Asthma is a complicated and sometimes downright scary medical condition. If you or somebody you love has been diagnosed with asthma, you probably have a lot of questions about what you can do to keep you or your family member safe and sound. This article will outline some tips to guide you on your way to managing your asthma safely.
When you have asthma, you are more vulnerable to infections. Wash your hands as often as possible, especially before eating. If your child has asthma, teach them this habit early. By washing your hands, you can stop the spread of certain harmful bacteria that would result in a lung infection.
There are some medications that may contribute to asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Common medications used for controlling high blood pressure often times contain beta blockers, which asthmatics may be more sensitive to. Talk to a doctor if you have any of these conditions along with asthma.
There are two types of asthma medications that are used by people in their on going hunt for relief from their condition. One is a long term management medication and the other is one to control an asthma attack. Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of both of them.
Your doctor may thing that corticosteroids are the best relief from your asthma attacks. This is especially true if you have really bad attacks. They may be a little harder to diagnose but can be swallowed or injected in the case of an attack to open up your passages more effectively.
For those who have severe asthma, make sure you are using a nebulizer treatment before you go to sleep. Your lungs will be more open and it will be easier for you to sleep throughout the night by using a nebulizer treatment. Try to keep your rescue inhaler near your bed.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. As its name suggests, this inhibitor works by preventing the release and build-up of leukotriene. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. The inhibitor will prevent leukotrienes, which can decrease the amount of asthma attacks that you have.
If you suffer from asthma and you have carpet in your home, you may want to consider getting rid of it and replacing it with hardwood floors. Carpets tend to collect dust and other unhealthy materials that can trigger asthma symptoms and attacks. If you do keep your carpet, be sure to vacuum it often.
If money is a factor in taking your medications properly, or even at all, ask your doctor for alternatives. They may be able to prescribe a lower cost medication, one with coupon offers or discounts, as well as provide you with free samples from the pharmaceutical companies. Their goal is to keep you out of the hospital.
While this article is not to replace the advice of a medical professional, having knowledge of asthma can help you combat the more frustrating and limiting aspects of the disease. As you can see, there is a lot you can do to stop asthma from running your life, so get out there and start living!