Asthma is a medical condition that can take over your life if you do not treat it. An asthma attack can be dangerous, even fatal. It is important to talk to your doctor about it, as well as take time to research to learn more, too. This article provides easy tips to help alleviate some asthma symptoms and to help you to better treat your asthma.
Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? If you know as much as you can about the kind of asthma that you have, you can find out how to battle it day-by-day. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. When you know what triggers your asthma, you will be more prepared to stop attacks before they begin.
Cleaning Products
If you're suffering from asthma, it helps if you can avoid any harsh cleaning products out there. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. If you must do the cleaning in your home, opt for natural products with lower chemical content.
Avoid exposing yourself to any of your known asthma triggers. For many, allergens like dust and pollen, can trigger their attacks. For other people it may physical activities that will set them off. Try to see what cause your asthma so that you can avoid it.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. A leukotriene inhibitor stops the release of a chemical that causes the inflammation that is responsible for some asthma attacks. Leukotrienes are inflammation-causing chemicals that can bring on asthma attacks. The inhibitor will keep the leukotrienes from forming, which can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks that you experience.
Be sure you and your family members get a yearly flu vaccination. Asthma patients should try their best to avoid getting respiratory infections. To do this you must take extra precautions against getting sick, like washing your hands often and getting vaccinated every year.
If you are an asthma patient, be sure to stay away from people who smoke, even if you are not a smoker yourself. When you inhale tobacco smoke, particularly in small areas without much ventilation, lung function may be severely impacted, and you have a higher chance of having an attack.
Asthma Symptoms
Make sure you know what triggers asthma attacks so you can either avoid those triggers or be prepared to manage your asthma symptoms. The majority of people suffering from asthma have several common triggers, like pet dander, smoke or pollen. Make a special effort to avoid agents that bring on even minor asthma symptoms, much less a major attack.
Making mouth and nose coverings such as mufflers, shawls or scarves a routine part of your winter wardrobe can help you ward off asthma attacks. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Inhaling cold air can elicit an asthma attack or create other serious respiratory problems.
Be sure you understand how to use your asthma medication, especially emergency medication. Asthma is usually treated on two fronts. One is a standard medication, taken daily, and the other is an inhaler, intended for use in an emergency. Asthma lasts a lifetime, so you must manage your treatment and lifestyle to ensure you're taking the best care of yourself.
The development of asthma symptoms can occur over time and they can be difficult to pinpoint and diagnose. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. So, if you have a lingering cough or instances of troubled breathing, you should see a doctor to see if you might have asthma and determine whether you may need medication to either prevent or treat asthma.
Bed Linens
Allergens, pollen, dust and some other asthma aggravators can collect in your bed linens. If you put your pillowcases and sheets in hot water weekly, these inducers will be reduced or completely eliminated. Clean bed linens will help you breathe better while you sleep.
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.