Asthma is an extremely hard disease to have to live with. It can inhibit your ability to do some basic daily tasks, like going for a walk outside. Asthma is incurable and can be difficult to control. This article offers tips on how you can stop your symptoms from getting too severe.
Avoid being around any known asthma triggers. For many people, allergens such as dust and pollen can induce an attack. For others, physical activities can cause them. Determine what your trigger is so you can easily avoid an attack.
Social Worker
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. Having the financial ability to purchase your asthma medications is essential, and a social worker can help you locate a hospital or clinic that can provide you with these medications for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
You and your loved ones need to get a flu vaccination every year. You do not want to have a respiratory infection if you have asthma. It's important to take the standard precautions against these illnesses, such as hand washing and vaccinations.
If you've got asthma, don't smoke or be near smokers. As soon as you inhale any smoke from tobacco, your lungs become sensitive, which increases your risk of an attack. Just avoid any type of smoke, especially in small areas, and keep your lungs healthy to be safe.
Keep your home free of dust and other triggers, especially where the person who suffers from asthma sleeps. Food should be eaten only in the kitchen or dining room, and cigarettes are best relegated to outdoor smoking areas. Make sure that the home is properly ventilated and aired out, especially after cleaning with harsh products, like bleach or ammonia.
Avoid feather pillows if you suffer from asthma. People are often allergic to these natural products that can affect breathing and bring on asthma symptoms. Also, make sure your other bedding is made with hypoallergenic materials.
Even if you have not had any recent breathing problems, you should nonetheless schedule regular checkups. A new flare-up may be just around the corner, or your doctor may have news of a more effective new medication you can try.
Asthma Attacks
During cold months, you could avoid asthma attacks by constantly wearing a shawl, muffler or a scarf that covers both your mouth and nose. This will keep you from breathing cold air. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Asthma is a medical condition that tends to slowly develop over time, and the symptoms are not always that obvious. There are lots of cases where people die of an asthma attack without knowing they had asthma. Therefore, if you have trouble breathing or a constant cough, you may want to seek a medical professional to determine if you have asthma. Your physician can also determine whether you need medication for either asthma prevention or asthma treatment.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If you use it more than two times a week, your asthma may need to be better controlled, or you are going through an usual period that brings on more regular attacks. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.
Anytime you clean your house or apartment, wet mopping is superior to sweeping. Sweeping can cause the rise of dust and dander, which may trigger an asthma attack. Use a dampened rag when dusting, instead of a feather duster, so as to prevent stirring up loose dust particles and other asthma triggers.
Asthma aggravation, such as dust and pollen, can collect in your bed sheets and pillowcases. You can eliminate or reduce these inducers by washing your pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water. If you are sleeping on freshly laundered linens, you will sleep much easier.
You want to make certain you visit more than just one doctor. Your usual doctor will be able to help you, but you should also consider seeing a specialist. Asthma doctors, allergists, and pulmiologists are the people who you want to consult with to help with asthma.
People with asthma should not smoke. Most people know that smoking is dangerous, but if you have asthma there are more serious consequences. Asthmatics have sensitive lungs and tobacco smoke is very, very irritating. Smoke is so bad, that asthmatics should never allow themselves to be in the same vicinity as someone who is smoking.
Asthma is a serious diagnosis, and it should never be taken lightly or ignored. You need to do everything you can to prevent the symptoms from occurring, and seek help from a doctor if you feel that you can no longer control the symptoms on your own. Understand that it will require some pretty large changes in your life if you wish to live healthily, but they can be accommodated in a minimal and even enjoyable manner.