A diagnosis of asthma can affect all areas of your life, whether you yourself have been recently diagnosed with the condition or perhaps if you are caregiver to an asthmatic. Combined with the information and instructions given by a licensed healthcare professional, these tips and tricks can be the first step to relief of asthma symptoms.
A great tip that can help you alleviate your asthma is to make sure you’re properly using your inhaler. A lot of people don’t use their inhaler correctly because they take shallow breaths. In order for the medicine to work, you need to inhale deeply when using your inhaler.
It is important that you keep your home and work environment clean if you have asthma. Dust and germs can worsen your asthma symptoms and cut off oxygen to your lungs. Because dust accumulates rather quickly, it is recommended that you dust your furniture and appliances at least once a week.
As a chronic disease, asthma must be managed continuously. You need to always take your medications for your everyday symptoms, and keep your quick relief medication with you in case you do have an attack. Discuss your best options with your allergist and doctor.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you must avoid cigarette smoke at all costs. Asthmatics should also never smoke. Air pollution and fumes from harsh chemicals also increase asthma symptoms. This can cause an asthma attack, and you may be unable to bring it under control. Avoid secondhand smoke by leaving physical distance between yourself and the smoker.
Medications that will help you control symptoms when you have an attack are oral corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Bronchodilators, usually referred to as “rescue medications”, are usually inhaled but also come in liquid, tablet, or they are injectable. These are the most popular forms of ‘rescue medications’ that you can get.
If you or your children are struggling with asthma, it is important to have your home inspected yearly for asthma triggers. Triggers for asthma in the home are dust, mold, and any other spores that may be present in your home. These triggers will often affect children more than adults.
Use the right medication to control your asthma. Have you noticed that you can only prevent your asthma attack by using your inhaler more than twice a week? Do you have to refill your prescription several times a year? It might be a sign to visit your doctor and ask for a different medication to control your symptoms better.
Asthma is caused by certain triggers, therefore the easiest way to avoid painful attacks is to avoid them. These triggers can be anything from pollen to pet hair so it is important to seek professional help to determine the underlying cause. If this is not an option for you keep an asthma diary, listing your activities before an attack to help to identify the real cause.
Now that you have become more familiar with the basic principles and hidden ways of coping with this respiratory condition, you can be well on your way to providing relief from the key symptoms of asthma, especially shortness of breath. You can also use your newly discovered knowledge to identify the main triggers of asthma.