Do you deal with the struggles that asthma stimulates, but with little or no information on the issue? You are like many others. Knowing how to find the right advice can be difficult for some people. What you will read in this article about the disease might surprise you.
If you have an asthmatic child, do not allow anyone to smoke around him. One leading cause of issues in children who have asthma is that people smoke around them. Always ensure your child is in a smoke-free area.
Common Medications
There are some common medications that you could be using that will cause asthma symptoms. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. It is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, so they can best treat your asthma.
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. It is crucial that you have the proper medications for controlling asthma, as well as medication, such as a rescue inhaler to treat sudden attacks. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.
If you suffer from asthma and allergies that result in attacks, you can get injections of long-lasting medication for relief. Ask your allergist about omalizumab, an antibody drug that can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and the frequency of attacks.
Ask everyone in your family to get a flu shot every year. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. Making sure to consistently wash your hands, and getting the proper vaccinations are two standard precautions.
If you have asthma, avoid people who smoke. You can suffer an asthma attack if you are around cigarette smoke because it makes your lungs function poorly. You are even more exposed to an attack when the smoke is in a closed-in room or area.
While everyone appreciates the look and feel of a clean house, asthma sufferers in particular benefit from a healthy environment as it can decrease the risk of asthma attacks, especially in a sleeping area. Only allow food in the kitchen, and never smoke indoors. If you clean with any harsh chemicals or bleach, make sure to ventilate thoroughly afterwards.
Asthma treatment dosages will need to be increased if you are sick with a cold or are dealing with hay fever. These kinds of illness can inflame you asthma to a degree that a treatment increase is necessary. Your doctor may also add another treatment to your regimen until your illness gets better.
Flu Shot
If you suffer with asthma, get a flu shot each year. This annual flu shot will prevent infectious damage to your lungs.
Find a good support group in the Internet or in your area. If you have asthma, it can stop you from participating in basic activities like sports, especially if the condition is severe. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Asthma is a condition that typically will develop over a long period of time, with symptoms that are not very obvious. There have even been cases where people die from the first asthma attack they had, without knowing they had the condition. So, if you are having trouble coughing and breathing, talk to a doctor to see if you need treatment. You might receive a prescription to treat or prevent asthma.
Avoid smoking. Most people know that smoking is unhealthy, but the consequences are even worse for someone who has asthma. Smoke irritates the lungs of an asthma sufferer, so avoid the presence of people who smoke if you have asthma.
During times that pollen counts are high, asthma sufferers should try to stay indoors. A lot of the same things that can bother people with allergies will bother people with asthma as well. Air quality levels for specific pollutants are now readily available and it is possible to use this information to limit exposure on high level days.
In summary, it is certainly normal to be inquisitive about a condition that has such a dramatic impact on your life. What you've learned here can be applied in your life, helping to control your disease and keep stress at a minimum. Use what you learned from this article, and apply it as much as possible to make your life a bit easier.