Sunday, July 1, 2012

Loosen Asthma's Grip On Your Life With These Tips

If you do not carefully manage your asthma, it can easily spiral out of control. Many people have died as a result of asthma attacks. Consulting a medical professional is the first step in any treatment plan. Beyond that, however, you must take an active role in maintaining your health. This article contains a number of tips that can assist you in taking control of your asthma.

If you suffer from asthma, it is absolutely critical that you have an inhaler. An inhaler can alleviate your asthma symptoms when you need relief quickly. See to it that you have inhalers where you're likely to be, place one in your purse or at your desk, your briefcase, your lunch box and even your gym bag.

Talk to a social worker if you're not eligible for any health insurance and you're an asthma sufferer. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.

Try to avoid the seasonal pollen that may trigger an asthma attack. Despite being different conditions, asthma and allergies can be triggered by the same kinds of irritants. 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.

If you suffer from asthma, consider using a feather-free pillow to sleep. The feathers can make asthma worse and take away from your ability to breathe. Your other bedding, such as sheets, blankets and comforters, should be hypoallergenic, too.

If you experience an asthma attack, stay calm. Immediately use your asthma inhaler, rest for 30 seconds, then use it once more. If the attack you are experiencing starts getting worse, seek assistance. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can't speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Breathing into a paper bag on the way can sometimes help by slowing your breathing rate.

If you suffer from asthma, don't expose yourself to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke can bring on an asthma attack, especially within areas without good air flow. The smoke restricts the ability of your lungs to breathe, making an attack much more likely to occur.

If you are an asthma sufferer, you should refrain from smoking or being around any vapors or fumes. This does mean avoiding all tobacco products as well as being mindful of sources of employment, with special attention to factories that might provide exposure to smoke and vapors.

If you have an asthma emergency but you don't have your inhaler on hand, try using caffeine as a substitute. Caffeinated chocolate, coffee or black tea can facilitate symptom reduction when an asthma attack strikes. Caffeine constricts blood vessels so that your airways can open.

Regardless of whether your asthma has been flaring up, don't neglect routine checkups. You never know when you might suffer another flare-up, or when your doctor might have a better or safer medication to prescribe for your symptoms.

If you find yourself in a room that is dusty, don't turn on any kind of fan. Turning on a fan is going to cause the dust to leave its surface and begin filling the air of your environment. A fan will just blow around dust without providing fresh air, so opening a window is a better option as it brings in fresh air and ventilation.

Remain calm in the event of an asthma attack. Use the inhaler, wait thirty seconds, and use once more. If this procedure does not stop your attack, seek immediate treatment from a healthcare professional. Gesture to someone to call 911 if you can't speak, or have them drive you to the nearest hospital. Try breathing into a paper bag in order to slow down your breathing while on the way to the hospital.

Asthma is an uncurable disease, but that doesn't mean that the symptoms are permanent and can't go away. However, just like most things in life, overcoming your asthma symptoms takes time and effort. If you follow these easy tips, you'll find that your symptoms will get better over time and you'll be able to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.

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