.
If you are afficted with asthma, it is critical to quit smoking and avoid the use of any other tobacco products. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
If your kid or you suffer from asthma, you should get a yearly flu shot. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
Avoid anything that can trigger your asthma. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. It is also advisable to use hypoallergenic sheets and comforters for the same reason.
Should you wind up inside a really dusty room, don’t activate any fans. A fan will spread dust and debris all over. This can very easily aggravate your asthma, and cause serious symptoms. It could be better to open the window if you need to get airflow.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. Others who suffer from asthma can give you immeasurable amounts of support and advice, and help you keep up with new medical developments.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Your home can be full of the major triggers leading to an asthma attack. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. If you clean your house regularly, you can minimize the risk of these substances accumulating in your dwelling.
A leukotriene inhibitor should be taken into consideration when asthma is a struggle. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
Protect yourself against breathing in cold air that aggravates your asthma by wearing a scarf that covers your nose and mouth. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. 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 give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. Having written proof that the item in question is in fact medically necessary can cut down on hassles at the security check.
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. A lot of illnesses can cause your asthma to flare up very badly, resulting in the necessity to increase asthma treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
Monitor how many times, on a weekly basis, you are using your rescue inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. How frequently you need to use the inhaler can help you recognize any environmental changes you need to make.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Keep yourself safe from these outbreaks by getting a yearly shot.
When you clean your floors, do so with a wet mop instead of a broom. Those particles that can trigger asthma attacks are stirred up when you sweep. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Suffering from asthma can mean many days are spent at home with your condition stopping you from participating in a full and fulfilling lifestyle. Also, communicating with other people with asthma will keep you in the know about changes in how the condition is understood and treated.
Do not smoke. Most people know how dangerous smoking is, but for someone afflicted with asthma, the dangers are ten times more serious. Smoke greatly irritates the sensitive lungs of the person with asthma, so in addition to not smoking, someone with asthma should avoid people that are smoking.
Mildew and mold grow best in a home with high humidity. Protect yourself against allergens, dust mites and fungus to avoid exacerbating your asthma symptoms. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. One way to control the humidity in the house is to employ a dehumidifier to pull out the excess moisture.
Asthma sufferers need to stay inside as much as they can when the air’s pollen content is high. Asthma itself may not be an allergy, many of the same things that affect allergy sufferers also affect those with asthma. Asthma suffers can now minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants and irritants by checking online for current air quality in their areas.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. Filtering and warming air before you inhale it can help prevent asthma attacks. Breathing cold air can set off an asthma attack, particularly in small children who have have somewhat severe asthma.
If you use an inhaler more than 2 times a week, talk to your doctor about a new medication potentially. Having to use your inhaler multiple times means the medicine you’re receiving isn’t working well enough and needs to be changed. Similarly, if you need to purchase refill inhalers more than twice a year, your medication is ineffective.
You should always realize that asthma is a serious condition. Asthma attacks can kill you, so you should always take the necessary measures to ensure you are safe from worse problems. Always have a backup inhaler with you, and try to limit your exposure to irritating airborne contaminants. If you use these tips, you will learn how to be manage your asthma and its symptoms.
Schedule regular appointments with your physician to keep tabs on your asthma. Your doctor needs to be able to evaluate your current situation and make any necessary changes. You need to stay on top of scheduling doctor visits. Otherwise, your condition might deteriorate suddenly.