Some tasks that seem unremarkable to ordinary people can be terribly challenging to those people, young and old, who have an asthma condition to deal with. Fortunately, there are so many different treatments that can make your day-to-day life less intimidating. The insights here can help you understand your respiratory system and leave you well equipped to deal with asthma in your life.

If your child or another loved one suffers from asthma, you should be sure to never smoke cigarettes when you’re near them. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of asthma. Any place where smoking is allowed should be avoided if you have a child with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease that requires ongoing, consistent management and care. Be certain that you are using the right maintenance medicines to control your asthma and that you also have a rescue or emergency medication when you have an acute asthma attack. Work with your allergist and doctor to find the right treatment program that makes you feel good and allows you to still do the things you want to do.

Anyone suffering from asthma or asthma-like symptoms needs to stay clear of cigarette smoke, whether you smoke yourself, or even if you’re breathing secondhand smoke. Avoid smoking altogether. Don’t breathe vapor or chemical fumes. A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. When you see people smoking in your area avoid them and move away.

If you find yourself in a room that is dusty, don’t turn on any kind of fan. When you turn on the fans they will move the dust in the room around and this can trigger your asthma very easily. Open some windows if you want fresh air.

If you use more than four cleaning products, you are increasing the risks of an asthma attack. Choose natural and organic products which don’t have chemicals that will irritate your disease.

If you have asthma, you should get a flu shot once per year. Stave off as many of these infections as possible by getting vaccinated every year.

Realize what triggers your attacks, and you can avoid or manage these situations. Most with asthma share common triggers, like pet dander, pollen or smoke. Whenever possible, avoid those substances that trigger either symptoms or full-blown attacks.

Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. Your peers will be able to provide you with advice and tips that work for them, information about new treatment techniques, and even some home remedies you might not know about.

The more humid your home is, the easier it is for mildew and mold to grow. These can very easily cause an attack. To halt the growth of mold and mildew keep your home’s humidity low. When you use the heater in the winter, be sure to have a dehumidifier control the humidity in your home. During the summer time, be sure to use the air conditioner to maintain a dry home.

During colder months, wear a shawl, scarf or muffler to avoid asthma. This will warm the air up before you breathe it into your lungs. Breathing cold air can trigger severe asthma attacks. This is especially true for young children with asthma.

Although it is wise to use your inhaler as needed, be aware that the medication itself may cause problems with gums and teeth. One way to reduce the probability of such infections is to immediately brush and gargle after inhaling the medicine.

Allergens, dust, pollen and other things that can aggravate your asthma tend to collect inside bed linens. You may cut down on these potential inducers of an asthma attack by cleaning your sheets and pillows in hot water each week. These fresh, regularly washed linens can help you breathe easier when sleeping.

You may want to consider having numerous doctors treat your asthma. You may use your primary physician for most things, but a specialist can be very helpful as well. Asthma centers, pulmonologists, nutritionists and allergists can all work with you, making sure you are getting all the treatment you need.

When dealing with an asthma attack, it is important to stay calm. Use the inhaler, pause for 30 seconds then use it again. If your attack worsens, call for help. Have someone drive you directly to the hospital or call an ambulance for you. On your way to the hospital, breath in and out in a paper bag in order to help calm yourself and get your breathing down to a normal pace.

Try to maintain a clean home and well-swept floors. Also, you need to wash pillows, sheets and blankets often. By doing this, you stop the accumulation of dust mites, a common trigger for asthma attacks. As the amount of dust in a home increases, the air becomes contaminated, which increases the probability of an asthma attack.

Now that you know more about how to handle your asthma, you can confidently handle it, and support others with the condition. Just because someone has asthma doesn’t mean that his life is over.