Living with asthma is challenging. It can keep you from accomplishing even simplest tasks, such as going for a nice walk outdoors. Even worse, asthma can't be cured, and it's extremely difficult to control the symptoms. Follow the tips below to prevent asthma attacks and manage your symptoms.
Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. Asthma caused by exercise can be treated easily if you carry an inhaler when you go to the gym. If you are familiar with your symptoms and their patterns, you will be better able to avoid emergencies.
Avoid the things that trigger your asthma. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. It could also be some type of strenuous exercise. Do your best to understand and figure what exactly triggers your asthma so that you know what you need to avoid.
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. Make sure you are taking the right medications to control your everyday asthma symptoms, and have a quick relief medication on hand if you have an attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
If your asthma attacks are severe, you may want to speak with your doctor about a long lasting injection of medication to control your symptoms. Omalizumab, an antibody medicine, might be suggested by an allergist and controls allergic reactions.
Leukotriene Inhibitor
When struggling with asthma, consider using a leukotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene inhibitors work to prevent leukotrienes. A leukotrienes is a type of chemical that causes inflammation, which leads to asthma attacks. By blocking the effects of leukotrienes, a leukotriene inhibitor can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.
An annual flu vaccination is recommended for you as well as other members of your family. If you suffer from asthma, it is best to avoid respiratory infections of any type as much as possible. This means taking every precaution possible, do things like getting vaccinated to prevent sickness to hand washing on a regular basis.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. Both vitamins improve lung function, helping you to better resist asthma attacks and other negative symptoms. Many foods have these vitamins in abundance, but you can also use a supplemental pill. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.
You may want to consider purchasing a dehumidifier for your home if you suffer from asthma. By bringing down the humidity level, it will reduce dust mites and reduce asthma flare-ups. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Keep food in a kitchen or on the dining room table, and avoid cigarette smoking inside. Thoroughly air out your house after every cleaning, and stay away from bleach and similar harsh chemicals while cleaning indoors.
If you are dealing with asthma, a good idea is to use a pillow without feathers. Pillow feathers force the lungs to work harder and can exacerbate asthma problems. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
Mold and mildew will often grow in a humid home. You can get asthma attacks because of these substances. Thus, keep the air in your home as moisture-free as possible to avoid asthma-related problems. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
You should definitely use your preventative inhaler on a daily basis. However, you should be warned that the drug can also cause infections in your mouth, particularly near your teeth and gums. You can prevent these side effects with proper tooth brushing and gargling after you use your inhaler.
Make sure you count how many times, within a week, you have to use your inhaler. If the inhaler is used more than twice, the asthma problems you are suffering from may not be well-managed or something else might be causing additional attacks to come on. You are able to judge how the environment around you effects your body by how many times you need to use your inhaler.
Prevent Asthma
As has already been mentioned, asthma is a severe medical ailment that should not be taken lightly. Prevent asthma symptoms and attacks whenever and however possible, and if your symptoms spiral out of control then see a doctor immediately. Make sure to apply these suggestions to improve your symptoms and to prevent asthma from controlling your life.