Asthma can be a scary thing. Your airways tighten up and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. For someone without this disease, it is hard to understand the importance of being in control and having the proper treatments available to you. As you read on you will see some great ideas on how you can better manage your asthma.
Your asthma should be well under control to prevent attacks. The fact is that maintenance and prevention are the best ways to avoid crisis. Having a working relationship with your doctor or specialist will keep you on top of your symptoms and on the medication that works with your specific needs.
Can you identify the exact type of asthma you’re dealing with? When you’re informed about your asthma, you’ll be able to do more to cope with the illness and prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. People suffering from asthma that is exercise-induced, for example, had best be prepared for asthma attacks at the gym! Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.
You should use the AC as much as possible so that you can breathe fresh air. But make sure you clean up your AC unit regularly. If you are going to use a humidifier, clean it too. An unclean AC system could make your life absolutely miserable if you have asthma.
You should have your home inspected at least one a year if you or your child has asthma. You might not be aware that your house contains dust or mold in areas that you cannot see. Find a professional to inspect your house and give you a complete report of the situation.
A great tip that can help you manage your asthma is to learn how to keep your stress levels in check. There are many variables that can trigger asthma and stress is one of them. Learning how to manage your stress will also help you manage your asthma.
If you have asthma, it is crucial that you do not smoke, or quit if you do. While smoking is bad for everyone, it’s particularly hard on an asthma sufferer as it restricts oxygen getting to the lungs.
If you have asthma, know your triggers. What is it that causes an asthma attack to come on? Many common triggers are allergies and irritants. For some, it is exercise or extreme temperatures. Emotional or anxiety issues can also cause asthma type attacks. Knowing what causes your attack can also be what will help you find a proper treatment.
For many people, their homes can be triggering their asthma, or even causing their asthma in the first place. Some of these irritants include dust, mold and spores. To ensure health and reduce the potential for asthma attacks, have a yearly inspection for the presence and removal of these hazards. It also helps to clean your home frequently to prevent a buildup of these allergens.
Shower or bathe each evening before going to bed to remove any allergens that can trigger an asthma attack. Sleeping with allergens on your skin or hair can not only cause an attack, but may make you even more sensitive to specific triggers over time.
Use a peak flow meter regularly. A peak flow meter measures how much air your lungs can put out. If you keep track of your peak flow, you can notice changes in your airflow capacity before you even start to notice symptoms of an attack, and take preventative action to stop it.
Household plants and flowers can act as an asthma attack trigger. The reason for this is that many of them carry pollen and other particles that can get into the air. They can cause problems even if the air is well circulated in the home. To be completely safe, don’t bring plants and flowers into the home, and if someone has them delivered to your home, throw them out immediately.
When traveling and staying in hotel rooms with a severe asthmatic, be sure to explain the situation to the hotel staff in advance. You need a room that is not only non-smoking but that has never been smoked in, and you also need a non-smoking floor. If the hotel can’t accomodate that request, find a different one.
A dehumidifier can help ease your asthma symptoms. The wettest season is typically the season when you experience the worst asthma aggravation. A dehumidifier can make your home a pleasant refuge from seasonal asthma triggers. Dry air is easier for the asthma sufferer to breathe. You should always ensure that the dehumidifier you use – like all air-treatment devices – is clean before using it.
Control or eliminate cockroaches. On top of being a general health hazard, cockroaches produce dander that can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. If you do have roaches, use Boric acid or traps to kill them instead of chemical pesticides. These can irritate your bronchial pathways and trigger an attack too.
When you are near or at a gas station make sure that your windows are always rolled up. Gasoline gives off very strong fumes which can impact the quality of the air around you and worsen your asthma. Reduce your interaction with gas stations to allow for quality air intake.
Every single week, get in the habit of washing your bed sheets. During the course of the day, dust mites will reside on your bed, which can incite symptoms of asthma when you sleep. Clean your sheets to eliminate this dust mites and create a hygienic area for resting.
Dust is known to be a common trigger for asthma attacks for many patients. Try to keep your home dust-free by mopping and vacuuming regularly and wiping down all surfaces. Try to eliminate carpets, rugs and fabric upholstery too, as these abviously hold a lot of dust. It is even better if someone else in the household takes care of the dusting if you suffer from asthma.
Managing your asthma should be something that makes you feel more in control and puts you at ease about living your day to day life. Having a great treatment plan in place and knowing what you can do makes all the difference. This article has given you a lot of information to try and if it will make you feel better talk to your doctor.
