Working around the possibility of an asthma attack is tough, but it is possible to live a relatively normal life, even with asthma. You can keep your asthma in check and prevent it from lowering your quality of life through a variety of methods, techniques and treatments. Read on for tips and suggestions to make the most of your life and struggles with asthma.
If you suffer from asthma, avoid smoke, fumes and vapors. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. Although smoking causes health problems for everyone, it is even more dangerous to asthma sufferers because the smoke causes airway swelling that cuts off oxygen to your lungs, and can trigger an attack.
There are medications that can unknowingly cause asthma-like symptoms. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
If you are suffering from a mild or moderate asthma attack, expel all the air from your lungs. Exhale quickly and with power. Push that air from your lungs with all that you've got! Then take three small breaths in, followed by a deeper breath to fill your lungs comfortably. Next, exhale forcefully again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. When air is forcefully exhaled, it allows a fresh intake of air to fill your lungs. Do not be alarmed if you cough or generate excess mucous; this is perfectly normal. Your only concern is to return your breathing to normal.
Annual Flu
Get annual flu vaccinations for your entire family. If you have asthma, it's important to prevent all respiratory infections, if at all possible. The preventative measures you can take against such sickness range from simple habits of hand washing to getting your annual flu shot.
Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. You can buy these vitamins to help you get better function from your lungs and control your asthma symptoms. You can gain vitamins from supplements or the old fashioned way, from food! Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
If you use any more than four kinds of cleaning product around your home, then the risk of an asthma attack is increased. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. After you clean, let the house air out completely, and stay away from using any harsh chemicals (especially bleach) inside.
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 some illnesses can exacerbate the effects of your asthma, causing the need for more treatments. You might even get a new treatment added onto our existing program until the illness subsides.
A yearly flu shot is necessary if you suffer from asthma. Make sure your child's vaccinations are up-to-date to avoid as many infections as possible.
Know exactly how any asthma medication you take or may take works. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Asthma is not curable, so it is very important that you take your medication properly and only use your rescue medication if you need it.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. Because of this, if you notice that you have trouble breathing or are constantly coughing, you may want to visit your doctor. They can tell you if you have asthma and if there is a medication that you should be taking. Your doctor can also tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma from developing.
Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If you are utilizing your inhaler more than two times per day, you might not be controlling asthma as well as you think you are! The number of times you use your inhaler can serve as a good reminder to monitor your environment and other aspects of your asthma management plan.
If you have asthma, don't smoke. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it poses an even greater danger to people with asthma. The lungs of someone with asthma are irritated by smoking, whether by that person or someone nearby.
If you have asthma and allergies, don't use a vaporizer or humidifier if it has not been completely cleaned. Bacteria can breed inside of the machine due to the moisture, which can exaggerate your allergies or asthma.
As you can see, there are several ways for you to control or stop asthma from interfering with your life. Asthma need not control your life, so be proactive and create a plan for treating your asthma and living a full, healthy life.