Asthma is a condition that effects millions of people throughout the world. Unfortunately, most asthma patients do not know enough about their condition to be able to properly treat it. In the following article, you are going to be given advice that will help make life with asthma a lot easier.
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 are asthmatic, you absolutely must not subject yourself to any form of cigarette smoke. Smoking isn’t good for anyone, but it’s worse for those with asthma. It cuts off the oxygen supply that your lungs need to function properly to keep away the asthma attacks.
Try to avoid animals, as much as possible, if you have severe asthma. Even those who aren’t allergic to pets, should still limit their contact, since the animals’ fur can house dirt, dust, pollen and other asthma triggers. If you must have a pet, look into breeds that are hairless.
Hay fever and colds can worsen asthma symptoms so prepare to need increased treatments. Adjusting your medication may be necessary to manage the symptoms of these and other illnesses. Your family doctor may recommend adding another treatment or medication to your current regimen until you recover from your illness.
If you use a preventative inhaler without a spacer, gargle with salt water and brush your teeth immediately after using it. The medication from a preventative inhaler will collect at the back of your throat, which is a moist environment, perfect for the growth of bacteria and fungi. If your inhaler were to become contaminated, you could contract thrush from using it. Gargling and brushing your teeth should help prevent this.
If you are suffering an acute asthma attack and your emergency inhaler doesn’t seem to work to bring it under control, get help. Asthma attacks can worsen very quickly. It’s better to visit a doctor or even a hospital for a minor attack than to stay home through a major attack and suffer the consequences. It’s a good idea to keep your cell phone charged up and within easy reach. Keep emergency contacts on speed dial.
Avoid using a feather or down pillow if you have asthma. The pillow feathers can cause asthma to flare up and minimize your lung function. The same it true for bedding, try purchasing sheets and comforters that are created from hypoallergenic materials.
If you do hard, strenuous exercise, especially in cold and dry weather, it can cause your asthma to worsen, or act up. Avoid strenuous exercise. Instead focus on long range exercises that require less exertion. If you live in a cold or dry environment, then make sure you are getting your exercise indoors where the temperature and humidity are controlled.
The advice given to you in the above article is meant to help make your life with asthma a better one. Continue to work with your doctor, and don’t stop any medical treatment without talking to him. Nevertheless, there is a lot that you can do to yourself to make your asthma easier to live with.