Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Asthma Facts That Everybody Should Know About

Do you suffer from asthma attacks or other symptoms? The following article has simple advice for keeping asthma under control.

People afflicted by asthma should make it a priority to always avoid exposure to smoke, vapors and fumes. This means avoiding tobacco products, and making sure that you do not choose any kind of job that could expose you to harmful vapors or smoke, such as factory work.

Consider purchasing a breathing mask that filters out paint fumes if a painting project is in your future. Paint can irritate asthma a great deal, so a mask will create a protective shield to combat this issue. Avoid all substances and chemicals which trigger problems with your asthma.

When you are have a chance of an asthma attack, it is important that you create a plan on how to cope. Being thoroughly prepared can put you in a better position to manage asthma conditions.

If somebody has serious asthma, make sure that they consult with a doctor before doing any type of vigorous physical activity to make sure it's safe. If you take it upon yourself to exercise or do other activities, you may soon regret that decision if you end up in the hospital over an asthma attack.

To keep your child healthy, make sure they are never around smoke. There's a long list of environmental asthma triggers, and secondhand smoke is at the top of it. Keep your child away from any area where people are smoking.

Know situations and conditions that cause asthma attacks for you, and stay away from them in the future as much as possible. Perhaps you have allergies or are sensitive to dust and pollen. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. You need to determine what your triggers are so that you can avoid them.

Talk with your physician if you find that you need your inhaler more often than a couple of times weekly. This can indicate that the inhaler you are using is not working for you. If you must refill your inhaler over two times a year, then it's time to inquire with your doctor about a medication switch as well.

There are certain medications that cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Not everyone knows this. Some NSAIDs and aspirin might do this. Some medications for blood pressure and heart disease - those referred to as beta blockers - can also exacerbate asthma problems. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.

Make sure you are aware of food allergies that your children might have. If they break out in hives or have breathing problems after ingesting certain foods, you need to have them tested for allergies by their doctor. Food allergies are often a sign that a child may develop asthma.

Don't skip appointments for your checkups, even if you haven't had any recent asthma attacks. Asthma can flare-up at any time, and you never know, perhaps your doctor has safer or better medications which can help your symptoms.

Schedule regular appointments with your physician to keep tabs on your asthma. This person needs to have the ability to look at your current situation so that they can make any changes as necessary. You are in charge of scheduling your visits with your physician in order for him or her to properly take care of you.

Humidity in your home causes an environment where mildew and mold are more likely to grow. Asthma attacks are easily triggered by these substances. It is best if you keep the air in your home as dry as possible. Using a dehumidifier during cold weather and turning on your air conditioner when the weather gets hot again can help keep humidity out of your home to ensure your asthma is under control.

Keep the place you live clean, and make sure to sweep it regularly. Also, wash sheets, pillows and blankets frequently. When you do this, you prevent the buildup of dusts and dust mites, both of which often trigger asthma attacks. The buildup of dust in the air is an irritant and increases the possibility of an asthmatic attack.

You should get the flu vaccine annually. Even if you rarely catch the flu, get your shot to avoid catching a respiratory infection that will greatly decrease your breathing ability. People who suffer from asthma are more likely to have respiratory infections, sinus infections, or the flu.

Watch for symptoms of a serious attack that require an emergency hospital visit. Seek immediate medical attention if an asthma treatment does not have the intended effect or extremities like the lips and nails take on a bluish gray hue. Your child can have a hard time speaking.

There are many different types of asthma. Understanding the specifics of your asthma will help you to avoid attack triggers in your day-to-day life. An example would be to bring in your gym bag an inhaler if you happen to have exercise-induced asthma. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.

Your bed linens are where pollen, dust and other allergens like to collect. You could reduce the potential impact of these asthma inducers by cleaning your sheets regularly. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.

If your toddler has asthma, be sure to be vigilant of symptoms that may necessitate professional emergency care. Symptoms to watch out for include: inability to get enough air, difficulty talking, gasping, and drawing the abdomen under the ribs when breathing. When a child shows any of these symptoms, they need medical care right away.

If you are having an attack that is not severe, push as much air out of the lungs as possible. Breathe out fast and hard. This will force the air from your lungs. Then take three quick breaths, next a deeper breath till your lungs fill with air, then repeat the forceful exhalation again. This creates a rhythm to your breathing, making you pay attention to the breaths you take. By repeatedly forcing air out, you make room for new air so that your breathing can get back on track. This may cause you to cough or it may cause phlegm, but your breathing will be back to normal again.

This article provided you with some useful methods for controlling the effects of your asthma. But of course, the advice is only useful if applied with diligence and regularity. If you ignore the signs of an asthma attack or stop doing the things that work to keep your asthma under control, you'll most likely start having trouble with your asthma again. Be diligent and protect yourself when you implement the ideas from this article to manage your asthma.

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