For the millions of men, women, and children who have difficulty breathing as a result of asthma, even the simplest physical task may seem daunting. Thankfully, there are a wide array of ways to treat asthma so you do not have to fear living every day life. The insights here can help you understand your respiratory system and leave you well equipped to deal with asthma in your life.
Wash your bedding regularly, at least once a week. Your bedding might contain dust and microscopic acarids which can cause asthma. You should also place a protective plastic cover on your mattress since you cannot wash it. Keep your clean bedding in a drawer where it will not get dusty.
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.
A great tip that can help you deal with asthma is to exercise indoors. A lot of people just assume that they can’t exercise because they have asthma, but that’s not the case. The cold air outside is what aggravates asthma and you can avoid it by exercising indoors.
When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. There are modern medicines that are highly effective at blocking leukotrienes. The chemical leukotriene is a common cause of inflammation in the lungs which in turn, can trigger asthma attacks. Using an inhibitor will counteract the negative effects of leukotriene, thereby decreasing the occurrence of asthma attacks.
Use the right medication to control your asthma. Have you noticed that you can only prevent your asthma attack by using your inhaler more than twice a week? Do you have to refill your prescription several times a year? It might be a sign to visit your doctor and ask for a different medication to control your symptoms better.
Persons suffering from severe asthma should take acetaminophen based pain killers. Aspirin, NSAIDs and ibuprofen based medication such as Advil or Motrin may trigger or worsen your asthma attacks. Be sure to carry the right type of medication with you as your coworkers, friends or family members may not have the appropriate one.
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.
Change your sheets and comforter once a week, and wash them in hot water. One of the best ways to prevent attacks or common triggers is to ensure your home is clean and dry. Your bedding starts to collect dust, dander, dirt and other debris that can pollute the air you breathe. Frequent washing in hot water ensures these pollutants are kept to a minimum.
Now that you know more about how to handle your asthma, you can confidently handle it, and support others with the condition. Asthma, while a scary diagnosis, can be treated and maintained. It doesn’t have to be that frightening anymore.