Living with asthma can be very difficult. The following information may make coping with asthma a little bit easier. The following information is compiled from great resources, and will give you the ability to quickly learn what you need to do to live a productive and happy life with asthma.
If you are suffering from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking cigarettes. Although smoking is terrible for everyone, it is even worse for an asthma sufferer due to less oxygen supply in the lungs and that can trigger an attack.
Avoid anything that can trigger your asthma. This is different for everyone, but some people, things like dust or pollen can trigger an attack. Others may have attacks that are triggered by physical activity. Pay attention to what causes your attacks so you can prevent them from happening.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can actually trigger an asthma attack. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can flare up asthma symptoms. Other medications that may have an effect on the respiratory system include beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking such medicine and also have asthma.
If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out hard and fast. This will force the air from your lungs. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. Using this strategy provides your breathing with a rhythm that forces you to focus on it. In addition, it repeatedly empties your lungs of air, so that you can draw in more oxygen-rich air. It is okay to cough, even to generate sputum. Your ultimate goal is getting your breathing regulated.
If you are having trouble preventing asthma attacks, you may find success with a leukotriene inhibitor. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a substance that may cause inflammation. This can make a person have an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Social Worker
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. It is critical that every asthma sufferer have access to the proper medicines to keep the condition under control, and a social worker could help you locate a hospital or clinic that will provide you the necessary medication on a low or no-fee basis.
Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!
The advice you just read should have given you some great ideas on how to cope with your asthma symptoms and reclaim your life. Use these insights to recapture your life and proactively combat the effects of asthma.