Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects millions of Americans of all ages, adults and children alike. If breathing is difficult for you and you are interested in ideas and suggestions for managing your asthma, then you have chosen the right article to read! Take control of your asthma.
If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Try to reduce the amount of environmental allergens and pollutants, such as dust, pollens, pet hair, molds and fungi, and food particles. Keeping your house clean can make a huge difference for your asthma symptoms. Buying an air filter or purifier, or even cleaning out the filters in your AC system can also help.
If you feel that your asthma symptoms are getting worse, try drinking a cup of hot coffee. Not only will the warmth relieve some of your symptoms, the caffeine can open up your airways and reduce the urge to cough. If you don’t like coffee, try tea, hot chocolate, or a chocolate bar.
Always get your annual flu shot! Even if you are not normally susceptible to colds and the flu during the seasons for them, when you have asthma, it is always best to protect yourself as much as possible from developing sinus infections or respiratory issues – both of which are sometimes caused by the flu.
Although there is no known cure for asthma, you can take steps to reduce the severity and intensity of your symptoms. Education is a vital part of lessening your symptoms, and by implementing some of the tips and suggestions from this article, you are on the road to easier breathing!