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.
A lot of people enjoy the smell of a clean house. If you have asthma, this is actually harmful. The pleasant smell comes from chemicals that remain in the air. Make sure you open up your windows every time you clean up your house, even if this means losing the fresh smell.
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.
Make sure you have your home inspected for allergens on a regular basis. Some of the most common culprits in asthma attacks are related to the air we breathe. Items like dust, mold and spores tend to be the most frequent sources of these attacks. Knowing that you have a problem with these items will let you be able to do something about it.
If you suffer from asthma, try seeing if a leukotriene inhibitor helps. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. A leukotriene will cause inflammation in the respiratory system, causing an asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
You may want to consider not getting pregnant if you have severe asthma. Hormones caused during pregnancy may increase asthma symptoms. If you do decide to get pregnant and you have asthma, be sure that your doctor knows of your asthma so that they can help control your symptoms during pregnancy.
Limit contact with animals, especially long-haired indoor/outdoor pets. Many people with asthma also suffer from diagnosed or undiagnosed animal hair allergies. Even if you aren’t allergic to animal fur or dander, long-haired animals that spend time outdoors will track in dirt and dust that can trigger an asthma attack or otherwise exacerbate asthma symptoms.
If you have asthma and are going to exercise, be sure you take breaks in the middle of your workout, even if your asthma symptoms are not acting up. Many times, asthma symptoms can sneak up on you in the middle of the workout. This can be prevented if you take breaks.
If you use more than four types of chemical cleaning agents in your house the risk of your child having an asthma attack increases. Organic products are preferable to more chemically loaded, commercially produced cleaning products.
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.