Your lungs are pretty important for healthy body function, so it’s not all surprising that a condition like asthma can put a damper on activities of daily living. You can still live a normal and manageable life in a safe way, so do not believe your asthma is the end of the world when it comes to having fun and being in good health. This article will show you how you can live a happier life even with asthma.
Stay away from smoking, or being around any smoke, vapors or fumes. You should avoid jobs where you might be exposed to fumes and chemicals, such as factories.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke, fumes or vapors. You should avoid all tobacco products. You also need to consider where you see employment. If you have asthma, you should not work in areas where you will be exposed to smoke or vapors as they could cause you to have an asthma attack.
Do you know what sub-type of asthma you’re plagued with? Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. You should also pay attention to heart medications you may take, or ones that treat abnormal blood pressure. Let your doctor know about your asthma and what prescriptions you’re taking.
A good tip that can help your child cope with asthma is to make sure you never smoke around them. Secondhand smoke is something that can lead to serious asthma. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Forcefully push the air out from 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. This will create a rhythm and will help you be aware of the way you are breathing. It also allows you to take in more air by completely emptying your lungs. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
When you suffer from asthma, avoiding cleaning products is really important to do. The chemicals in many cleaning products will trigger asthma attacks or symptoms. There are many natural alternatives you can use to clean your home, instead of using harsh chemicals.
Serious Asthma Attack
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. You should not smoke yourself! Never breathe in chemical fumes or vapors. This can trigger an unstoppable asthma attack. If you find yourself in a situation where you are around smokers, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
Any type of smoke can bring on a serious asthma attack. Do not smoke! Avoid breathing in any of the vapors or other chemical fumes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. Do everything you can to avoid cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens and harsh chemical fumes to keep your asthma symptoms under control.
If you are having trouble dealing with asthma, a leukotriene inhibitor might be of good use. This prescription will prevent the product of leukotrines and help to abate the symptoms of asthma. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. The inhibitor prevents leukotrienes, and that can decrease the number of asthma attacks you deal with.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a spot that is out of the way, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Proper use delivers the medication to your lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Then hold it and try not to breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds. This will give enough time for the medication to properly fill out your lungs.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. A reduction in humidity will also lessen the amount of dust mites in your home. This lessens the chance of an asthma flare up. Dehumidifiers reduce attacks in your home by making the air cleaner and drier.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. Take the right steps to stop yourself from getting sick, wash your hands and get the right vaccines.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. To limit the chemicals in the air, look for organic cleaning alternatives.
Immune System
For asthma sufferers, the unscented option is always the best choice among different products. Using scented products, like air fresheners and perfume, will increase the level of air pollution and is likely to trigger an attack. You should also avoid fresh paints or new carpets, as they give off fumes that can irritate the airway. Take all necessary measures to ensure that your home is always filled with fresh, clean air.
If you suffer from asthma, ensure you consume lots of Vitamins E and C. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. Get these nutrients through supplements or food. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
Whenever you travel, always keep your rescue inhaler or other fast-acting medication by your side at all times. Traveling is hard on your body, and you might have an asthma attack easier because your body is more likely to respond to triggers. You can’t exert as much control over your environment when you travel, so you may have an asthma attack or exacerbation of symptoms under unfamiliar conditions.
An annual flu shot is crucial if you have asthma or have an asthmatic child. Stave off these infections immediately by getting your vaccinations yearly.
Asthma is a disease that effects the respiratory system, and can take many years to develop, often times going undetected. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. Given that fact, if you have any kind of consistent cough or respiratory ailments, consulting a physician for testing is a good idea, since you want to know if you are suffering from asthma and if so, what to do about it.
You should understand what triggers your asthma attacks in order for you to avoid these causes or prepare yourself for managing your symptoms. A lot of asthma sufferers have some triggers in common, like pollen, smoke and pet dander. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with substances that you know will trigger your symptoms.
Inhalers are important to use every day, but be aware that inhalers have been known to cause infections near the teeth and gums. Always clean your teeth and rinse your mouth after you use your inhaler.
Asthmatic patients should avoid using feather pillows. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. The same rule holds true for bedding. Choose sheets and a comforter that are constructed from materials known for being hypoallergenic.
Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. Since data on air quality is now widely published, those with asthma have the ability to avoid being outside when concentrations of irritants are high.
Asthma can be a lifelong fight, but it can also get easier everyday as long as you follow sound advice from your doctor or the tips laid out here. There are new medications being discovered all the time to help treat asthma. With some luck, maybe asthma can be a thing of the past.
Keep yourself as calm as possible when having an asthma attack. You should immediately use your inhaler and use the inhaler again 30 seconds later. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. Have some one call for an ambulance or take you to the hospital. While heading to the hospital, breathe into a paper bag; it will slow your breathing rate and help reduce the attack.