Asthma, when left uncontrolled, has the ability to limit the way you live your life, making even a simple walk outside a dangerous prospect. Do your best to manage your condition. Apply these simple tips to reduce your symptoms and prevent it from taking over your life.
There are many different types of asthma. Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. You can also use medications that can control high blood pressure and heart disease, things like beta blockers. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Exhale as hard as you can during an asthma attack. If you can't breathe at all, go to the hospital; however, controlling your exhalation rate can sometimes help stop a less severe attack. Breath out as hard and fast as you can. Try hard to push the air out 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 make your breathing rhythmic and help you pay more attention to it. This technique also forces the air from your lungs to enable more air to come in. It is okay that you cough up some sputum, you really want to breathe right again.
Consider getting injections of medications to treat your asthma if you are prone to attacks induced by allergy symptoms. Your allergist might recommend Omalizumab, which is an antibody type medicine that can regulate your symptoms of allergic reactions.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
Use the inhaler properly. Find a peaceful spot, and make sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The inhaler only can help if it's medicine reaches the lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Hold your breath still for ten seconds at least in order to let the mist with medicine fill your lungs.
Social Worker
Talk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.
If you're having asthma problems, a dehumidifier is a beneficial purchase. Though you may not be aware of it, high levels of humidity in indoor spaces can increase dust mites, which then can affect asthma. A dehumidifying device reduces the moisture in the air.
Keep your home dust-free and get rid of any carpet in your house to help prevent asthma attacks, especially in a bedroom. Refrain from smoking inside the home, and keep edibles inside your kitchen. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Be aware that your asthma medication may need to be adjusted if you are suffering from a cold, flu or hay fever. The side effects of many illnesses can flare up your asthma so bad that you have to have an increase in treatment. Your physician might also add more treatments to your regimen until your asthma is under control again.
There are support groups available to you, both in person or on the Internet. Asthma is a terrible condition that can prevent you from engaging in simple daily activities. If you know other asthma sufferers, you can stay up to date on the latest medicines and treatment options.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. Sometimes, a person can die from their first asthma attack without actually knowing they had the disease to begin with! If you find yourself with a constant cough or have trouble breathing, consult your doctor, so he can tell you if you have asthma and if you need medication. He might even have suggestions on how to prevent it from worsening.
If you are traveling by plane and taking along your asthma medications, make sure to have with you any written doctors prescriptions, especially when carrying some large asthma equipment like a nebulizer. The written prescription will help you get through security without difficulty, because it establishes that your nebulizer and supplies are medically necessary.
It's important to keep up with your daily preventative inhaler routine, but watch out for mouth infections, especially in both teeth and gums. To prevent these issues, brush and use mouthwash immediately after inhaler usage.
Asthma Attack
Avoid smoke, if you don't want to have an asthma attack. Inhaling smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from all types of fumes as well as cigarette smoke. They can easily increase your asthma symptoms. If you live with or near a smoker, find a way to politely ask that they not smoke around you or your living spaces.
Many people underestimate asthma, or at least think that they can't do anything about it since it is an incurable disease. However, you'll be amazed at how much difference you can make simply by following these simple steps to try and relieve symptoms and reduce the sources of asthma attacks.