It is common to be scared when a doctor gives you a diagnosis of asthma. Asthma is known to be a chronic condition, which means there is no known cure. That doesn’t mean you need to curl up into a ball doing nothing, for fear that doing anything else would bring on an asthma attack. This article will outline some simple ways you can begin to manage asthma safely and effectively.
What triggers your asthma? Gaining as much knowledge as you can about the type of asthma you have can make your day-to-day activities a little easier. A perfect example is that if you have asthma caused by exercise you should put a inhaler in your locker or gym bag. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. Stay far away from any tobacco products. You should also consider where you work, as factories may expose you to harmful vapors or smoke.
If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid cleaning products that have strong odors. It is very possible that one might bring on an asthma attack with some chemicals used for cleaning. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Try to force the air out of your lungs! Take three breaths in succession. These breaths don’t have to be deep, just breathe a little. Then take a deep breath, pulling as much air as possible into your lungs. When your lungs are as full as you can stand, force the air out. Paying attention this way will help you stabilize your breathing and make it rhythmic. Expelling the air from your lungs in this fashion also allows you to breathe in deeper. You might start coughing, and some sputum may come up, but this is no problem and your focus is to get back into a relaxed, rythmic breathing pattern again.
There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.
Cigarette Smoke
Asthma doesn’t just go away, so you can’t just stop managing it. You need to keep taking your medications to control the asthma symptoms every day, and if an attack should occur, you should have quick relief medication at your disposal. Discuss treatment strategies with both your primary care physician and your allergist.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid breathing in vapors from smoke or other chemical-type fumes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. If people are smoking around you, remove yourself from that area quickly.
Injections are available to people who suffer from asthma related to allergies, to help give them some long term relief. Omalizumab is a mediation that is able to control allergic reaction symptoms.
Having a fast acting inhaler is vital to save asthmatics from experiencing severe symptoms. Talk to your physician and find out if a leukotriene inhibitor would be right for you. A leukotriene inhibitor works by preventing leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. This inhibitor can prevent leukotrienes, which makes you less likely to have an asthma attack.
If you are an asthma sufferer, be sure to get the recommended daily dose of Vitamins C and E. It is thought that these vitamins will help increase lung function and will help control asthma symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
Asthma patients without health insurance can get help by asking a social worker and getting access to programs with the resources asthma patients need. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. Avoid these infections by making sure your and your child’s vaccines are up to date.
Understand what things make your asthma flare and avoid these things or manage the symptoms. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. When possible, stay away from these triggers that cause symptoms or ultimately, full-blown attacks.
If you suffer from asthma, you should refrain from sleeping on a pillow that contains feathers. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. This applies to bedding, as well. Purchase sheets and comforters that are made of hypoallergenic materials.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling adds strain on the body and increases your susceptibility to asthma triggers. You won’t be able to control factors in your environment, such as air quality, while are away from home. This also adds to the likelihood of an attack or more symptoms than you are used to at home.
Take your rescue inhaler and keep it handy when you travel. Traveling can put additional strain on your body, making you more susceptible to asthma triggers. It is also difficult to control your environment while traveling, making it more likely that you may experience an attack or worsening symptoms.
You can join an online or offline support group. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. A support group also makes it easier to keep up to date on advancements in asthma science or new medications that come on the market.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. These fungi are both common triggers for asthma attacks. Therefore, it can benefit you to ensure your home stays as dry as possible. Whenever you use a heater, you should use a dehumidifier, and air conditioning will help in the summer.
Your home’s humidity can cause mold and mildew growth within it. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. You should do your best to maintain a dry home. In the winter, use a dehumidifier along with your heater, and in the summer months, you can use your air conditioner to help control the amount of water in the air within your home.
You can wear warm things like a shawl, muffler or scarf, which can help cover your nose and mouth in the colder months. Bundling up puts heat between the air and your lungs, which can help lessen your risk of an asthma attack. Studies have consistently shown that cold air can cause your throat and lungs to constrict, triggering asthma attacks. Children are especially susceptible to cold-induced asthma.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. There are some cases reported that were so severe that a person died from one asthma attack when they didn’t even know they were considered at risk. So, if you have a lingering cough or instances of troubled breathing, you should see a doctor to see if you might have asthma and determine whether you may need medication to either prevent or treat asthma.
During the week, you should take note each time your rescue inhaler is used. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
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. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. You can eliminate or reduce these inducers by washing your pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water. The freshly laundered linens will make it easier for you to breath when you are sleeping.
You should track how often, in a week’s time, you require the use of a rescue inhaler. If you are using it more than twice, your asthma may not be as well-controlled as you think or you may be experiencing unusual circumstances bringing on more frequent attacks. The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
If you have asthma and allergies, don’t use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. Permitting bacteria to grow inside the appliance will result in irritants being dispersed into the air you breathe.
Asthma sufferers should avoid coming into contact with both domestic and farm animals. Having an allergy to dander or animal hair could be possible asthma complications, even sufferers free of these kinds of allergies could still have an asthma attack that is caused by pollen and dust animals seem to carry around with them.
If you are suffering from an asthma attack, try to remain calm and do not panic. Use your rescue inhaler, rest for a half to one minute, then use the inhaler again. Don’t suffer in silence or wait it out if your breathing gets worse instead of better after using your inhaler. You need immediate medical attention if this happens. Get somebody to phone for EMS or even transport you themselves to the nearest emergency medical facility. Breathe into a paper bag for assistance in slowing your breathing during the trip to the hospital.
Allergens and asthma triggers, such as dust and pollen can cling to your bed linens. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. Clean bed linens that are washed frequently will help you breathe easier every time your head hits the pillow.
As you are now aware, living with asthma has to do with preparation. Having a knowledge of your type of asthma and the ways you can manage it from day to day is the best way to avoid crises. This article is a building block in your knowledge to combat asthma effectively!
People with asthma should not smoke. Although bad for everyone, cigarettes can cause greater problems for those with asthma. Smoke irritates the lungs of an asthma sufferer, so avoid the presence of people who smoke if you have asthma.