Asthma is a frightening and potentially life-threatening condition that affects an estimated 17 million American men, women and children every year. By following advice given by your doctor, combined with the useful and relevant information found in this selection of tips, you can combat the symptoms and triggers of asthma attacks.
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.
It is important that you do not get too stressed out if you suffer from asthma. Stress and panic are all major causes of asthma attacks. Also, try not lose your temper either. Getting angry can cause your breathing to become labored, which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks.
Don’t turn on any fans if you see that your room is dusty. The fan will circulate the dust along with the air, which can cause it to get into your lungs and make your asthma worse. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.
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.
Although it may seem trivial to most people, it is important that you live near your doctor or an emergency room if you have asthma. Living in a rural area can mean that paramedics cannot get to you in time to save your life if you have a severe asthma attack.
There is help for when you feel an asthma attack coming on and your inhaler is not with you. Caffeinated drinks can help you as they open your airways. Drink a couple of cups of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate before the full onset of your attack to minimize its negative effects.
If you are an asthma sufferer and are denied health insurance, talk to a social worker. It is crucial that you be able to pay for your asthma medications, and a social worker might be able to locate a hospital or clinic for you that offers medications at a much cheaper price.
If you have asthma and are going to exercise, be sure you take breaks in the middle of your workout, even if your asthma symptoms are not acting up. Many times, asthma symptoms can sneak up on you in the middle of the workout. This can be prevented if you take breaks.
To live and cope with the symptoms of asthma, your physician can opt to write you a prescription for medicated inhalers and oral solutions. As part of your therapy, you can take the next steps yourself by using the advice and information that you have just read about to combat asthma.