Asthma is a severe medical illness and can get in the way of everyday tasks and activities. If left unchecked, you could suffer an asthma attack which could be fatal. This article will find many valuable tips to help you control and manage your asthma symptoms.
If your children have asthma, let everyone know, from their school teacher to their babysitter. Please make an effort to educate people about how they can reduce the risks of your child having an asthma attack. Your children will go through their day in a much better environment. Do not assume everyone knows how to take care of asthmatic children.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! There’s a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at its top. Keep your child away from cigarette smoke and any other kind of fumes.
You must keep your home and work environment clean if you have asthma. Dust and germs can worsen your asthma symptoms and cut off oxygen to your lungs. Because dust accumulates rather quickly, it is recommended that you dust your furniture and appliances at least once a week.
Keep your bed linens washed on at least a weekly basis. Make sure always to wash them in hot water. This will keep your bed from harboring dust mites and other allergens that can trigger an attack. Having as clean a home as possible is one of the best defenses against asthma.
If you live in a house where you often need to sweep the floors, try using a wet mop instead. Sweeping can stir the dust in the air and trigger allergies to spread. If you do not have a wet mop and have asthma, now is the time to purchase one.
If your child is exhibiting any asthma symptoms, be sure that you take them to the doctor right away. Beginning treatment at a young age can help your child live a longer, healthier life. Be sure that your child’s doctor checks for asthma during yearly check-ups.
It’s been proven that you should use no more than four cleaning products in the home. If you do, it can increase the risk of asthma attacks. Organic cleaners are also a safer choice since they contain fewer chemical irritants.
If you have asthma, don’t expose yourself to secondhand smoke. The functionality of your lungs can be dramatically impaired if you inhale tobacco smoke, especially in areas with little ventilation, and you run a greater risk of attack.
Consider using a spacer with your inhaler. A spacer is a device that goes between your puffer and your mouth. Using a spacer can help more of your medication end up in your lungs where it can work, instead of sitting in your mouth and throat where it doesn’t do you any good.
Focus on your breathing techniques to help you better manage your asthma. You may find yourself breathing rapidly but shallowly because it seems like you cannot get enough air into your lungs. Focus on taking deep breaths from your diaphragm to maximize the amount of oxygen you are receiving and lessen the sudden inflammation of an asthma attack.
For temporary relief of asthma symptoms, there are quick-relief medications. They are oral corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are often called rescue medication and open up airways and allow more air to flow through. Corticosteroids are designed for short-term use and are either swallowed or given by injection. They work by treating inflammation in the airways.
A doctor will generally prescribe two different asthma inhalers. One of them will be a brown inhaler which should be taken regularly, and the other will be a blue inhaler for emergencies. You should always carry your blue inhaler with you if you have an asthma attack, and make sure to stay on top of refilling the prescription as needed. In the event of an asthma attack, if the blue inhaler is not helping, do not hesitate to call 911.
If riding in a car with an asthmatic, make sure the air conditioner or heater is set to “recirculate.” This setting uses the same air already in the car to cycle through the heating or cooling system. Other settings will allow air from outside the car to enter, and this outside air can contain pollen, pollution, or other irritants.
Add onions to your daily diet. Onions contain a chemical called diphenyl-thiosulfate, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects. Eating more onions can reduce your need for pharmaceutical interventions to treat your asthma symptoms by increasing your body’s natural ability to reduce inflammation in your lungs.
Smoking will only aggravate your asthma, so you should quit immediately to put yourself in the safest position possible. Reducing the amount of toxicity that gets into your lungs will go a long way in helping you breathe easier, maximizing your comfort level during the day.
Many harmful chemicals in the air inside a home can aggravate your asthma. Air fresheners, chemicals from furniture, building materials, and much more can harm a person with asthma. Keeping house plants in the house can ease the effect of the harmful chemicals on an asthmatic person.
Do you have asthma? It may be your home! Dust contains dust mites, which are asthma agitators. Do you live near a major road? Vehicle exhaust is a standard asthma agitator. Do you live in an urban area? Cockroaches and mice are both asthma agitators. If you have bad asthma, visit a friend or relative in a rural area or an area by the ocean and see if your breathing gets better.
Asthma is not something that you should take lightly. If they get worse, you should check for symptoms and seek out medical help. Watch out for allergens and always carry around an emergency inhaler for sudden symptoms. Hopefully, by following these simple tips, you will be able to control your asthma and not let it restrict your daily life.
