If you have asthma, you probably have medications from your doctor to treat and prevent attacks but there are some simple things you can do on your own to reduce the likelihood of an attack. Here are some helpful recommendations to help you make your home environment work with you, instead of against you, in your quest to cut down on asthma attacks.
Get a bronchodilator or an inhaler. These products usually allow you to breathe better a few seconds after you use them. There are risks inherent to using these products, but if you use them as prescribed they should make your life easier. Ask your doctor about what kind of inhaler you should use.
A great tip that can help you deal with asthma is to exercise indoors. A lot of people just assume that they can’t exercise because they have asthma, but that’s not the case. The cold air outside is what aggravates asthma and you can avoid it by exercising indoors.
It is important that you keep your home and work environment clean if you have asthma. Dust and germs can worsen your asthma symptoms and cut off oxygen to your lungs. Because dust accumulates rather quickly, it is recommended that you dust your furniture and appliances at least once a week.
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.
To alleviate or prevent asthma attacks, minimize how often and much you come into contact with animals. Even if you are not allergic to pet hair or dander, a common occurrence with asthma, you can have an attack triggered by the dirt or pet dander simply being in the air. If you have pets in the home, vacuum often to limit pet-triggered air pollutants.
If you have asthma and your house is going to be painted, try to leave your house for a few days. Spend some time at a family or friend’s home. The fumes and smells of wet paint can cause asthma symptoms to increase and can even cause serious asthma attacks.
Believe it or not, doing breathing exercises can be beneficial for asthma patients. Activities like blowing balloons, playing a woodwind instrument, and singing can increase your lung capacity which can help to ease the symptoms of asthma. If you feel like your breathing is labored while doing these activities, take a break.
Educate yourself on potential problems caused by your prescription medications. Many commonly prescribed drugs such as beta blockers can worsen asthma or interact with asthma medications. If you experience any of these side effects, talk with your doctor and make sure you are on a prescription regimen appropriate to manage your asthma as well.
With these tips, you can make your environment cleaner and safer, which can help prevent asthma attacks. Prevention is much easier than treatment, so implement these tips and reduce your exposure to common asthma triggers. These tips, used in conjunction with your doctor’s advice and medications, can reduce the length and severity of asthma attacks.