Asthma is a malady that may be uncontrollable if left untamed. The attacks can be life threatening in some instances. You need to consult medical experts for advice, but when it is not enough, you must take the necessary steps yourself. The following article will give you advice to help control your asthma.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you're dealing with? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. Treating asthma is less difficult if you and your physician are aware of the triggers that bring on an attack.
You may be unaware that certain medications you might be on could cause asthma symptoms. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. This can also be caused by beta blockers, like medications that are used in managing high blood pressure or heart problems. Make sure your physician is aware of all of your chronic conditions and any medications you are on so they can treat your asthma appropriately.
Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you're breathing secondhand smoke. Asthma creates breathing problems by constricting airways, and cigarette smoking only exacerbates the problem. Don't breathe vapor or chemical fumes. These irritants can be a trigger for a severe asthma attack. If you are around people who smoke, leave the area very fast.
Make certain that you and your loved ones receive annual flu shots. If you are afflicted with asthma, avoid getting any infections if possible. It's important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Reducing the amount of humidity in your home reduces the number of dust mites, which in turn reduces the chances of your asthma flaring up. Dehumidifiers remove the humidity by drying out the air that flows through your house.
Your home is where most asthma triggers are located. Such irritants include mold spores, dust, smoke and chemical fumes. In order to remain healthy and lessen any chances of having an asthma attack, it is recommended you have your home inspected yearly to have these harmful triggers removed. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you go outdoors in the colder weather. A shawl, scarf or muffler would work well. This allows you to warm air before it enters your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.
When you are cleaning your home, it is always better to use a wet mop rather than sweeping your floors. The action of sweeping can swirl up a whole cloud of asthma-triggering particles. When you dust, try dampening a rag, instead of a feather duster, to avoid spreading things that can trigger your asthma.
If you have asthma consider staying away from pets or animals. Asthmatics can be affected by the dander or pollen that comes from the animals, even if they have no allergies to them. This can be a very risky situation to put yourself in and should be avoided.
Bed linens often trap allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate asthma. You can reduce or eliminate these potential asthma attack inducers by laundering your sheets and pillowcases in hot water every week. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn't mean that the symptoms are permanent and can't go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you'll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you'll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.