Asthma is a very serious illness than can restrain you from enjoying life. There are many ways that you can start to use different coping methods and medications to to get your symptoms under control. The article below can offer you some powerful strategies to use.
Certain prescription medications have the potential to cause asthma symptoms. Believe it or not, something as seemingly innocuous as aspirin can actually trigger symptoms. Beta blockers can also have this affect, as well as other medications for controlling high blood pressure and heart disease. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
If you suffer from asthma, don’t smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. This means avoidance of all tobacco products, as well as taking into consideration any smoke or vapors you might be exposed to in a prospective workplace.
If you are dealing with asthma, keep far away from cigarette smoke. If you smoke, try quitting. Avoid vapors and chemical fumes from cigarettes. This could trigger a serious asthma attack, and you may have trouble preventing it from happening. If you are around people who smoke, leave the area very fast.
What kind of asthma do you have? Knowing as much as possible about your specific type of asthma will go an incredibly long way in helping you combat the day-to-day effects it has on you. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, throw an inhaler into your gym bag. Learn what activities trigger your symptoms, and prepare accordingly so that you’re never caught without your inhaler during an asthma attack.
Consider getting allergy shots if you have asthma that is caused by allergies that aren’t under control. Omalizumab, an antibody medicine, might be suggested by an allergist and controls allergic reactions.
If asthma is something that you are afflicted with, then don’t smoke or immediately quit. Smoking is terrible for everyone, but it lowers the oxygen supply in asthma patients who need as much oxygen as possible.
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. You can find the vitamins you need in food or supplements. The vitamins work to strengthen your immunities, thereby warding off sicknesses that tend to exacerbate asthma.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. NSAIDs and aspirin are known for their ability to cause symptoms. Additionally, beta blockers, a type of medication used for heart disease and hypertension, may cause asthma symptoms. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
If you have asthma, it might be helpful for you to buy a dehumidifier. Cutting down the humidity in the house will lower the amount dust mites in the air, and that will mean fewer asthma flare-ups. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
Asthma is a disease that is continuous. As such, it requires long-term health management. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. See your doctor or allergist to find out which treatment plan is best for your situation.
Allergens, the common cold and influenza can increase your asthma symptoms. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. It is possible your doctor will want to add additional therapies to your treatment program until you are back on your feet.
Make sure you are using your inhaler properly. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The medicine in the inhaler only works if it actually makes it to your lungs. Breathe in through your mouth while you’re pressing the spray button. Holding your breath for a minimum of 10 seconds gives the medicinal mist from the inhaler time to spread itself throughout your lungs.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. 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.
Immune System
Have your rescue inhaler with you at all times, especially when on vacation. Traveling can be somewhat stressful and put added strain your body, which might make you more likely to respond to asthma triggers by having an attack. It’s also hard to control the environment you’re in when traveling, which is another reason you might experience more symptoms or have an attack.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins help reduce asthma flare-ups by improving lung function. You can choose to ingest this vitamins by eating foods that are rich in the vitamins or through a supplement. 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.
Consider joining a support group, either on or offline. Asthma, especially the more severe forms, cause many problems that interfere with the quality of life and present many challenges. In addition, a community of other asthma sufferers will let you know about changes in medications or other relevant scientific discoveries.
You might want to purchase a dehumidifier to use at home if you have asthma. When you use a dehumidifier, it will reduce the amount of dust mites. This will reduce asthma attacks. Dehumidifiers keep the humidity out of your home by keeping the air dry.
When the weather starts to turn colder, wear a scarf or shawl that covers your mouth and nose to help prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air before it gets in your lungs. Breathing cold air triggers your asthma attacks, particularly in young kids with bad asthma.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Use organic cleaning products since they don’t have irritating chemicals.
It is important to know the proper way to use asthma medication, especially the medication that is used in an emergency. Asthma is generally treated with a rescue medication, usually an inhaler, in addition to a regularly-taken maintenance medication. Asthma is a lifelong condition; you should correctly take your regular medication and use your rescue medication only as needed.
Keep your home clean. By keeping a clean environment, especially in a bedroom, you can lower your risk of asthma attacks. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals inside, and air out the house as much as possible after cleaning.
Your bed linen could be filled with dust, pollen or other allergens. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. These fresh bed linens will let you breathe easier when sleeping.
Know that your asthma treatment or medication may have to be increased a bit if you are suffering from allergies, hay fever or a cold. The effects of an illness can cause the severity of your asthma to temporarily increase, which necessitates a change in treatment. It is also possible that your physician will add an additional treatment to your routine until you recover from your illness.
See multiple doctors to keep asthma under control. Of course your regular doctor will be the one you go to for help with your asthma, but you should also see a specialist. Think about going to a pulmonologist, an allergist or even a nutritionist, depending on what is triggering your attacks.
When you travel, your rescue medication should be with you all the time. The stress of travel may temporarily weaken your body and make you more vulnerable to attack triggers. Controlling your environment is harder when traveling, so this makes it much more probable that you experience worsening symptoms or an attack.
Asthma sufferers should definitely stay indoors more when pollen increases. Asthma symptoms are not the same as allergic reactions, but allergies and asthma attacks have many common triggers. Check the local air quality report online to determine whether to stay indoors and keep irritant exposure to a minimum.
Support Group
Proper use of an inhaler is crucial if you suffer from asthma. You cannot just spray it in your mouth and lightly inhale. Every time you spray the inhaler, breathe deeply inward for about three seconds. Holding it in will allow the medicine to open up your bronchial passages and relieve your attack.
Look for a support group, such as an online community or a local group. Asthma, especially the more severe forms, cause many problems that interfere with the quality of life and present many challenges. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
An asthma journal can help you quickly ascertain what triggers your asthma. Think about maintaining a journal or diary that you can review for recurring situations that led to an attack. These situations can help you detect your triggers. You can then pass this information on to your doctor. Once you know the causes of your asthma, do all you can to stay away from the triggers, and try, if possible, to remove them from your surroundings.
As the above article has stated, asthma is very serious, and can threaten your life if you do not treat it. Always follow your asthma treatment plan, whether inhaler or allergen avoidance, to keep your symptoms under control. Apply these tips to help you overcome your asthma symptoms, and prevent them from restricting your freedom.
Asthma can be triggered by environmental factors such as allergens, or it could be genetic. If a member of your family suffers from asthma, you should pay close attention to any symptoms of asthma that you and your children display. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.