Asthma health

Effective Asthma Treatments

2008-12-31T04:22:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that asthma treatment has progressed significantly over the last few decades, according to the resources online more than half a million people are year and about 4000 others die because of asthma. In fact asthma can be quite debilitating for people who are not properly managed medically, and especially for children.

Asthma treatment is strictly individual for every patient and depends on the age and the severity of the symptoms.

Usually asthma is either hereditary or due to the environment and all the allergens and chemical triggers that enter our respiratory system from there and cause constrictions of the bronchiole airways along with excessive production of mucous.

Other triggers of asthma attacks can be stress, anxiety, strong excitement, excessive laughing. In addition symptoms are becoming much worse during physical exercise or respiratory infections. The cardinal symptoms that alarm for an imminent asthma attack are such as being out of breath, wheezing, coughing and waking up from coughing during the night and chest tightness. If those symptoms appear they should be treated immediately or the asthma attack will progress.

Prescription and non-prescription medication is available for asthma treatment. With the milder and the intermittent cases of asthma over-the-counter bronchodilators are usually more than enough efficient. Moderate to severe cases on their hand do require more profound asthma treatment consisting of inhaled corticosteroids for a long-term treatment and for prevention of the symptoms as well. With the help of those medications both lung inflammation and sensitivity to irritants are being decreased.

For immediate relief of the symptoms in case asthma attack occurs, physicians usually prescribe a short or a long acting bronchodilator. Many of the asthma treatments include a combination of therapies. Immunotherapy for example is a very effective asthma treatment that consists of exposing the patient to increasing amounts of different specific allergens over a certain period of time, usually a few years, and thus reducing and/or eliminating asthma symptoms. The same immunotherapy can be a good option for the patients whose asthma is primarily caused by allergens.

In case the medication does not control the symptoms of asthma sufferers, they should consult a physician. An easy to spot sign for that is the frequent use of rescue inhalers no matter if they are of the prescription or non-prescription type. In such cases a change in the asthma treatment is in order. People with asthma should also be encouraged to exercise on a regular basis in order to strengthen their heart and lungs, instead of having to limit their activity. With asthma well under control the symptoms dont appear even during a physical exercise and rescue inhalers are not needed at all. Information regarding the variety of asthma treatments is available online, as well as from your physician and from all the asthma and allergy centers across the country. Breathe easily!

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning health. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Asthma Treatments

Home Remedies for Asthma

2008-12-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

Modern medical system has not been able to find a cure for this crippling disease. Drugs and vaccines have only limited value in alleviating the symptoms. Most of these are habit forming and the dose has to be increased from time to time to give the same amount of relief. The frequent introduction of drugs in the system, while giving only temporary relief, tends to make asthma chronic and incurable. Allergy, which is the immediate cause of asthma, itself is an indication of lowered resistance and internal disharmony caused by faulty eating and bad habits. This is the root cause and the real cure lies in a return to nature.

The natural way to treat asthma consists of stimulating the functioning of slack excretory organs, adopting appropriate diet patterns to eliminate morbid matter and reconstruct the body, and practising yogasanas, yogic kriyas and pranayamas to permit proper assimilation of food and to strengthen the lungs, digestive system and circulatory organs.

The patient should be given an enema to clean the colon and prevent auto-intoxication. Mud-packs applied to the abdomen will relieve the fermentation caused by undigested food and will promote intestinal peristalsis. Wet packs should be applied to the chest to relieve the congestion of the lungs and strengthen them. The patient should be made to perspire through steam bath, hot foot bath, hot hip bath and sun bath. This will stimulate the skin and relieve congested lungs.

The patient should fast for a few days on lemon juice with honey and thereafter resort to a fruit juice diet to nourish the system and eliminate the toxins. Solid foods can be included gradually. The patient should, however, avoid the common die tic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are acid-forming foods, and a liberal quantity of alkaline foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables and germinated gram. Foods which tend to produce phlegm such as rice, sugar, lentils and curds as also fried and other difficult-to-digest foods should be avoided.

Asthmatics should always eat less than their capacity. They should eat slowly, chewing their food properly. They should drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day, but should avoid taking water or any liquid with meals. Spices, chillies and pickles, too much tea and coffee should also be avoided.

Asthma, particularly when the attack is severe, tends to destroy the appetite. In such cases, do not force the patient to eat. He should be kept on fast till the attack is over. He should, however, take a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time will be very beneficial.

Eating the right foods may alleviate or prevent asthmatic attack by helping control underlying inflammation of air passages, dilating air passages, thinning down mucus in the lungs and preventing food allergy reactions that trigger asthma attacks.

