Having an asthma attack can feel like a death sentence. No matter how much you try, you just cannot pull enough oxygen into your lungs, to be okay and breathe. You feel as if you are going to burst if you don’t get some oxygen in your body. Asthmatics work long and hard to avoid ever having this feeling. Read on for tips to keep your asthma attack at bay.

If you’re caught without your inhaler when you have an attack, grab a cup of coffee. The caffeine in the beverage will open up your airways and allow you to breathe a little easier. If you don’t have a caffeinated beverage on hand, the small amounts of caffeine in a chocolate bar can also help.

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.

Asthma is a continuous disease that needs ongoing management. Be sure you are practicing proper self-care, and make sure you have your inhaler ready to go in case you suffer a full-blown attack. To find which treatment options are the best for you and your condition, make sure you speak with a doctor and allergist.

If you have asthma, make sure to cover all your mattresses and your pillows with plastic covers. This will prevent any dust that may be on your fabrics from getting into your lungs. You should also wash all of your bedding in hot water at least once a week. Yes, this is a lot of work, but you will reap the benefits if you make the time to do it.

If you have asthma, and you have no choice but to live in a cold environment, try not to spend too much outside when it is cold. The cold will worsen your asthma symptoms or cause attacks. Spend as much time as you can in a hot environment and when you have to go outside, wear a scarf.

A flu vaccination can be great for people struggling with asthma. If you have asthma, you will want to avoid and sinus or respiratory infections. These infections can be caused by the flu. Having an infection could greatly increase your chances of having asthma attacks. A flu vaccination may help prevent this.

Be wary of what pain relievers you use. People with asthma try not to use aspirin and NAIDs, or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, like Advil, Motrin, and Aleve, because there is a possibility of them worsening your asthma symptoms. Instead, try to use acetaminophen, more commonly known as Tylenol, to help relieve your pain.

If you have asthma, you may wish to consider installing a dehumidifier in your home. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier makes the air in your home dry by keeping humidity to a minimum.

Use a peak flow meter regularly. A peak flow meter measures how much air your lungs can put out. If you keep track of your peak flow, you can notice changes in your airflow capacity before you even start to notice symptoms of an attack, and take preventative action to stop it.

Be your child’s asthma advocate, especially at school. Many schools have policies in place that prohibit children from carrying medications on them. This is not acceptable when it comes to an emergency rescue inhaler. Find out what steps you need to take to make sure that your child has access to their medication as needed.

When preventing asthma, stay away from smoke. Smoke and chemicals have been known to trigger asthma attacks. You should avoid cigarette smoke, vapors, and chemical fumes as much as possible. These can increase symptoms of asthma. If you are being exposed to things that may irritate your asthma, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.

Consult with more than one physician. Although your primary doctor can treat your asthma, a specialist may be able to provide further help. Pulmonologists, allergists, asthma centers and also nutritionists can assist you in exploring every avenue of treatment for your asthma.

Sufferers from asthma should stay indoors when the pollen count rises. While asthma and allergies are separate illnesses, you’ll find that the triggers for one tend to be mirrored in the other. Now that you have information on local air quality in most areas, people who suffer from asthma will be able to decrease outdoor activities if there is potential irritants in the air.

The tips you use from this article, will vary based on what triggers your asthma attacks. The important thing is that you take the tips that cover your triggers and start to apply them to your life. Talk to your doctor, in order to get help isolating what your exact triggers are, so you can start working to prevent your next asthma attack.

Overcome Stubborn Asthma With This Great Advice was originally published on Spring