Working around the possibility of an asthma attack is tough, but it is possible to live a relatively normal life, even with asthma. There are a number of ways to make sure that asthma doesn’t interfere with your life. Here are some suggestions that can help you live with asthma.
If you are afflicted with asthma, it is critical that you don’t smoke. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you are an asthmatic and you are using these medications.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a type of chemical substance which may cause inflammation and could cause an attack. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Asthma is an ongoing disease and requires ongoing health management. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
Make sure that you and your loved ones get a flu vaccination yearly. It is a good idea to avoid all respiratory infections when you have asthma. This includes preventive measures against sickness, such as practicing good hygiene and getting all recommended vaccinations.
If you’re having an asthma attack, a great way to handle this is to immediately evacuate the air from your lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Really force that air out of your lungs! After that, take in three shallow breaths and one deep breath. Once your lungs are full again, do another forceful exhale. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
In order to minimize the chance of an asthma attack, be sure to keep your living area very clean, most definitely the bedroom area. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Air the house out thoroughly after cleaning and avoid the use of bleach and other harsh chemicals indoors.
Learn how to properly use your inhaler. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. While taking a deep breath, spray in the recommended dosage. It is then necessary to hold the breath for about ten seconds to give the medication time to work in your lungs.
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
In conclusion, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent asthma from disturbing your life. If you know what you are doing, you can keep your asthma from disrupting your life so that you do what is really important for you.
Receiving a flu shot annually is very important if you or a loved one are asthmatic. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.