There is no joking when it comes to asthma and the damage it can cause upon its victims. Learning all that you can about your asthma triggers, and daily ways to control your condition, you can avoid more dangerous attacks. This article has many tips on managing your asthma.
Always be very mindful of the type of medications you’re taking. Some meds out there might just trigger an asthma attack. Some over the counter medications can irritate your asthma. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. If you suffer from asthma, be sure that your medical professional is aware of this.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Avoid breathing in the vapors and any other types of chemical fumes. Doing so can cause an asthma attack you might not have the ability to stop. If you see people smoking in your vicinity, you should get away from them as soon as possible.
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. When you breathe out, exhale the air quickly and as hard as you can. You want to force all of 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 method forces you to pay close attention to your breathing and create a steady rhythm. It will also empty your lungs of air, so that they’re ready to take in new, fresh air. This breathing technique may cause some coughing or sputum, but it can help regulate your breathing and reduce the attack.
Resist the urge to turn on a fan if you find yourself in a room filled with dust. If you do, the dust will move around, and you can trigger your asthma. On smog-free, low pollen days, open your windows to improve airflow in the house.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. It doesn’t matter if you get the vitamins for food or a supplement; just get them. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
If you are using a lot of different cleaners around your house you can trigger a asthma attack. Consider purchasing and using organic cleaning products since they are void of irritating chemicals.
Be certain to properly use your inhaler. Move to a quiet area, and then simply follow manufacturer’s instructions. Remember that the medication must reach your lungs if the inhaler is to work properly. Make sure that you spray the required dosage directly into your mouth, inhaling the medication into your lungs. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Try to maintain fresh air inside your home.
If you have asthma and do not have health insurance, you should consider seeing a social worker. Affording asthma medication is important for handling the illness, and social workers can find places the offer the medicine at low costs.
If you suffer from asthma, it’s best to avoid pillows full of feathers. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. These vitamins can boost immune systems, which helps you to avoid illnesses that can be a trigger for your asthma.
Many of the most common asthma triggers are found in the home. Typical asthma triggers in the home are dust and mold spores. To lessen the risk of an asthma attack and to stay healthy, have your house inspected every year by an inspector, and remove those agents when they have been identified. Furthermore, thorough and frequent cleaning will ensure that allergens and other possible triggers do not accumulate in your home.
If you have asthma, get a dehumidifier for your home. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers keep the air in your home dry by eliminating humidity.
When you need to take your asthma supplies on an airplane, it is a good idea to bring your doctor’s prescription with you. Having written documentation supporting this medically necessary item will eliminate any hassles when going through the security check point.
Asthmatics should avoid being exposed to smoke, regardless if you are a smoker. If you inhale the smoke, it will harm your lungs and increase the possibility of an asthma attack. Always be mindful of this, especially in small spaces that do not have very much air flowing.
Bed linens can collect dust, pollen and other allergens, all of which can further aggravate asthma. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. Having fresh bedding will let you breathe more easily and have a more restful night.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. You also have less control of your surroundings while you are away from home, so it is difficult to avoid potential triggers and to maintain control over your attack.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If your attack continues to worsen, seek help. Ask someone to drive you to the closest hospital or call an ambulance. Try to breathe into a paper bag so that you can calm your breathing when you’re on the way.
Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don’t neglect routine checkups. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.
When planning on painting an interior area of your home, make sure that you purchase a mask to protect your respiratory tract from the paint’s fumes. A proper breathing mask will help to protect asthma sufferers from paint fumes. Avoid chemicals, substances and scents that aggravate your asthma.
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Since severe asthma can be quite debilitating, it can have a huge impact on your everyday life. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
Add more vitamin B6 to your diet. This vitamin, which is sometimes called pyridoxine, offers many benefits, including reducing the overall frequency of severe asthma attacks. This substance helps your body produce the molecules needed to relax the tissues of the bronchial tubes. Bananas are a wonderful source of Vitamin B6.
Keep track of the number of times per week you use your rescue inhaler. If you use it more than two times, your asthma might not be well-controlled or you may have unusual occurrences causing those frequent attacks. This number can help you monitor your environment for asthma triggers and let you determine if your treatment plan is working properly.
Keep the place you live clean, and make sure to sweep it regularly. You should also frequently launder your bedding, including your pillows. By keeping these items clean, you avoid any dust buildup which attracts dust mites, a typical trigger of asthma attacks. When dust builds up, the air becomes more and more irritating to asthma sufferers and increases the likelihood of an attack.
Pay a visit to your physician if you feel that your symptoms are taking a turn for the worse. Try using the tips in the article so that you can reduce the frequency of attacks and keep your symptoms in check, and possibly enjoy life more.
Keep track of allergy attacks; if you have more than two a week, see a doctor about changing your medicine. Most health professionals agree that having attacks more than twice a week is both dangerous and avoidable.