A diagnosis of asthma can affect all areas of your life, whether you yourself have been recently diagnosed with the condition or perhaps if you are caregiver to an asthmatic. Combined with the information and instructions given by a licensed healthcare professional, these tips and tricks can be the first step to relief of asthma symptoms.
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.
Quick relief or preventative treatment inhalers are medicines that need to be administered properly. Make sure you breath deeply into your lungs as you depress the inhaler. Hold the medication in your lungs for at least 3 to 5 seconds before you exhale allowing it to take better effect.
If you feel that your asthma symptoms are getting worse, try drinking a cup of hot coffee. Not only will the warmth relieve some of your symptoms, the caffeine can open up your airways and reduce the urge to cough. If you don’t like coffee, try tea, hot chocolate, or a chocolate bar.
If you have asthma and you are going to be traveling by air, be sure to get a note from your doctor stating your condition and what medications you take. Airports are picky on what can be brought on board, but asthma patients are always permitted to bring medications and inhalers on board, as long as they have a doctor’s note.
If you have children with asthma, complete a regular inspection of your home. The most common triggers of asthma attacks in children are dust, mold and other harmful spores in the air. Checking your home once a year for these air pollutants is an effective way to prevent and treat your child’s asthma attacks.
Be cautious when taking medications with asthma. Even some over the counter drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, may worsen asthma symptoms. If you are taking an over-the-counter medicine, be alert to changes in your asthma symptoms or for indications of an asthma attack. It may be necessary to avoid certain medications, in order to keep your asthma under control.
Stay inside whenever it is humid or during times of high pollen. Springtime is nice, but not if you can’t breathe and that is the season that is likely to cause the most aggravation to your asthma condition. Invite friends over and find indoor activities that you can enjoy during these times, so that you don’t feel deprived from not being able to go outside.
Keeping yourself healthy can be a way to control your asthma better. The common cold, as well as viruses and bacterial infections can cause a flare up or attack of your asthma. Especially colds which produce mucus or a nasal drip that can end up in your lungs.
Emotional issues, high stress and anxiety can also cause asthma symptoms. These may be treated with medications and or therapy, as well as eating properly, getting a good amount of exercise and making sure that you are getting a good eight hours of sleep or more, each and every night.
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.
Have your inhaler technique checked. Many people use their inhaler improperly. If you aren’t using your inhaler correctly, you may not be receiving the correct dosage of medication, which means that it won’t work as effectively for you. Any medical practitioner with experience in asthma treatment should be able to critique your inhaler technique.
It is important to know how to use your asthma medication correctly. You need to find out all about your medicine. You need to know how to take it and when, any potential side effects and exactly how it controls your asthma. If you use a metered inhaler, find out how to correctly use it.
Household plants and flowers can act as an asthma attack trigger. The reason for this is that many of them carry pollen and other particles that can get into the air. They can cause problems even if the air is well circulated in the home. To be completely safe, don’t bring plants and flowers into the home, and if someone has them delivered to your home, throw them out immediately.
Now that you have become more familiar with the basic principles and hidden ways of coping with this respiratory condition, you can be well on your way to providing relief from the key symptoms of asthma, especially shortness of breath. You can also use your newly discovered knowledge to identify the main triggers of asthma.
Crucial Asthma Information That Everyone Should Know was originally published on Spring