Asthma is a little scary to deal with because it creates trouble with the way you breathe. Its onset can be sudden and potentially lethal, and it can severely limit your enjoyment of life if you allow it to. To figure out where asthma attacks come from and what you can do to reduce your risk and manage your asthma condition, take a look at the helpful advice below.
Cleaning products can trigger an asthma attack, so try to keep your exposure to them to a minimum. Many chemicals contained in common cleaning products can aggravate your asthma, triggering an attack. If you’re the one who regularly cleans the house, look for natural cleaning products which are much safer to use.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. Knowing the patterns of your symptoms will help you avoid crises.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Exhale in a hard and fast manner. This will force the air from your lungs. Inhale three times with short breaths, and then on the fourth one take a deeper breath so your lungs are full of air but still comfortable. Then breath out as hard as you can again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.
Learn what triggers your asthma so that you can avoid it. For some, allergens such as dust and pollen can trigger an attack. Some people get attacks after being physically active. You should know what causes asthma, so you can stay away from these things.
Make sure that everyone in your family, including you, gets annual flu shots. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. Common method of avoiding illnesses can be very effective. Keep your vaccinations up to date and wash your hands frequently.
Asthma is not a curable disease and will require life-long health management. Always be very sure that you’re taking the right type of medication for your condition if you hope to control it. It’s also important to have a quick-relief medication available. Consult with your physician and allergist to find out what is best for you.
Stay away from any tobacco smoke, even people that are smoking tobacco. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.
If you’re suffering from an asthma attack that’s moderate or mild, then work to force all the air you can from your lungs. Breathe out quick and forcefully. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. This gives your breathing a rhythm, which makes you aware of how many breaths you take. It also helps to push air out from your lungs so new air can come back in. You may generate sputum, but the primary goal is to start breathing regularly again.
To keep from triggering any bad symptoms of asthma or a full-blown attack, it’s important to keep the home clean and tidy, free of dust and other particulates. This is particularly important in a bedroom. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. When cleaning your home, try not to use products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. You should also allow fresh air to thoroughly circulate throughout your home after you’re done cleaning it.
If you’re in a room that has a lot of dust in it, don’t turn on a fan. The wind will move dust around and get into your airways causing an attack. Encourage air to flow throughout the room by just opening a nearby window or door.
Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. Some common asthma triggers include pet dander, pollen, and cigarette smoke. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. Feathers in a pillow can bring on the symptoms of asthma and decrease lung function. This extends to the rest of your bedding, as well. There are hypoallergenic comforters and sheets you can use to limit asthma symptoms.
Social Worker
Keep all your regularly scheduled asthma appointments, regardless of how you are feeling. It is important to make sure your condition isn’t worsening, and your doctor may want to prescribe a different medication.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. You must have the ability to afford your medication, so a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer them at little cost or free.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Asthma can be devastating and lead to lethargy and withdrawal from normal life – especially if it is quite severe. The individuals in this group could also provide you with new insights about medications that are out there, as well as other advice in dealing with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure you consume lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins aid in improving the function of the lungs and controlling the symptoms of asthma. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
A lot of the main causes, and triggers, of asthma may exist right in your home. Dander, dust and mold are all commonly found in many homes. 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. Conscientious house-cleaning can help prevent buildup of substances in your home that might trigger an asthma attack.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.
If traveling by plane with your asthma equipment or medications, always carry your written prescription with you to avoid problems. If you have the proof that this is a medical necessity, it can cause less hassles during the security check.
While everyone appreciates the look and feel of a clean house, asthma sufferers in particular benefit from a healthy environment as it can decrease the risk of asthma attacks, especially in a sleeping area. Don’t smoke indoors, or allow any junk food in your home. After using chemical to clean, air out the house.
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. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
When you are traveling, make sure you have a rescue inhaler with you. Being in odd environments can cause undue stress on your body, which makes you more prone to an asthma attack. While on the road, it is also hard to control the environment you are in, which also makes an attack more likely.
Contact with animals and pets should be avoided for asthma sufferers. Even sufferers not allergic to a certain animal need to remember that dust and pollen on the animals can still trigger an attack.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. Flare-ups can occur at any time; plus, your doctor may have a new medication that he or she can offer you that will make your treatment safer and more effective.
Do not smoke. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. Smoke is extremely irritating to the already sensitive asthmatic lungs, so care should be taken to not only smoke, but also avoid being in the presence of other people who are smoking.
Asthma generally develops over a period of time, and the symptoms are not always obvious. There are known cases where someone has actually died from a single asthma attack, because they were unaware that they had the disease. So, if you have difficulty breathing or a cough that doesn’t go away, see a doctor to figure out whether you suffer from asthma and to determine whether you will be needing medication to prevent or treat the condition.
If you have asthma and you’re also an allergy sufferer, you must only use a vaporizer or humidifier that’s been cleaned thoroughly. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
When you need to take your asthma supplies on an airplane, it is a good idea to bring your doctor’s prescription with you. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. A daily journal can be a powerful tool to help you pinpoint frequent triggers and it can also help your doctor to prescribe the treatment that is right for you. Once identified, do everything you can to avoid triggers and eliminate them from your environment whenever possible.
If you do not take the steps necessary to control your asthma, it can potentially be fatal. If you use this information you can help manage asthma and breathe more effectively.
Keep your living area swept and clean. Make sure you wash your bedding often. When you keep everything clean, you are preventing dust and mites from building up, which will help stop asthma attacks. The buildup of dust in the air is an irritant and increases the possibility of an asthmatic attack.