Many people with asthma find that even with their medication and inhalers, the symptoms still restrict them in simple, daily activities and make it impossible to relax or enjoy life. Fortunately, there are many ways for you to reduce and improve these symptoms. Apply these tips in this article to help you fight against your asthma symptoms.
To keep your asthma under control, you should only use non-aspirin pain relievers. Both Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aleve can irritate the lungs and worsen the effects of your asthma over time. Tylenol has no negative effects on asthma users, and can be taken regularly without issue.
For those who have severe asthma, make sure you are using a nebulizer treatment before you go to sleep. Your lungs will be more open and it will be easier for you to sleep throughout the night by using a nebulizer treatment. Try to keep your rescue inhaler near your bed.
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.
Try to avoid sugary drinks such as soda if you have asthma. The additives that these drinks contain can trigger your asthma symptoms. Also, try not to eat too many candies or other foods with high sugar content. There are many alternatives that taste just as good as the original.
If you suffer from asthma, you should be aware that animals can be a trigger for asthma attacks. While you might not have any specific animal related allergies, animals do accumulate dirt and other harmful substances that can trigger an attack when you go near them. In particular, you should be careful around common pets like dogs and cats.
Stay indoors during high pollen count days. Pollen and other airborne allergens account for many asthma symptoms. When pollen counts reach higher levels, the number of patients in the ER with severe asthma attacks increases. Avoid an attack, by staying indoors with an air conditioner or other air filtering system.
It is important to know how to use your asthma medication correctly. You need to find out all about your medicine. You need to know how to take it and when, any potential side effects and exactly how it controls your asthma. If you use a metered inhaler, find out how to correctly use it.
Remove all carpets and heavy drapes from your home if possible, and vacuum frequently if not. Carpets and drapes can trap dust, which is a major trigger for asthma symptoms and attacks. These areas can even breed dust mites, which are generally even worse for people suffering from asthma.
Asthma should be taken very seriously. Watch out for air pollution or allergens and make sure to always carry around an emergency inhaler. If left unchecked, it could result in an asthma attack which could be fatal. If you apply these tips, you will be able to manage your asthma symptoms and improve the quality of your life in the long run.