Asthma can be very frightening to deal with no matter who has it! The golden rule requires that you learn the details of how it effects you and manage your activities with those details in mind. You should know what to expect and when to expect it, and these tips will certainly be useful.
Suffer from asthma? It is vital that you not smoke tobacco; if you do, quit. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
You should avoid smoking and any type of fumes if you suffer from asthma. This means you should stay away from all tobacco products and carefully consider the jobs you apply to, especially in factories, as you may be exposed to harmful smoke or vapors.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. If you have asthma, you can protect your health by taking all steps possible to avoid any type of cold, flu or other upper respiratory infection. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking is a bad habit for everyone, but patients that suffer from asthma are negatively affected by smoke as it cuts the oxygen supply off and induces an asthma attack.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure you consume lots of Vitamins E and C. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. You can take these vitamins in pill form, or you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get the vitamins that way. These vitamins also help boost your immune system, which helps to prevent illnesses that trigger asthma.
Blood Pressure
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Using products with scents, like perfume, incense and air fresheners, boosts the amount of air pollution indoors and can bring on an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting also produce smells that can cause irritation to the airways. Clean your indoor air and keep it as fresh as you can.
There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. If you have asthma paired with heart disease or high blood pressure, tell your doctor.
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 permit food in designated eating areas, such as the kitchen or dining room, and don’t allow smoking inside the house at all. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires constant management. Ensure you’re taking the proper medications in order to manage everyday asthma symptoms. In addition, you should have a quick-fix medication handy in the event you suffer from an attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Many of these illnesses will worsen your asthma symptoms bad enough to require more treatments than you typically need. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
You may want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier for your home if you suffer from asthma. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers work by pulling the moisture out of the air of your home.
If you have asthma or you live with an asthma sufferer, you should ensure you receive an annual flu shot. Get yearly vaccinations to keep these potential infections at bay.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Food should only be eaten in the kitchen area, and whatever you do, please don’t smoke. Bypass chemicals when cleaning your home if at all possible, and be sure to open doors and windows afterwards.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
If you or your child suffer from asthma, it is important that you receive a flu shot every year. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.
Mold and mildew thrive in homes with high humidity levels. Both mold and mildew are associated with asthma attacks. You will benefit greatly from keeping the moisture out of your home’s air. A dehumidifier can be used in the winter, and in the summer, many air conditioner models also help strip moisture from the air.
Take notes of what can trigger your asthma attacks so that you can be prepared for a future attack or learn how to avoid them all together. Generally, it is found that items such as smoke and pollen can trigger attacks in those that suffer with asthma. Whenever you can, just steer clear of these triggers when you know what they would result in.
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. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Support Group
A lot of times asthma will develop over time, and has symptoms that aren’t always obvious. In a lot of cases, people die from an asthma attack because they didn’t know they had the condition. That is why it is important to check regularly with your doctor and always point out if you are having any kind of breathing problems or related symptoms. With the proper medical attention, you can prevent attacks and keep asthma under control.
Think about the benefits of joining an online or in-person support group. Asthma can be severe enough to keep you away from social activiites. By getting involved in a support group you will also be speaking with other sufferers who may know of new scientific discoveries and treatment plans you may not be aware of.
Instead of sweeping your floors with a broom, it is preferable to clean using a wet mop. If you are sweeping, you can trigger an asthma attack by stirring up a lot of allergens into the air. In the same vein, choose a damp rag as opposed to a feather duster when dusting, as this prevents dust from flying about.
While using an inhaler can potentially cause mouth or gum sores, it is still important to use it daily if you suffer from severe asthma. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
Being around animals should be avoided. Animals carry pollen and dust with them and can trigger serious asthma attacks.
To make sure all of your medical needs are being met, you will need to consult at least two doctors. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. A pulmonologist, allergist, nutritionist and the staff at asthma centers can discuss a variety of treatments with you, to help you be sure you are following up on every possible good treatment available.
See more than one doctor. It’s true your primary doctor should be your main source for all your asthma help, but it may be wise to see one or two asthma specialists. The allergists, pulmonologists and nutritionists in asthma centers can help you take full advantage of all treatments available.
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. 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.
If you are using a vaporizer or humidifier, you should thoroughly clean it prior to use. Bacteria breeds in moist environments and can build up in dirty machines, pumping allergens into the air.
Talking to other asthma sufferers, or attending a formal support group, can be a very effective way to cope with asthma. Other sufferers can help you learn how to manage and live with your asthma, by offering tips and advice. Surround yourself with people who understand asthma and support your fight against it.
Asthma is caused by environmental factors, genetics, or sometimes both. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs of asthma if your family has a history of the condition. Air pollutants like smoke and mold spores can trigger an asthma attack, so keep your home clean to avoid irritation.
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. You may even want to keep an asthma trigger journal so you can discuss this with your doctor. Once you’ve figured out what your triggers are, work to remove them from your environmental and avoid them in your day to day life.
Work to strengthen your body and gradually increase your lungs’ capacity. Do not attempt a strenuous workout that will end up triggering an asthma attack.
Ensure your house is clean and tidy. Additionally, wash sheets, pillows and blankets frequently. By keeping these items clean, you avoid any dust buildup which attracts dust mites, a typical trigger of asthma attacks. Built up dust makes the air irritating and increases the chances of an asthma attack.
If you or another member of in your household is experiencing asthma, see to it that you ban smoking both in your car and inside the house. Those who smoke should do it outside, a good distance away from your home and from the asthma sufferer. Heavy smokers can trigger asthma attacks because their clothing gives of a smoke-filled scent.
If you get at least two attacks a week, it might be time to try a different medication. Doctors agree that having more than two attacks a week can be dangerous.
A non-humid, clean environment will help you reduce or eliminate any asthma attacks that happen at your home. Control the amount of moisture in your home by using a dehumidifier. By keeping humidity levels where they should be, you will not suffer from as many seasonal attacks.
Try gradually strengthening yourself and increasing your lung capacity. Don’t start strenuous exercise if you know that your asthma wont let you finish!
If you have asthma, make sure to warm-up before strenuous exercise, and do cool-downs when you have finished working out. Doing proper warm-ups and cool-downs can help with the prevention of asthma attacks during or after exercise.
Asthma Attack
Be prepared to handle an attack by having a set plan for when one does occur. Being prepared for any situation is the key to dealing with asthma effectively.
If you start to have an asthma attack but can’t find your medication, try to find some caffeine instead. Chocolate, strong black tea or coffee can help reduce the symptoms of an asthma attack. The caffeine constricts your blood vessels, opening up your airway.
Replace your pillows and pillowcases on a regular basis. If possible, use pillow cases and towels that are entirely cotton in your day-to-day routine, as dust mites can infiltrate other materials. Dust mites are a huge aggravation to asthma sufferers, and can easily trigger attacks.
As you have read, there is quite a bit to know about asthma. This article is a small portion of the information that is available when it comes to asthma and it’s management. When you work together, you can make asthma only a small part of your life.
It is important to consult a doctor if you have asthma, before you do any strenuous activities that could trigger an asthma attack. If you try to do serious aerobic exercise like running, it could cost you lots of time and money when you end up in the hospital!