The millions of people who are dealing with asthma may have a hard time doing the most simple things. Any asthma sufferer’s day-to-day life can feature less worry, though, thanks to the panoply of potential treatments available. The tips offered in this article will help you learn how to manage your asthma.

If asthma is something you suffer from, do not smoke or spend time around smokers, much less any source of vapors and fumes. Thus, you need to avoid cigarettes and cigars and be vigilant about steering clear of environmental or workplace exposure to smoke.

Some asthmas are specific to certain triggers, so identify what kind you have. Being aware of your specific condition will help you combat the effects it has over your body day in and day out. For example, if your asthma is often triggered by workouts, your inhaler should always be on hand when you exercise. Knowing the patterns related to your symptoms could aid you in avoiding crises.

Do you know the type of asthma that you suffer with? You can learn to combat the life changing effects of asthma by understanding your specific type. Those whose asthma is exacerbated by exercise will know to always have an inhaler on hand. You can avoid any future crisis by knowing and figuring out patterns of the symptoms you have.

Leukotriene Inhibitors

It is imperative that you do your best to avoid cleaning chemicals if you are asthmatic. A lot of the cleaning products have certain chemicals in them which can trigger asthma attacks. It is advisable to consider using products that have an organic base when cleaning.

Leukotriene inhibitors can help control the symptoms of asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors are used to prevent things called leukotrienes. Leukotriene, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen, is responsible for inducing many of the symptoms of an asthma attack. Taking an inhibitor blocks the receptors that leukotrienes normally interact with and leaves your throat less inflamed and attack-prone.

Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are important if you suffer from asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You can take a supplement in order to get these vitamins if there is not enough of them in your food. You can help out your immune system that can help stave off asthma triggers!

There are medicines out there that may increase your chance of triggering asthma symptoms. Aspirin is an example of a widely used medicine that can cause asthma problems. Some medications can cause your asthma to be worse such as beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease. Make sure you consult with your doctor concerning your asthma and possible drug reactions.

If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Not only will a dehumidifier decrease humidity, but it will also be helpful in controlling the dust mite population. Both are causative factors in asthma attacks. Try running a dehumidifier to dry up the air in your home.

If you suffer from asthma and do not smoke, make sure to avoid people who do smoke. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, especially in closed-in areas, your lung function can be drastically decreased, which can increase your chances of suffering from an attack.

Vitamins E and C are beneficial to anyone with asthma. These vitamins are thought to help improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. You can take these vitamins in pill form, or you can eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get the vitamins that way. Getting enough vitamins is also a good way to prevent asthma attacks by boosting your immune system.

To minimize the chances of triggering a bout of asthma, keep your house extra clean, particularly rooms where asthma patients sleep. Never allow anyone to smoke in the home of an asthmatic, and consider using plastic to cover your mattress and pillows. Try to avoid using any harsh chemicals or bleach in the home while cleaning; and, once the home is cleaned, air it out.

If you have asthma, use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers in it. Feathers can aggravate symptoms of asthma and lower lung function. Same thing with bedding – purchase sheets and a comforter that are constructed from hypoallergenic materials.

People suffering from asthma should stick to unscented products. Use of scented products, such as perfume, air fresheners and incense, increase the levels of indoor air pollution and can trigger an attack. Fresh paint and new carpeting can also irritate the airway. Try to maintain the air in your house as free from possible asthma triggers as possible.

Asthma Attack

Travel with your rescue medication on your person at all times. It’s easy to get thrown off your regular eating and sleeping routine while traveling, which strains your body and increases your vulnerability to asthma attack triggers. It’s hard to have much control over your environment when you travel, which makes it more likely you will have some sort of symptoms or an asthma attack.

Make sure you get a flu shot once a year if you suffer from asthma. Avoid a lot of these infections by getting vaccinated each year.

You can use the preventative inhaler daily, but know that it can cause mouth infections near your gums and teeth. Prevent these unnecessary side effects by gargling and brushing your teeth right after you use the inhaler.

Track how often you use your inhaler during each week. If your records start to show you need the inhaler more than two times weekly, your environment might be causing you problems or your asthma is not being controlled as well as it could be. The frequency of use of your inhaler can give you an idea about your surroundings and the need to watch them.

You should always have your rescue medication with you when you are traveling. Traveling is hard on your body, opening you up to an asthma attack. You also have little control over your environment when traveling, which can make you more susceptible to an attack and symptoms of greater severity.

Bed Linens

Bed linens are a magnet for nasty allergens and asthma triggers, including dust and pollen. To reduce the chance that your bed linens will induce an asthma attack, wash your sheets every week in hot water. Fresh bed linens, washed regularly, will ensure that you can breathe a little easier while you sleep.

Don’t miss your appointment for an asthma checkup simply because you aren’t currently having any problems with your condition. You can not predict when an attack might hit you, or if your doctor has found a different medication that is safer and will help your symptoms more.

Make sure you keep calm if you are having an asthma attack. Locate your inhaler, inhale deeply with the spray, and allow 30 seconds to pass before you reuse it. If the attack gets worse doesn’t get better, then get help immediately. Get someone to call an ambulance or get you to a hospital. Breathe into a paper bag for assistance in slowing your breathing during the trip to the hospital.

Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your doctor every few months to keep a heads up on your asthmatic condition. Only your doctor can fully evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate changes in treatment. It is your responsibility to make sure you make these appointments with your doctor so that he can follow up with you and keep you healthy.

During the colder months, avoid asthma attacks by wearing a scarf, shawl or muffler that covers the mouth and nose. This will warm the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs. Young children are especially at risk for an asthma attack if the air they breathe is too cold, but this problem can affect anybody with asthma.

Now that you know how to better handle your asthma, you can have a better quality of life. You can use this information for you or someone you care about, and you should realize that the diagnosis of asthma does not mean your life as you know it is over.