With more than 17 million men, women, and kids suffering from asthma in the United States alone, there is a very good chance that you or someone you know is affected with this respiratory condition. Fortunately, this selection of carefully selected tips and tricks will leave you more informed about asthma.

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.

A great tip that can help you get a grip on your asthma is to bring your own pillow when you travel anywhere. You never know how much dust there’s going to be when you’re staying at different places. Bringing your own clean pillow will reduce the risk of breathing in dust.

Do not swim in pools that contain chlorine if you have asthma. The chlorine can trigger asthma attacks or make your symptoms worse. If you are unsure if the pool that you are going to swim in has chlorine or not, ask a lifeguard or the manager of the facility.

There are two types of asthma medications that are used by people in their on going hunt for relief from their condition. One is a long term management medication and the other is one to control an asthma attack. Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of both of them.

Get the flu vaccine every year if you suffer from asthma. Respiratory or sinus issues that can come from a bout with the flu can really do a number on an asthma sufferer. Taking the preventive tack of getting the vaccine can save you some serious suffering down the road.

When you are having a difficult time with asthma, you might want to use a leukotriene inhibitor. These work by preventing the formation of leukotrienes. Leukotriene is a chemical substance that can lead to inflammation that can cause an asthma attack. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.

Having the proper medications and treatments for your asthma is very important. If you need to use your inhaler more than once a day, or are awakened by symptoms more than twice a week, it may be time to switch to a more controlling medicine that can prevent your symptoms.

If you suffer from asthma then you should avoid using NSAIDS or aspirin. These can trigger asthma or make it worse. Stick to Tylenol or acetaminophen for your pain control and fever reducing needs. You can also talk to you doctor about other possible substitutions.

If you’re suffering from a cold or allergies, you should talk to your doctor about taking additional asthma medication. An increase in treatment is necessary sometimes because side effects of other sicknesses can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. Your physician may even recommend that you take additional medication until you recover.

If tobacco smoke is a trigger for your asthma symptoms, not only should you not smoke, but you should also avoid places where people smoke. Tobacco smoke leaves a film behind, so even if there is no fresh smoke in the air, the chemicals left behind may still trigger an asthma attack.

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.

Wash bed linens at least once per week and other bedding items, such as comforters, at least every two weeks, in hot water to kill any dust mites that may be present. Dust mites are a common allergen for many asthma sufferers, so frequently washing items where skin cells collect is one way to reduce the amount of mites and subsequently, lessen asthma symptoms.

Do not allow your asthma attacks to keep you down in the dumps! Any chronic illness can wear on you and lead to depression. Depression in turn leads to missed medications, missed appointments and a general lack of enjoyment within your life. When you keep a positive attitude instead, you maintain better control of your asthma.

Asthma is commonly linked to allergies. People with allergies tend to develop asthma more often than people who do not, and also allergic reactions can serve as triggers for asthma attacks. It is therefore important to have your allergies properly diagnosed, and more specifically to be aware of which allergens you have to watch out for. This knowledge will allow you to avoid situations where you could be at risk of an asthma attack.

Now that you have armed yourself with information on the common symptoms, triggers, and courses of treatment for this common respiratory condition, you will be better prepared to discuss medical care and prevention. Remember this useful and highly recommended advice to do whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of asthma.

Breathe In This Good Asthma Advice And Wisdom was originally published on Spring