Asthma is a chronic condition that challenges your ability to live your life. It inhibits the capacity to live easily, and do thinks like take a walk. Even worse, asthma can't be cured, and it's extremely difficult to control the symptoms. The below article provides some advice on preventing your symptoms from getting too bad.
An important tip to help protect your asthma-afflicted children is to always refrain from smoking around them. One of the primary causes of asthma is secondhand smoke. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Examples of medications that may contribute to asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Social workers are there for your assistance if you live with asthma, yet can't get approved for health insurance. Asthma patients need their medications, and a social worker might be able to hook you up with programs to help you such as clinics and programs through pharmaceutical companies.
Immune System
If you suffer from asthma, be sure your diet includes lots of Vitamins C and E. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. These vitamins are great for your immune system, and a strong immune system wards off illnesses that can trigger asthma attacks.
Be sure not to smoke as well as stay away from any smokers in general, this can be very harmful for you if you have asthma. The functionality of your lungs can be dramatically impaired if you inhale tobacco smoke, especially in areas with little ventilation, and you run a greater risk of attack.
To lower the chances of an asthma attack, keep your house as clean as can be, especially the bedroom. Avoid smoking inside, and only let people eat in the kitchen. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
Using a preventative inhaler is important, but you need to know the side effects it can cause such as mouth infections. To best method to prevent these side effects and complications is by brushing your teeth, then gargling directly after using the inhaler.
See how many times a week you typically use the rescue inhaler. If you find that you are relying on it more than two times a week, your asthma is possibly not being well-controlled. Remembering the times you use the inhaler provides a good way to keep checking your environment, as well as other things in your plan to manage your asthma.
Instead of sweeping your floors, clean them with a damp mop. Sweeping your floor can kick allergens into the air, triggering an asthma attack. When dusting, try to use a damp rag rather than a feather duster to cut down on the spread of the triggers.
Anyone with asthma should limit their exposure to household pets and other types of animals. While allergies from animals can complicate asthma, those without allergies can get asthma attacks from dust or pollen that the animals carry.
Asthma aggravation, such as dust and pollen, can collect in your bed sheets and pillowcases. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. Sleeping with fresh bed linens will ensure you can breathe easy when you sleep.
Stop smoking. The dangers surrounding smoking are well documented, but for asthma sufferers the issues can be much more serious. A person with asthma has sensitive lungs that can react adversely to smoke, causing an asthmatic attack. So an asthmatic should not even be in a room where other people are smoking.
If you have allergies and asthma, you need to avoid using a humidifier or a vaporizer unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. If you allow bacteria to breed in the moist environment of the machine, you will just be pumping allergens into the air that you are trying to humidify.
Do not treat your asthma lightly. Take the appropriate steps to prevent and reduce symptoms, and consult professional help if you think that the symptoms are starting to get out of control. Use the advice you have read from this article to manage your symptoms of asthma and take back control over your life.