A diagnosis of asthma can affect all areas of your life, whether you have been recently diagnosed with the condition or perhaps if you are a caregiver to an asthmatic. Combined with the information and instructions given by a licensed healthcare professional, these tips and tricks can be the first step to relieving asthma symptoms.
Go to a doctor and tell them about your difficulties breathing. Many medicines exist. Do not take something that a doctor did not prescribe, and do not abuse over-the-counter medicine. If your medicine is not efficient, go to the doctor again and ask if you can try something else.
Beware of certain medications like aspirin and penicillin if you have asthma. These medications can worsen your asthma symptoms or trigger an attack. Try to use substitutions such as paracetamol when you have a headache or are in pain, and be sure to ask your doctor what medications are safer to take.
Do not swim in pools that contain chlorine if you have asthma. The chlorine can trigger asthma attacks or make your symptoms worse. If you are unsure if the pool you are going to swim in has chlorine or not, ask a lifeguard or the manager of the facility.
People with asthma are often known to have allergies that can trigger their symptoms. Make sure you know what you are allergic to learn to avoid the things that can hurt you. An allergist is the best one to give you a comprehensive allergy test.
You may want to get into a support group if you have asthma. The people in the group are in the same situation as you, so they know what you have to go through every day. Also, they may have personal tips on what you can do to control your asthma symptoms.
Keep your stress level as low as humanly possible. As anxiety levels increase due to everyday problems, so do asthma symptoms. If you experience wheezing and coughing several times a day, consider stress relief techniques such as regular exercises and stretching and breathing exercises. Also, be sure you get enough sleep to deal with the stresses of everyday life.
Control the humidity within your home. Many people with asthma have seasonal triggers, meaning that as the humidity changes, they are more prone to attacks. Keeping your home at a steady low level of humidity throughout the year using a dehumidifier could drastically reduce the number of asthma attacks.
Tobacco smoke is often a trigger for many people with asthma, regardless of their standard triggers. No one should smoke around you, nor should you allow smoke into your home or car. Strong odors like perfume and other inhaled irritants can also cause a reaction that could result in an attack.
Wash bed linens at least once per week and other bedding items, such as comforters, at least every two weeks in hot water to kill any dust mites that may be present. Dust mites are a common allergen for many people living with asthma, so frequent washing items where skin cells collect is one way to reduce the number of mites and subsequently lessen asthma symptoms.
Engage your support network to help you manage your asthma. Talk to your friends and family about items that trigger attacks and enroll them in helping you make environmental or lifestyle changes to help you manage your asthma. The more knowledgeable your network is about your condition, the more quickly they can support you.
Try caffeine if you feel like an asthma attack is coming on and you do not have your inhaler around you. Drink a couple of cups of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or even eat a candy bar or two. Caffeine helps because it will open up your airways and allow you to breathe easier.
It is essential to use your asthma inhaler correctly. Your inhaler is not simply a breath freshener. When using the inhaler, you have to inhale deeply and get the medication deep into your lungs. It needs to stay there for 3 to 5 seconds before you exhale slowly.
If you have asthma, you should avoid places with high dust levels. Dust can cause an asthma attack very quickly. Some places with high dust levels are attics, basements, and unoccupied homes that have been unoccupied for some time. Do not use any fans if you must go into a dusty area. The fans will spread the dust around you.
Anyone with asthma needs to avoid all types of smoke when trying to decrease asthma attacks. Smoke can cause you to have an asthma attack. It would be best to stay far away from smoke, chemicals, and vapors. Exposing yourself to these pollutants can significantly affect your asthma symptoms. Politely request that smokers abstain from smoking in your presence.
You are especially sensitive to things you breathe into your lungs if you have asthma. It is important to avoid whatever triggers your asthma. In some people, this will be cigarette smoke. For others, chemical fumes or other vapors can irritate the lungs and bring on an attack.
Controlling your asthma is sometimes a hard thing to do. If you find yourself using your quick-relief inhaler more than twice a week, something needs to be done. You may want to consider getting on a different medication that is more effective. Your body may have become immune to your current inhaler or medication, making it practically useless.
Remain watchful toward allergy attacks and change your medication if you experience more than two attacks per week. Both doctors and nurses claim having a more significant number than two attacks each week can be hazardous. This can be easily prevented.
Z zxNow that you have become more familiar with the basic principles and hidden ways of coping with this respiratory condition, you can be well on your way to providing relief from the key symptoms of asthma, especially shortness of breath. You can also use your newly discovered knowledge to identify the primary triggers of asthma. n
