Asthma is a chronic disease that requires changes in many areas of your life. Understand your condition and its triggers. Keeping your asthma controlled is the most effective way to deal with it. This below article is the perfect launching platform for those who desire to learn about asthma and all the different ways it can affect you.
If you have received a diagnosis of asthma, you are not to smoke or be near vapors or other types of fumes. Because of this, you should avoid any kind of tobacco smoke and take any job that you want to apply for into consideration; factories could expose you to a variety of smoke, vapors and dust.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. Others may need to avoid certain physical activities to keep from suffering an attack. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.
Asthma is ongoing. Therefore, it also requires continual management of your health. 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. A variety of options are available for the treatment of asthmatic attacks. Consult your doctor and an allergist.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out fast and hard. Really expel the air from your lungs! Take three short breaths, and then take a fourth, deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably; then, breathe out with force again. This will force you to pay careful attention to all of your breaths. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. There may be periods of harsh coughing and a substantial generation of sputum, but this is actually what you want in order to get the airways opened and the breathing back on a regular pattern.
Though it should go without saying, do not turn on any fans or circulation systems when in a room containing visible dust that has yet to be cleaned. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. The better way would be to open a window to increase the airflow in the room.
Make sure if you have an inhaler that you are using it the right way. Find a relaxing spot, and be sure that you follow the directions that the manufacturer provided. The inhaler is only useful if the medication within it actually gets to your lungs. Inhale deeply and spray the correct dose into your mouth. You should hold your breath 10 seconds so the medicated mist is able to fill up your lungs.
It has been shown that if you use multiple varieties of cleaning products around your house, it will increase the chance of an asthma attack. Choose organic products, and stick to as few products as possible.
Hay Fever
If you have hay fever or a cold, you will probably need increased treatment of your asthma. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The feathers contained in these pillows can aggravate asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. You should also look into hypoallergenic materials when buying sheets and a comforter.
Join an online or offline support group. Asthma, particularly if it is severe, can incapacitate you and keep you from going about your daily activities. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.
Some common catalysts of asthma attacks regularly occur in the home. These are dust, mold and spores. To keep healthy, lower your risk of an asthma attack by getting rid of these triggers from your home. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.
Asthma Attacks
In the winter, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or shawl to prevent asthma attacks. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.
Smoke should always be avoided when you suffer from asthma. Smoke is a major cause of asthma attacks. Avoid any kind of chemical fumes, vapors, and tobacco smoke as much as you can. These things will aggravate your asthma and worsen the symptoms. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
See your doctor if your symptoms are worsening. You can live a healthier and happier life by using the common sense advice in the article above.