There are few things in life that are as horrifying as not being able to breathe during an asthma attack. Learning the following tips will help you to lessen the number of occurrences of attacks that you or your loved one suffers from. Read through each tip and piece of advice carefully.
If you’re using your inhaler more than twice a week, you should talk to your doctor about additional asthma treatments. An inhaler is meant only for emergency relief and if you’re periodically relying on it, then your current asthma treatment isn’t effective enough. Overuse of an inhaler can be harmful and you should avoid potential problems, right away.
If you are having an asthma attack (mild or moderate), you need to try to force air out of the lungs. Breathe out fast and hard. Exhale with maximum force! Inhale a series of three quick breaths, followed by a deeper one, before exhaling with force again. This technique develops a breathing rhythm, allowing you to notice the breaths that you take in. It also expels air from your lungs so more can enter. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
Sometimes it is easy to get caught without your inhaler. If you feel and asthma attack coming on, but you don’t have your inhaler handy to deal with it, consume some caffeine. Coffee, tea, energy drinks, or whatever you can find. The caffeine will open up your airways and make it easier to breathe.
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.
Although it may seem trivial to most people, it is important that you live near your doctor or an emergency room if you have asthma. Living in a rural area can mean that paramedics cannot get to you in time to save your life if you have a severe asthma attack.
Asthma sufferers should take Vitamins E and C. Since both of these have been attributed to better function of the lungs, they also help to control the symptoms of asthma. You can get these vitamins from food or take a supplement. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.
If you suffer from asthma and you have carpet in your home, you may want to consider getting rid of it and replacing it with hardwood floors. Carpets tend to collect dust and other unhealthy materials that can trigger asthma symptoms and attacks. If you do keep your carpet, be sure to vacuum it often.
Now that you have learned some great ways to deal with asthma, you are sure to find a little peace of mind in knowing that you have information that will help the situation. Utilize these tips in your everyday life and you are on your way to a sigh of relief instead of a gasp for air.