Living with asthma poses a unique set of challenges, many of which can be overcome with proper management techniques, leading to the resumption of a healthy and active lifestyle. There are numerous solutions to help control or even prevent asthma’s interference in your life. Read this article to find out how you can manage your condition more easily.
Do you know what type of asthma you have? When you know in-depth information about your asthma, you can figure out how to fight against it. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. Knowing symptom patterns will help you prevent emergencies.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you suffer from asthma. If you are not already a smoker, don’t start, and if you are, quit as soon as possible. When smoke enters your lungs it cuts off your oxygen supply, and if you suffer from asthma it can make breathing extremely difficult, and result in an increased number of attacks.
Be aware of certain medications that can lead to asthma problems. A couple of common culprits that do this are aspirin and NSAIDs. Beta blockers, such as those used to control high blood pressure or heart disease may also have this effect. It is important to let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma together with any of these conditions.
Asthma is a disease that is continuous. As such, it requires long-term health management. Be certain that you are prescribed or using the appropriate medicine to manage your daily symptoms, and that you have an emergency medicine readily available in the event of an attack. Have a discussion with your doctor or allergist to determine what the best plan for you might be.
Cigarette smoke will make your asthma worse. Smoking is off limits. Avoid all fumes of chemical products or breathing harmful vapors. More often than not, smoke is going to trigger an unavoidable asthma attack. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.
If you have asthma and suffer persistent attacks caused by allergy symptoms, an injectable medicine can be administered for extended relief. It is called omalizumab, and it is an antibody medicine used to control allergic reaction symptoms. You will need to speak to your allergist to find out if this would be helpful to you.
Know how to use your inhaler correctly. Find a quiet secluded area so that you can calmly take the inhaler as directed by the instructions from the manufacturer. The inhaler will only work if the medicine reaches your lungs. Spray the required dosage into your mouth while inhaling air. Make sure you hold your breath for 10 seconds or more to get the medications into your lungs.
If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you should avoid smoking or even being in the presence of smokers. Inhaled smoke from tobacco can drastically reduce lung function, increasing your chances of an asthma attack. This is especially true in closed-in areas.
Those with asthma should always opt for unscented items because they are safest. Indoor air pollution rises with the constant use of anything scented, ranging from air fresheners to incense, and all this can trigger asthma attacks. Fresh paint and new carpeting give off odors that can irritate sensitive airways. Try keeping the air indoors as fresh as it can be.
There are a lot of ways you can control your asthma and stop it from hurting you. Asthma does not have to be a death sentence, so if you can make a plan on how to live with asthma, you will have a much more fulfilling life.