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.
You should use the AC as much as possible so that you can breathe fresh air. But make sure you clean up your AC unit regularly. If you are going to use a humidifier, clean it too. An unclean AC system could make your life absolutely miserable if you have asthma.
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.
When you are packing for a vacation and you have asthma, be sure to pack an extra rescue inhaler. In case your inhaler gets lost, having a back up will ensure that you do not go without medications. Also, do not forget to bring any pills you take for your asthma.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Use organic products as often as possible, as these contain fewer harsh chemicals.
If tobacco smoke is a trigger for your asthma symptoms, not only should you not smoke, but you should also avoid places where people smoke. Tobacco smoke leaves a film behind, so even if there is no fresh smoke in the air, the chemicals left behind may still trigger an asthma attack.
During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. You can inhale warmer air into your body with these. Studies have indicated that asthma attacks are sometimes triggered when cold air is inhaled. This is especially true for young children who have asthma that is moderate to severe.
Make sure to take all of your asthma medications exactly as your doctor prescribes them, even if you haven’t been suffering any symptoms lately. Not having symptoms doesn’t mean your asthma went away; it just means your medications are working! This includes your preventative medications as well as your rescue inhaler.
Cover padded or fabric covered items such as mattresses in allergen-proof covers to lessen the amount of dust and allergens captured in these items. Since fabric covered items easily collect allergens, not covering them can cause a significant increase in asthma symptoms or attacks. Keeping these items encased in allergen-proof covers can lessen asthma symptoms.
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.