I’m going to continue a little more about Asthma before getting into the other lung diseases like COPD (Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis), Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Sinusitis and Flu.
If you have asthma you probably have allergies. Allergies trigger the release of histamines in the body which are what make you break out in hives, sneeze, cough and develop a stuffy or runny nose. They can also cause your airways to swell making it difficult to breath.
Some allergens or irritants are easy to avoid within your own home. These can include food, pets, smoke and certain cleaning products or aerosols. It becomes harder when you venture outside the confines of your safe environment called home. If you can’t avoid these irritants outside the home, try to limit your exposure.
Some parts of the country are making restaurants go all smoking or all non-smoking. This may limit your choices of places to eat but it also decreases the amount of time you spend coughing, wheezing and using your rescue medications. When you’re out shopping you can avoid some stores that use a lot of potpourri or the perfume counters at large department stores.
Things to Do At Home
Declare your home a smoke free environment this means NO smoking in your home. If anyone living in the house smokes they should try to quit. If that’s not possible they need to go outside. Second hand smoke is not only dangerous to the asthmatic but it can get into the furniture and drapes and stay there. It can also seep into your walls. If you have brown stains or marks on your walls and ceilings you may think this is from water damage or cooking but it’s most likely from smoking. You paint the walls and the brown spots soak through. The only way to get rid of this is by using a special stain blocking primer or by replacing the drywall. You also need to wash the windows, mirrors and TV screen more often. The nicotine in cigarette smoke is sticky and can get into computer cases and cause damage there. When you go outside to smoke it still gets on your clothes and lingers. This can also be an irritant to the asthmatic.
If you have carpeting in your bedroom you may need to remove it. A bedroom is the one room in your home that you spend the most amount of consecutive time. Dust, dander and other irritants get into the fibers and can cause a lot of problems. If children have allergies they spend an enormous amount of time at floor level which makes their exposure greater. Hardwood floors or other hard surfaces are easier to keep clean.
If it’s an infant or child with the asthma keep stuffed animals to a minimum. Keep them out of the crib or off the bed when the child is sleeping.
Invest in hypo allergenic bed and pillow coverings. Dust mites are a huge irritant but they are unavoidable and these coverings help control dust mites. There are many types. Some slip over the top of the mattress like a sheet, others encase the mattress entirely.
Try to avoid aerosols if possible. If you use an aerosol hairspray try switching to a pump instead. For deodorants or antiperspirants you may have to switch to a roll-on or solid. Even the scent you choose may have an impact on your breathing. If you like using an air freshener you may have to experiment to find the one you can tolerate. The same goes for other cleaners that have a fragrance such as furniture polish, floor cleaners, and window cleaners.
If you like to wear perfume or colognes you may have to search to find one that doesn’t irritate your airways. You may do better with a scented body lotion rather than a perfume. Your spouse may also have to switch the fragrance they’re using. When I met my husband he used cologne that would get me coughing. He had me go shopping to find an aftershave or cologne that I could tolerate.
It’s not always easy avoiding perfumes or colognes on other people when you’re out in public. I’ve had to switch seats in church due to the cologne of someone sitting near me. Don’t be embarrassed if you have to move. If someone asks be honest. Tell them that you have allergies or asthma and you’re very sensitive to certain fragrances.
If you have an MDI, otherwise known as an inhaler keep it with you. Even though you are very good at managing your asthma you never know what you may run into that will trigger an attack. If you’re self conscious about using your inhaler in public, excuse yourself and go into the bathroom.
If you do find yourself out and away from your medication and a full blown attack is starting, try a little coffee. The caffeine acts as a bronchodilator and even though it won’t stop an attack it may buy you a little time to get to the emergency room.
If you have asthma you probably have allergies. Allergies trigger the release of histamines in the body which are what make you break out in hives, sneeze, cough and develop a stuffy or runny nose. They can also cause your airways to swell making it difficult to breath.
Some allergens or irritants are easy to avoid within your own home. These can include food, pets, smoke and certain cleaning products or aerosols. It becomes harder when you venture outside the confines of your safe environment called home. If you can’t avoid these irritants outside the home, try to limit your exposure.
Some parts of the country are making restaurants go all smoking or all non-smoking. This may limit your choices of places to eat but it also decreases the amount of time you spend coughing, wheezing and using your rescue medications. When you’re out shopping you can avoid some stores that use a lot of potpourri or the perfume counters at large department stores.
Things to Do At Home
Declare your home a smoke free environment this means NO smoking in your home. If anyone living in the house smokes they should try to quit. If that’s not possible they need to go outside. Second hand smoke is not only dangerous to the asthmatic but it can get into the furniture and drapes and stay there. It can also seep into your walls. If you have brown stains or marks on your walls and ceilings you may think this is from water damage or cooking but it’s most likely from smoking. You paint the walls and the brown spots soak through. The only way to get rid of this is by using a special stain blocking primer or by replacing the drywall. You also need to wash the windows, mirrors and TV screen more often. The nicotine in cigarette smoke is sticky and can get into computer cases and cause damage there. When you go outside to smoke it still gets on your clothes and lingers. This can also be an irritant to the asthmatic.
If you have carpeting in your bedroom you may need to remove it. A bedroom is the one room in your home that you spend the most amount of consecutive time. Dust, dander and other irritants get into the fibers and can cause a lot of problems. If children have allergies they spend an enormous amount of time at floor level which makes their exposure greater. Hardwood floors or other hard surfaces are easier to keep clean.
If it’s an infant or child with the asthma keep stuffed animals to a minimum. Keep them out of the crib or off the bed when the child is sleeping.
Invest in hypo allergenic bed and pillow coverings. Dust mites are a huge irritant but they are unavoidable and these coverings help control dust mites. There are many types. Some slip over the top of the mattress like a sheet, others encase the mattress entirely.
Try to avoid aerosols if possible. If you use an aerosol hairspray try switching to a pump instead. For deodorants or antiperspirants you may have to switch to a roll-on or solid. Even the scent you choose may have an impact on your breathing. If you like using an air freshener you may have to experiment to find the one you can tolerate. The same goes for other cleaners that have a fragrance such as furniture polish, floor cleaners, and window cleaners.
If you like to wear perfume or colognes you may have to search to find one that doesn’t irritate your airways. You may do better with a scented body lotion rather than a perfume. Your spouse may also have to switch the fragrance they’re using. When I met my husband he used cologne that would get me coughing. He had me go shopping to find an aftershave or cologne that I could tolerate.
It’s not always easy avoiding perfumes or colognes on other people when you’re out in public. I’ve had to switch seats in church due to the cologne of someone sitting near me. Don’t be embarrassed if you have to move. If someone asks be honest. Tell them that you have allergies or asthma and you’re very sensitive to certain fragrances.
If you have an MDI, otherwise known as an inhaler keep it with you. Even though you are very good at managing your asthma you never know what you may run into that will trigger an attack. If you’re self conscious about using your inhaler in public, excuse yourself and go into the bathroom.
If you do find yourself out and away from your medication and a full blown attack is starting, try a little coffee. The caffeine acts as a bronchodilator and even though it won’t stop an attack it may buy you a little time to get to the emergency room.
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