Asthma can be a frightening and debilitating ailment, especially for children and young adults. It doesn’t have to be. Many people have been incredibly successful in managing and treating their asthma. You can share in their success by giving the following tips a try. You may learn something you didn’t know!
Clean up your house from food and water. Keep your food inside the fridge. When you let food or water sit, you are attracting small bugs and roaches, which can trigger allergic reactions. If you need to keep food outside of your fridge, consider getting a food pantry or opening your windows.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. While making sure to never light up around your children, it is also vital that you make sure your kids are not around others who do not show the same courtesy.
If you suffer from asthma, it is critical that you not smoke. Smoking is bad for everyone, but it’s particularly dangerous for an asthma sufferer, as it cuts off vital oxygen to the lungs.
Quick relief or preventative treatment inhalers are medicines that need to be administered properly. Make sure you breath deeply into your lungs as you depress the inhaler. Hold the medication in your lungs for at least 3 to 5 seconds before you exhale allowing it to take better effect.
If you are being treated for asthma and you find that your medication is not working, it is important that you talk with your doctor. The medication that you are taking may work for others, but it may not work for you. Your doctor may want to even add another medication to your treatment.
Be careful when starting an exercise program, and always ease into strenuous activities. Physical exertion isn’t an asthma trigger for everyone, but all asthmatics suffer from some degree of airway constriction all the time, by definition, which makes it harder on your system when you work out. For those whose asthma is triggered by exercise, easing in can make it possible to exercise without suffering an attack.
If you have children with asthma, be aware of their symptoms and watch for them. Many children do not want to report symptoms because they are afraid of being removed from a fun activity. If you notice a child suffering from symptoms, gently encourage use of an inhaler without insisting that they be removed from the situation.
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.
The previous tips are great examples of what can be done in regards to asthma. By making an effort, people with asthma can enjoy somewhat normal lives without constant fear of an attack. These tidbits were just a part of the plethora of information that exists for asthma sufferers and their loved ones.