Living with asthma is very hard, but if you manage it correctly, you can lead a better life. There are lots of ways to prevent or control asthma from messing up your life. Read on to find some helpful tips and techniques to take back your life despite the diagnosis of asthma!
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
What kind of asthma do you have? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. If you have exercised-induced asthma, for example, you’ll want to bring your inhaler with you to the gym or other locations where you might be involved in physical activity. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. By knowing the pattern to your symptoms it will be a big help to you avoiding crises.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed as asthmatic and are taking medications unrelated to your asthma, be sure your doctor is aware of them.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking is not recommended for anyone, but it creates worse complications for asthma patients by cutting off part of the oxygen supply needed to breathe properly.
If the room you are in appears to be dusty, refrain from turning on any fans. 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. If possible, open a window to increase the flow of air into the room.
It is important that you try to stay clear of cleaning products if you have asthma. Cleaning products contain a plethora of chemicals that are triggers to exacerbating symptoms related to asthma, as well as the attacks themselves. If you enjoy cleaning, or are the sole cleaner in the household, you are sure to be able to find one of the many natural cleaners that will be safe for your use.
Learn how to use an inhaler in the correct manner if you do not already know. Find a quiet spot and follow the instructions the manufacturer has given. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. As you are inhaling air, spray the correct dosage in your mouth. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Never smoke yourself! Avoid breathing chemical fumes and vapors. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.
A leukotriene inhibitor should be taken into consideration when asthma is a struggle. These medications prevent the production of leukotrienes. Leukotriene are chemicals that may cause your lungs to get inflamed which can lead to an asthma attack. The inhibitor can prevent them and decrease your asthma attacks.
Consider supplementing your diet with Vitamins E and C when you suffer from asthma. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. You can get both of these vitamins from eating certain foods, or by taking the vitamins in supplement form. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
Take a lot of Vitamin E and C if you are suffering from asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You are able to get these vitamins either from food or a supplement. Another great benefit of vitamin C is that it will help to strengthen your immune system overall.
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Scented products such as air fresheners and perfumes can trigger an asthma attack. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
You will need to keep your residence really clean, especially the bedroom where the asthma sufferer sleeps in order to help lessen the chances of an attack. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.
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. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. It is possible that your doctor will decide to modify your treatment, or even add additional treatments, until you are back on your feet.
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. Also, other asthma sufferers can help keep you aware of new medications or other medical treatments.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Wear scarves, shawls and mufflers to cover your noise and mouth during colder weather. 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.
You need to know what the asthma triggers are so that they can be avoided or treated promptly. Most with asthma share common triggers, like pet dander, pollen or smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.
Rescue Medication
Mold and mildew can thrive in a humid home environment. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. Try, then, to ensure your home is 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.
Take the time to understand the proper usage of your asthma medication, particularly any that is labelled as rescue medication. For most asthma cases, an emergency treatment option, such as an inhaler, is used to supplement day-to-day management medication. It’s crucial that medication for management of asthma is taken regularly, and that rescue medication is also used when appropriate.
In the winter, prevent attacks by wearing shawls, mufflers and scarves that cover the nose and mouth. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Cold air can trigger severe attacks, especially for young children.
Using your preventative inhaler should be done daily. It’s important to know, though, that it can cause sores and infections near 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.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Animals are a danger to asthma sufferers who are already allergic to them, but pets also carry a wide array of dust particles and pollen, so avoiding them is a good move for anyone dealing with asthma.
Monitor how often, per week, you find it necessary to use your inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
When pollen counts begin to rise, then anyone who suffers from asthma should just stay inside as much as they can. 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. Asthma suffers can now minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants and irritants by checking online for current air quality in their areas.
If you are working to prevent asthma, it is best not to smoke. Smoking can trigger a person who has asthma to have an attack. Avoid smoke of any kind, including cigarette smoke, if you’ve got asthma. Exposure to these substances can worsen your asthma considerably. If there are smokers around you, you may want to ask them if they will smoke in another area.
If you have asthma and allergies, do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly. Permitting bacteria to grow inside the appliance will result in irritants being dispersed into the air you breathe.
Do not smoke. Most people are educated about how dangerous smoking is, but it is much more harmful for people who have asthma. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
Always try your best to remain calm if you begin having an asthma attack. Take your first dose of your inhaler and then wait thirty seconds. You can use your inhaler again after that. Should your asthma get even worse, seek medical attention immediately. Call an ambulance or have someone present drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathing in and out of a paper bag on the way will help slow down your breathing.
As seen here, there are lots of ways that you can stop or control asthma from messing up your life. Asthma need not be such an obtrusive force in your life. In fact, if you can formulate an effective strategy against it, life can be very rewarding and active for you.
You shouldn’t have to take inhaled medication on a frequent basis. Talk to your doctor about changing medicines if you have asthma attacks two or more times per week. Frequent use may be a signal that the medication is not effective. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it’s time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.