If you have recently been handed a diagnosis of asthma, you may find yourself in a panic. There is not a cure for asthma; it is a lifelong condition. However, your life does not have to come to an end upon being told you have asthma. Research your asthma symptoms and the treatments for each of them.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. People who suffer from exercise-induced asthma will need to make sure that they have an inhaler with them inside of their gym bag. If you know and understand your asthma triggers, you can better avoid and handle attacks.
If you are an asthma patient, do not expose yourself to vapors, fumes and cigarette smoke. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Some things, such as physical exertion, can cause an asthma attack. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.
Avoid those things that you know can trigger your asthma. This could be something you’re allergic to like pollen or dust. Others find themselves suffering from attacks when they overexert themselves. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Medication Available
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Aspirin is a common medication that can affect asthma sufferers. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
If allergy symptoms cause you to have moderate to severe asthma attacks, there is a medication available that can help for extended periods of time. One antibody medication available is called Omalizumab and can be prescribed by your doctor or allergist.
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. 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.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
Be sure to avoid cigarette smoke if you have asthma. Do not smoke! Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If you are dealing with asthma, you would benefit from buying a dehumidifier. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Air is kept dry by dehumidifiers by sucking the humidity out of it.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. If you have asthma, try to avoid getting respiratory infections if you can. Precautions include washing your hands and staying current with vaccinations.
People who have asthma should avoid using scented household products. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. An asthma sufferer’s airways can feel irritated by odors such as fresh paint or new carpeting. Try to see that the air inside your home remains as fresh as possible.
It’s been proven that you should use no more than four cleaning products in the home. If you do it can increase the risk of asthma attacks. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.
You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. Traveling can make you more likely to suffer from attacks due to the extra strain and stress on your body. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Do not allow mold or mildew to grow in your home, because they can be extremely dangerous for asthma sufferers. This stuff can easily set off an asthma attack. So try your best to make your home as dry as possible. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
Your home can be the cause of your asthma and its triggers. These culprits include dust, spores and mold. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. If you have to use your inhaler more than twice, then our asthma is not being controlled effectively, and you may need to see your doctor for a way to get it under control again. Focusing on how often you need your inhaler makes you aware of when you need to make changes to your plan for keeping asthma under control.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. Proper winter wear can keep cold air from agitating your lungs. In multiple studies, breathing cold air is linked to increased asthma attacks. This link is especially pronounced in younger children.
Dust and other allergens often accumulate in bed sheets. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. You will find that having fresh linens will make your breathing while sleeping much easier.
Rescue Medication
Visit at least two different doctors. Your family doctor will be in charge of your asthma treatment, but seeing a specialist can provide you with invaluable help. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Know how to properly use asthma medicine, especially your rescue medication. Asthma is usually treated by using a regular medicine supplemented with a rescue medicine, like an inhaler. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless you are sure it’s been thoroughly cleaned. Bacteria can breed in moist parts of the machine, and if it is unclean when you turn it on, it will just pump out allergens.
Asthma is a health condition that usually develops over a period of time, and has symptoms that may not be obvious. There are many cases where people have died from their first asthma attack, without even being aware that they were at risk. If you have any trouble catching your breath or a cough that won’t go away, consider talking to your doctor to make sure that you aren’t afflicted with asthma. If you are, you’ll need to keep an inhaler with you at all times and possible take other medications.
If you use an inhaler more than 2 times a week, talk to your doctor about a new medication potentially. This frequency of inhaler use means that your inhaler medication is not functioning effectively. This also applies to anyone who needs to refill their inhaler more than two times in a single year.
Clean your home with a wet mop instead of a broom. Sweeping stirs up irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Also, use damp rags instead of feather dusters to dust your furniture.
Go to your doctor a few times every year to check up on your asthma, and ensure that it is being managed effectively. This person needs to have the ability to look at your current situation so that they can make any changes as necessary. You are in charge of scheduling your visits with your physician in order for him or her to properly take care of you.
You should have a team of medical professionals to help you craft your asthma treatment. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.
If you live with a person who smokes and you suffer from asthma, obviously smoking should not be permitted in your home. Smokers should be required to leave the premises and put significant distance between themselves and the asthma sufferer. Just the smell of smoke on those who indulge heavily in smoking can set off an asthma attack.
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.
Get yearly flu vaccinations. Even if you are not affected by the flu or colds, it’s still safer to get the vaccination against them. Upper-respiratory infections or sinus infections can cause a significant increase in symptoms if you are at risk of asthma attacks.
If you are having an asthma attack, it is crucial that you remain calm. Immediately use your inhaler, then wait a half a minute and do so again. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Ask a family member or friend to call for ambulatory help or to drive you to the emergency room. Grab a paper bag and breathe inside it, as that can help to slow down your breathing.
Being in clean and dry conditions will aid in reducing the number of asthma attacks in the home. Using a dehumidifier will control moisture levels in your house. You can reduce the number of asthma attacks you suffer in the summer by controlling the humidity levels and keeping them steady.
As seen here, it is important that you are prepared in order to manage asthma. If you educate yourself about the type of asthma that is affecting you, and the measures you can take to work through an attack, you can learn to manage your illness on a daily basis. This article is the first step to understanding how to battle this disease effectively!
If your toddler has asthma, be sure to be vigilant of symptoms that may necessitate professional emergency care. This includes: gasping, difficulty speaking and sucking in air beneath the ribcage in an effort to breathe freely. If you recognize any of these signs, then you must get medical attention for your child immediately.