Asthma is a serious medical condition that can not only interfere in doing basic, daily tasks, but can also cause severe symptoms that may become fatal if left unchecked. This article contains many useful tips and suggestions that can be helpful in reducing symptoms and helping you overcome your asthma.
A good tip if you’re struggling with asthma is to make sure you talk to your doctor so you can figure out the best treatment. Sometimes your asthma might be too much for an inhaler to handle. Talking to your doctor will help you get the appropriate treatment you need.
If you are suffering from a moderate or mild attack, do your best to force as much air out of the lungs as possible. Make your exhalations quick and forceful. It can’t be said too strongly: you must force the air out! Then, follow three short intakes of breath with one longer inhalation until your lungs are filled with air, although not uncomfortably so. Finally, expel the air from your lungs with force again. This establishes a regular pattern to your breathing routine, which means you have to pay attention to how you are breathing. It will also help to get the air to come out of the lungs so more can come in. You might cough hard or create mucus, but its just a sign your breathing is getting back to normal.
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.
Keep your stress level as low as humanly possible. As anxiety levels increase due to everyday problems, so do asthma symptoms. If you experience wheezing and coughing several times a day, consider stress relief techniques such as regular exercises and stretching and breathing exercises. Also, be sure you get enough sleep to deal with the stresses of everyday life.
Limit contact with animals, especially long-haired indoor/outdoor pets. Many people with asthma also suffer from diagnosed or undiagnosed animal hair allergies. Even if you aren’t allergic to animal fur or dander, long-haired animals that spend time outdoors will track in dirt and dust that can trigger an asthma attack or otherwise exacerbate asthma symptoms.
If you suffer from asthma, you might want to use a pillow that doesn’t contain feathers. Pillow feathers are known to worsen asthma and affect the lungs. The same can be said for bedding, try to get hypoallergenic comforters and sheets.
Is it time for a new asthma medication? It is possible you need to try a new medication if you need to use your quick-relief inhaler anymore than twice a week. Also, if you need to refill your inhaler more than twice a year, or you wake up at night with asthma symptoms more than twice a week you also need to look into a change.
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.
For temporary relief of asthma symptoms there are quick-relief medications. They are oral corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are often called rescue medication and open up airways and allow more air to flow through. Corticosteroids are designed for short-term use and are either swallowed or given by injection. They work by treating inflammation in airways.
Add onions to your daily diet. Onions contain a chemical called diphenyl-thiosulfate, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects. Eating more onions can reduce your need for pharmaceutical interventions in order to treat your asthma symptoms, by increasing your body’s natural ability to reduce inflammation in your lungs.
If you have asthma troubles, make sure that you get a flu vaccination every year. Although this has no direct effect on your asthma, preventing the flu is in your best interests. Respiratory infections are more aggravating, more debilitating and harder to shake for asthma sufferers. Staying free of the flu can save you a lot of hassle.
When you clean your home, as you should do regularly to minimize asthma symptoms, use all-natural cleaning products. Harsh chemical cleaners can give off fumes that may irritate your lungs and make your asthma symptoms worse. Many chemical cleaning products also have fragrances in them that should be avoided by people with asthma.
Many people think that it’s impossible to do anything about asthma because it is an incurable disease. However, many of the symptoms can indeed be improved to the point that it’s almost negligible. As long as you watch out for warning signs of worsening symptoms, these tips will be able to help you relieve your worst symptoms.
