Living with asthma is challenging. The fact that even something as simple as going for a walk can cause complications leaves you feeling incapacitated. To make matters worse, there is no cure for asthma, and it can be hard to control. Read the tips in this article to learn how to handle your asthma.
Avoid anything that can trigger your asthma. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, certain physical activities may be the trigger. Look for the trigger points in your life, so you can work around them.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Decrease the effects of asthma by wearing a protective mask when pollution levels are especially high.
Asthma sufferers should avoid smoking cigarettes and any place that has cigarette smoke. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. If others are smoking and you are nearby, get away from them immediately.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. This will move all the dust around, and can easily trigger an asthma attack. It would be better to just open a window if you are needing to get some airflow.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. Omalizumab can effectively control allergy symptoms you may be experiencing and can be suggested by your local allergist if it fits your needs.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
A leukotriene inhibitor may be an excellent way for you to deal with asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors block the effects of leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can provoke an inflammation that causes an asthma attack. When used properly, an inhibitor can help reduce symptoms and prevent attacks.
Everyone in your family, including you, should get the flu vaccination every year. People who have been diagnosed with asthma should exercise extreme diligence in avoiding other respiratory conditions. Take standard precautions against any kind of illness, and start washing those hands and getting vaccinations that will protect you from getting very sick.
An annual flu vaccination is highly recommended for yourself and your family. Asthma sufferers need to be careful and guard against any upper-resperatory illnesses. This includes taking standard precautions against illness, like hand washing, as well as getting vaccinations that can keep you from getting sick.
When suffering from asthma, make sure to choose products that are unscented. Fragrances are present in hundreds of common consumer products, including cleaning supplies, perfumes, detergents and room sprays. Any of these items could easily increase the of triggering an attack. Irritating odors are also given off by new carpeting and paints. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins can help improve your lung function, ultimately controlling asthma. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. These vitamins can also boost the immune system and help prevent asthma attacks.
Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Therefore, it is very important to avoid as many infections to the lungs as possible by getting a vaccine each year.
People who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Products with fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, and air fresheners, introduce irritants into the air around you and can cause asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting also give off odors that may aggravate the airways. Because the dangers these things represent, it is important to always keep indoor air fresh to the best of your ability.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. The feathers from a pillow can cause asthma symptoms and decrease your lung function. Patients should also buy hypoallergenic bedding.
You can help to prevent asthma attacks by maintaining a clean home, particularly the asthmatic’s bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Go to your regular medical check-ups, even if your condition seems under control. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.
Mold and mildew can grow in your home where there is humidity. Mold and mildew can have a hand in making you suffer a asthma attack! So, it makes sense to keep dry air in your home. During the winter, you can use a dehumidifier to control humidity when using a heater, and an air conditioner during the summer will help keep your home dry.
Know the right way to use any asthma medication you are taking, in particular your rescue medication. Asthma is generally managed through regular medicine which is supplemented with rescue medications like inhalers. Managing your medicine properly is important because asthma is a chronic health problem.
Contact with pets and other animals should be minimized for the asthma sufferer. Even if they are not allergic to the animals, the pollen and dust that animals attract can trigger an asthma attack.
Asthma generally takes a long time to develop, and the symptoms may be vague at first, making it difficult to diagnose the problem. In fact, some people who didn’t even realize they had asthma died as a result of their initial attack. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Consult with more than one physician. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. Nutritionists, allergists, pulmonologists and asthma centers can all help you, so make sure that you are using all of the different treatment avenues that you can.
Preventative Inhaler
People that experience asthma must stay indoors as often as they can when pollen is abundant. Asthma is not considered an allergy, but elements that cause allergies usually trigger asthma attacks too. The same air quality reports available in the local news for allergy problems can also help those with asthma issues stay indoors on particularly hazardous days.
Using a preventative inhaler is important, but you need to know the side effects it can cause such as mouth infections. To prevent complications from using a preventative inhaler, brush your teeth immediately after using it and use mouthwash as well.
When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Immediately use your inhaler, then wait a half a minute and do so again. Seek help if your attack gets worse. Have someone call emergency services or drive you to the nearest hospital. Try putting a paper bag up to your mouth and breathing into it to help slow your breaths.
As said previously, asthma should not be deal with lightly. If you think your symptoms are getting out of control, seek professional advice and do all that you can to prevent symptoms in the first place. Use these suggestions to help you prevent asthma symptoms all of your life!
Attending asthma support group meetings, or even talking to a few chosen people with the condition, can do wonders for you. They can give you pointers and tips on what to do in certain situations, and can help you in your fight against asthma. You need a strong support system!