10% of the population of North America have asthma. That’s an astounding number of people. Luckily, the prevalence of asthma means that a lot of information is available for dealing with the symptoms of this disease. Read on for tips on how to prevent flare up and keep yourself healthy.
If you are going to exercise, start very slowly. Sudden exercise such as taking off running can trigger asthma for most people. You can exercise, but do some warming up exercises that will gradually increase your heart rate until you feel comfortable with harder exercises. Do not force yourself to exercise if you feel you are going to have an asthma attack.
Beware of certain medications like aspirin and penicillin if you suffer from asthma. These medications can actually worsen your asthma symptoms or trigger an attacks. Try to use substitutions such as paracetamol when you have a headache, or you are in pain, and be sure to ask your doctor what medications are safer to take.
Bronchodilators are a common treatment for asthma that is prescribed by a doctor. It is usually in the form of an inhaler, and there are short and long-acting treatments. The short-term will help with an immediate symptom, while the long-acting dose will be for ongoing problems.
Have your home inspected at least once a year for mold and other spores. Many asthmatics, especially children, can have their asthma exacerbated by exposure to these allergens. Living in a home full of mold spores can even trigger repeated asthma attacks to the point of permanently damaging a child’s respiratory system.
Avoid bringing plants into your home. Unfortunately, this includes decorative bouquets and similar gifts. The pollen and scents produced by these plants can trigger asthma symptoms, or they can trigger the environmental allergies that go along with asthma for many sufferers. If someone does bring flowers into your home, thank them politely but remove the flowers at the first sign of symptoms.
Try to avoid sugary drinks such as soda if you have asthma. The additives that these drinks contain can trigger your asthma symptoms. Also, try not to eat too many candies or other foods with high sugar content. There are many alternatives that taste just as good as the original.
If you are suffering an acute asthma attack and your emergency inhaler doesn’t seem to work to bring it under control, get help. Asthma attacks can worsen very quickly. It’s better to visit a doctor or even a hospital for a minor attack than to stay home through a major attack and suffer the consequences. It’s a good idea to keep your cell phone charged up and within easy reach. Keep emergency contacts on speed dial.
It is important to learn what triggers your asthma and how to deal with the effects. Knowledge is the key to dealing with this condition, and hopefully we’ve given you some great advice to help you on the path to controlling your symptoms. Asthma can strike anywhere so pass this advice on to those who may need it.