Asthma can make you feel like a prisoner in your own body. If you do not know what does or doesn’t trigger your attacks, as well as what treatments do or do not work, it’s a real problem. This article will give you some tips on dealing with your asthma.
If you’re caught without your inhaler when you have an attack, grab a cup of coffee. The caffeine in the beverage will open up your airways and allow you to breathe a little easier. If you don’t have a caffeinated beverage on hand, the small amounts of caffeine in a chocolate bar can also help.
Learn how to recognize asthma so you can treat it. When you get asthma, you usually have difficulties breathing and feel as if your chest were getting tighter. Asthma is often accompanied by coughing and wheezing. If you experience different symptoms, you might have another illness that requires more medical attention.
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.
A flu vaccination can be great for people struggling with asthma. If you have asthma, you will want to avoid and sinus or respiratory infections. These infections can be caused by the flu. Having an infection could greatly increase your chances of having asthma attacks. A flu vaccination may help prevent this.
Keep in close contact with your allergist to let him know if your medication is working correctly to control your symptoms. Make him aware if your medication seems to be not working as well as it once may have. Your dosage or medication may need to be changed in order to help you.
You may want to get into a support group if you have asthma. The people in the group are in the same situation as you so they know what you have to go through everyday. Also, they may have personal tips of what you can do to control your asthma symptoms.
Persons suffering from severe asthma should take acetaminophen based pain killers. Aspirin, NSAIDs and ibuprofen based medication such as Advil or Motrin may trigger or worsen your asthma attacks. Be sure to carry the right type of medication with you as your coworkers, friends or family members may not have the appropriate one.
Contact a social worker if you have asthma but do not meet the eligibility requirements for health insurance. Social workers are trained to help people find resources for affording health care, particularly on debilitating conditions such as asthma.
Don’t live your life in fear and wondering, always waiting for the next attack. Use the advice here to make yourself feel more calm and at ease. Knowing how to deal with your asthma better is in itself comforting. If you follow the advice that was given in this article you ought to see the problem diminishing.