Are you a person who, among millions of others, suffers from asthma? This article contains several easy tips that can help you control your asthma symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, don't smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.
An important part of symptom management is knowing what type of asthma you have. If you identify your specific causes, you can be prepared to treat the symptoms when they appear during your daily routines. For example, if your asthma is induced by exercise, it might be wise to always have an inhaler in your gym bag. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
Don't smoke around your child if they have asthma; this could worsen their situation. One of the biggest reasons people have asthma is secondhand smoke. Never allow anyone to smoke around your child, and teach them not to smoke as an adult themselves.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. This could be something you're allergic to like pollen or dust. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Try to figure out when your asthma began so it can be avoided.
Some medications can exacerbate asthma symptoms as a side effect. Some NSAIDs and aspirins will do this for you. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. If you suffer from any of these conditions along with your asthma, make sure you tell your doctor.
If you are prone to asthma attacks, avoid any cigarette or other tobacco smoke. This cannot be emphasized enough: Stay away from cigarette smoke! Avoid exposure to chemical fumes or vapors. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. The minute you spot people smoking, immediately remove yourself from the area.
You may want to use a leukotriene inhibitor if your asthma is being particularly problematic. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical substance, can cause asthma attacks by causing inflammation. The inhibitor will block leukotrienes from getting into your lungs and lessen the chances of you suffering an asthma attack.
Make proper use of your inhaler. Discover a location that is peaceful, and ensure you follow all the instructions that are given by the manufacturer. The inhaler only can help if it's medicine reaches the lungs. The dosage that is required should be sprayed into the mouth while you inhale air. Don't exhale for ten seconds so that the medicine can go through your lungs.
Hay Fever
Your asthma treatments will likely increase when you suffer from hay fever or a cold. Make sure your doctor prescribes a fast acting inhaler for emergency situations. Your doctor may prescribe a new medicine or change the dose of your existing medication until the hay fever or cold passes.
If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn't have feathers in it. Feather can decrease lung function and trigger asthma symptoms. Same thing with bedding - purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.
When traveling, make sure to have your rescue medication handy at all times. Traveling to different places might expose you to unexpected triggers, as your body is put under more strain when you travel. It's hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.
Asthma develops gradually, and its symptoms may not be very noticeable. A few people have even died from an asthma attack without knowing they even had this dangerous condition. Always consult with a doctor to see if a persistent cough or difficulty breathing is a sign that you require treatment for asthma. There may even be things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
Get a second opinion. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, consider visiting a specialist also. Allergists, asthma centers, pulmonologists, and even nutritionists can work with you to make sure you are taking advantage of all avenues of treatment.
Asthma Sufferers
Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. The same pollens and other irritants that cause trouble for allergy sufferers are also concerns for asthma sufferers, even though the two are quite distinct conditions. Now that local air quality information is available in most areas, asthma sufferers can minimize their outdoor exposure when potential irritants are in the air.
If you are utilizing the inhaler more than two times a week, ask your doctor to change your medicine. Using your inhaler this frequently means your prescription is not effectively treating your asthma. This is also true if you are refilling your rescue inhaler prescription more than twice a year.
This article has a ton of tips you could use to control your asthma symptoms. But of course, the advice is only useful if applied with diligence and regularity. Even if you have applied some of these tips, your symptoms can still return unless you're vigilant in working to subdue them. Be persistent in the way you follow these asthma tips and you'll be able to improve your both your health and your quality of life.