Asthma affects millions of people and is a serious medical problem. If you’re suffering from asthma related symptoms and you want to learn how to get better, you’re in luck. In this article, you’ll find many simple tips to help you improve your asthma by checking several warning signs that can worsen symptoms, such as air pollution.
Make sure you do not have any stress in your life because emotional anxiety may, in fact, trigger asthma symptoms. Proper rest, diet, and exercise are important for your overall health and can help you manage your asthma symptoms. Emotional health is as important as physical health in your life.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Smoking is off limits. Avoid fumes and vapors of any kind. This can aggravate your asthma and it might not stop. If others are smoking nearby, leave that area as quickly as you can.
Medications can be taken on a regular basis to control inflammation in your airways. Inhaled corticosteroids such as cromolyn and leukotriene modifiers are some such medications. Consult with your doctor about which one is the best for you. You may need to try several of them.
If you or your children are struggling with asthma, it is important to have your home inspected yearly for asthma triggers. Triggers for asthma in the home are dust, mold, and any other spores that may be present in your home. These triggers will often affect children more than adults.
Have your home inspected at least once a year for mold and other spores. Many asthmatics, especially children, can have their asthma exacerbated by exposure to these allergens. Living in a home full of mold spores can even trigger repeated asthma attacks to the point of permanently damaging a child’s respiratory system.
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.
Keep dust and other particles out of the air in your home. This will not only reduce acute asthma attacks, but also help you breathe easier. In addition to dusting on a regular basis, you can also buy an air filter, which continuously sucks dust particles out of the air.
If you do hard, strenuous exercise, especially in cold and dry weather, it can cause your asthma to worsen, or act up. Avoid strenuous exercise. Instead focus on long range exercises that require less exertion. If you live in a cold or dry environment, then make sure you are getting your exercise indoors where the temperature and humidity are controlled.
If you are traveling with an asthmatic family member, make sure they bring along their own pillow. If they are particularly sensitive, they may want to bring along their own bedding. Most hotel bedding, especially pillows, is prone to dust mites and other allergens, or they may use detergents that set off your symptoms.
If you or a family member suffers from severe asthma, get a recommendation from your doctor on which hospital to visit before you go on vacation. You don’t want to be hunting for a qualified hospital in the midst of an attack. Knowing in advance what doctors are good and how to get to them can cut down on the stress of the situation.
When traveling and staying in hotel rooms with a severe asthmatic, be sure to explain the situation to the hotel staff in advance. You need a room that is not only non-smoking but that has never been smoked in, and you also need a non-smoking floor. If the hotel can’t accomodate that request, find a different one.
Keep an asthma diary and record how often, each week, you must use a rescue inhaler. Using it more often than twice weekly means that you should have your asthma assessed by a doctor. You can use your frequency of inhaler use to gauge the effectiveness of your asthma treatment plan and make modifications when necessary.
Focus on breathing through your nose to reduce the loss of excessive carbon dioxide, especially during strenuous activities. Breathing through your mouth can cause a sudden decrease in carbon dioxide levels, making your airways more prone to contraction. Breathing through your nose keeps levels more stable, making it easier to manage your asthma.
The most important thing to remember when you are having an asthma attack is to not panic. Panicking causes your heart rate to rise, your blood pressure to increase and your breathing to become labored. This last one is the thing that you DON’T want to have happen. You need to keep your breathing as controlled as possible.
Use natural cleaning products in your home instead of store bought chemical cleaners. Harsh chemicals can produce harmful fumes that can trigger an asthma attack. Even if you are not the one doing the cleaning, the fumes linger and can affect you for days. Use natural cleaners: they are better for you lungs and the environment.
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. B6, another name for pyridoxine, has been proven to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks related to asthma. Pyridoxine is essential because it produces certain substances that relax bronchial tissues. Foods that are rich in B6 include the easy-to-find banana.
Being newly diagnosed with asthma can be a frightening experience. Your doctor is an important source of information about your condition that should not be overlooked. Ask for his recommendation about trustworthy websites where you can read more about asthma, and if there are any support groups in your area.
A diagnosis of asthma will only disrupt your life if you allow it to. You can get back your life by using the sound advice in the article above to relieve symptoms and manage your asthma.
