One of every four children in the United States is affected by the chronic respiratory disease known as asthma. Although substances that trigger an asthma attack are known, the cause of asthma remains a mystery. This disease causes the airways to swell and block the breathing ability which leads to respiratory distress.
A great tip that can help you get a grip on your asthma is to bring your own pillow when you travel anywhere. You never know how much dust there’s going to be when you’re staying at different places. Bringing your own clean pillow will reduce the risk of breathing in dust.
To make sure you’re getting the most out of your inhaler, hold your breath for 3-5 seconds each time you puff. This will give you time to inhale the medication deeply into your lungs so that it can take effect quickly. Once you have finished holding your breath be sure to exhale slowly.
A great tip that can help you cope with asthma is to branch out and get in touch with other people who also suffer from asthma. Not only will you be able to get helpful advice from them, you won’t feel so alone and ashamed that you have asthma.
People that have asthma are often known to have allergies that can trigger your symptoms. Make sure you know what you are allergic to so that you can learn to stay away from the things that can hurt you. An allergist is the best one to give you a broad allergy test.
If you have asthma and you get a cold try to avoid decongestant medication. These medications can cause heart palpitations in asthma patients and worsen asthma symptoms. Go to your doctor when you get a cold and they will be able to prescribe the medications that are safe to use.
To alleviate or prevent asthma attacks, minimize how often and much you come into contact with animals. Even if you are not allergic to pet hair or dander, a common occurrence with asthma, you can have an attack triggered by the dirt or pet dander simply being in the air. If you have pets in the home, vacuum often to limit pet-triggered air pollutants.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
Regular flu shots are important if you or one of your children suffer from asthma. Regular vaccinations will help you and your children to avoid lung infections.
Make sure you use your preventative inhaler that is prescribed by your doctor. Note that a preventative inhaler is different than a rescue inhaler, which is used during an acute attack. A preventative inhaler, on the other hand, dispenses medicine designed to keep the air flowing, which reduces acute attacks.
Children are the primary sufferers of asthma, which is a serious disease. Cigarette smoke, dust mites, animal fur and excessive exercise are all stimuli that often set off an asthmatic attack. Asthma cannot be prevented but it is treatable with medication, avoiding triggers and avoiding behaviors that may set off an attack.