Are you a person who, among millions of others, suffers from asthma? Throughout the article below, you will learn about a variety of easy-to-implement tips that will help you control the symptoms associated with asthma.
You need to make sure that you do not smoke and that you stay away from a lot of fumes and vapors if you suffer from asthma. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. Secondhand smoke is almost as dangerous to asthmatics as actually smoking a cigarette. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
What kind of asthma do you have? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
If your child or another loved one suffers from asthma, you should be sure to never smoke cigarettes when you’re near them. Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
Asthma Symptoms
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Among these medications are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. 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 suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. Getting vaccinated yearly can help keep many of these illnesses at bay.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Blow your breath out as hard and fast as you can. Expel the air in your lungs with great force! 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. Doing this means breathing in a conscious rhythm that makes you mindful of your breathing. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. Feathers may trigger asthma symptoms by irritating your lungs. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. While it may seem smart to get the air circulating, in reality this will only stir up the dust, making it easier to inhale and trigger 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.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Typically, asthma is treated using normal medications along with rescue medication, like an inhaler, for emergency situations. Asthma is not curable, so it is very important that you take your medication properly and only use your rescue medication if you need it.
If you have asthma that is not covered by health insurance, contact someone in a government agency, like a social worker. It’s vital that you stay on medication, so there may be programs available to help you get them at a discount.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. In a lot of cases, people die from an asthma attack because they didn’t know they had the condition. If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. This means that you should take all standard precautions to avoid illness, such as washing your hands, getting vaccinated and avoiding those who are sick.
Asthma aggravation, such as dust and pollen, can collect in your bed sheets and pillowcases. You can cut down on these irritants or eliminate them altogether by washing your bedding and pillow cases in very hot water once a week. If there are always fresh linens on your bed, you are much more likely to sleep restfully without unexpected asthma attacks.
If you are dealing with asthma, make sure you take lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
Have more than one medical professional look at your asthma problems. Specialists can supplement the asthma treatments your regular doctor provides for you. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.
If you have asthma, don’t smoke. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, but for someone with asthma, the consequences are even more serious. 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.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
Don’t use a humidifier unless it’s been cleaned thoroughly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Bacteria can breed inside the moist machine and you would be releasing them along with the humid air.
Your home might harbor several of the major triggers of asthma attacks. These include mold, dust and spores. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
Make sure you keep calm if you are having an asthma attack. Calmly use the inhaler. Use it again after 30 seconds has elapsed. If you feel your ashtma attack worsening, get immediate help. Have someone take you to a hospital, or if necessary call an ambulance. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.
When you clean house, it is recommended that you clean your floor with a wet mop instead of sweeping it. When you sweep, you are stirring up asthma triggers that can cause you to have an asthma attack. Dust will adhere to a wet towel instead of being loose in the air like feather dusters do where it can aggravate your asthma.
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. This means that the medication in your inhaler is not working well enough. Also, if you refill the inhaler more than 2 times each year, there is the same result, which means making an appointment with your doctor.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid being around smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. Any one of these things can aggravate asthma symptoms and cause an episode. If a person is smoking around you, politely ask him to smoke at times when you are somewhere else.
Ensure that you set up regular appointments with your physician every several months in order to be updated on your condition. Your physician can assess if there’s been any changes in your condition, and adjust your treatment plan accordingly. It is up to you to be proactive about your health and set up regular appointments with your asthma doctor to allow him or her to work with you to keep you healthy and feeling well.
This article offers a variety of tips and tricks for managing the symptoms of asthma. In order for them to help, however, you must consistently apply them. Asthma will come back very quickly if you ignore the warning signs for as little as a short time. Keep yourself well-protected against the dangers of asthma by applying the advice of this article.
Asthmatics should always wear a mask when dealing with the harsh chemicals in fresh paint. Paint can irritate your asthma a lot, so this mask acts like a protective barrier to prevent this. Refrain from using any substance or chemical that aggravate your asthma.