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 stay home as much as possible when it is humid outside or when there is a lot of pollen in the air. Humidity and pollen will make it hard for you to breathe. If you must go outside, you can wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
If you are out of shape, a solid exercise regimen can help improve your asthma symptoms. The fact is that under-exerting ourselves can lead the body to exhaustion more easily. By pushing your boundaries, you tone functions vital to your body’s general balance, making your body less likely to go haywire.
Be wary of what pain relievers you use. People with asthma try not to use aspirin and NAIDs, or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, like Advil, Motrin, and Aleve, because there is a possibility of them worsening your asthma symptoms. Instead, try to use acetaminophen, more commonly known as Tylenol, to help relieve your pain.
Be aware of how your diet affects your asthma. Often specific foods like peanut butter contain allergens for anyone suffering from asthma. If you have certain food-based triggers, manage your diet to avoid those ingredients and lessen your asthma symptoms and attacks. If you try a new food, monitor your symptoms to ensure it does not cause increased asthma problems.
Pay attention to your attack triggers. If you know what is likely to trigger your attacks, such as smoke, animals, or pollen, then you can make a better effort to avoid them. Asthma triggers are different for everyone. Unfortunately, the only real way to know what will trigger an attack is to have one, and then remember what happened.
Don’t assume that you are doomed to spend your life as an invalid due to your asthma. There are athletes at the highest levels who suffer from this disease. You simply need to know and avoid your triggers, use caution in your exercising, and take your medications regularly as prescribed. Having a poor attitude can actually make your symptoms worse.
If money is a factor in taking your medications properly, or even at all, ask your doctor for alternatives. They may be able to prescribe a lower cost medication, one with coupon offers or discounts, as well as provide you with free samples from the pharmaceutical companies. Their goal is to keep you out of the hospital.
Shower or bathe each evening before going to bed to remove any allergens that can trigger an asthma attack. Sleeping with allergens on your skin or hair can not only cause an attack, but may make you even more sensitive to specific triggers over time.
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.