Eating onion regularly is one of the most effective remedies for asthma. A prominent researcher in the field, Dr. Walter Dorsch of Johannes-Guttenberg University in Mainz, Germany, has discovered strong anti-inflammatory activity in both onion juice and specific onion compounds. In one such test, an onion chemical diphenylthiosulphinate displayed higher anti-inflammatory activity than the popular anti inflammatory drug prednisolone. Dr. Dorsch has found that onions do have direct anti-asthmatic effects. He credits thiosulphinates in onions as the major active anti-inflammatory agents. However, onions are the richest of all foods in another powerful anti-inflammatory compound, quercetin, which also can relieve allergies.

Eating hot pungent foods can give immediate relief from asthma. According to Dr. Irwin Ziment, a pulmonary disease expert, hot chilli pepper, spicy mustard, garlic and onions can all make breathing easier for asthmatics by opening up air passage. He explains that such foods have mucus moving activity that thins out the viscous mucus which otherwise would plug up the small airways, making breathing difficult for asthmatics. Dr. Ziment believes that fiery foods stimulate nerve endings in the digestive tract which releases waterly fluids in the mouth, throat and lungs. These secretions help thin down the mucus, so it does not clog airways and can be expelled, allowing normal breathing.

Honey is considered beneficial in the treatment of asthma. It is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with the honey, he starts breathing easier and deeper. The effect lasts for about an hour or so. This is because honey contains a mixture of 'higher' alcohols and ethereal oils and the vapours given off by them are soothing and beneficial to the asthma patients. Honey usually brings relief whether the air flowing over it is inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either in milk or water. It thins out accumulated mucus and helps its elimination from the respiratory passages. It also tones up the pulmonary parenchyma and thereby prevents the production of mucus in future.

Another effective remedy for asthma is garlic. The patient should be given daily garlic cloves boiled in 30 gms. milk as a cure for early stages of asthma. Steaming ginger tea with minced garlic cloves in it can also help to keep the problem under control and should be taken both in the morning and evening. Turmeric is also regarded as an effective remedy for bronchial asthma. The patient should be given a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk two or three times daily. It acts best when taken on an empty stomach.

During the attack, mustard oil mixed with little camphor should be massaged over the back of the chest. This will loosen up phelgm and ease breathing. The patient should also inhale steam from the boiling water mixed with caraway seeds. It will dilate the bronchial passage. The patient should also follow the other laws of Nature. Air, sun and water are great healing agents. Regular fasting once a week, an occasional enema, breathing exercises, fresh air, dry climate, light exercises and correct posture go a long way in treating the disease.

Author of this article is Krishan Bakhru. He is the editor of http://www.easyhomeremedy.com.

Tips to remember: Exercise-Induced Asthma

2008-12-26T22:18:00.000-08:00

Do you experience difficulty breathing, wheezing or chest tightness while exercising? If so, you may have a condition called exercise-induced asthma (EIA).

Symptoms of EIA such as difficulty breathing may occur within the first 15-20 minutes of exercise. Other symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and possibly chest pain. Because the symptoms usually occur during early exercise take some extra time to thoroughly warmup. This will allow the respiratory system to adapt to changes. Also, if you are on medication, be sure to take it well before your workout.

If you have EIA you may be oversensitive to sudden changes in temperature and humidity, especially when breathing colder, drier air. Choose an environment that has consistent, warmer and more humid air. You will sweat more in this atmosphere so be sure to bring a sports drink.

When choosing your place to workout make sure the air is clean. Inquire if they have a good air filtration system. Any air pollutants could trigger asthma.

Try nose breathing during exercise. As your exercise becomes more strenuous you should find yourself both nose and mouth breathing. If you solely mouth breathe, air is not allowed to pass through the nasal passages for warming and humidifying before it reaches the lungs.

Some research has indicated that EIA asthma may be reduced during early morning exercise. One study found lung spasms to be 30% higher in the evening exercisers than in the early morning exercisers.

Exercise is beneficial to the health and well being of us all. If you think you have EIA first see a health care professional and get the right diagnosis and any helpful medications. Then, follow some of the common sense guidelines above to benefit fully from your exercise program.

Understanding Asthma Medicine

2008-12-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

Asthma medicine helps prevent the symptoms of asthma that inhibit the possibility of doing activities that you want to when you want to do them. Symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing can be prevented completely or to some degree by using the correct asthma medication. There are generally two types of asthma medicine - controllers and relievers.

Controllers are typically used every day, sometimes twice a day. Controllers prevent asthma symptoms, asthma attacks, and lung damage by relaxing and widening the airways in the body. Some also reduce swelling of the airways. Controllers should not be used to relieve asthma symptoms. Controller medication is most often inhaled and side effects may include fast heartbeat, nervousness, headaches, and hoarseness or coughing.

Relievers are not taken on a daily basis like controllers and are used as needed typically during asthma attacks or as preventative to them. Relievers work to quickly open the narrowed airways of a person suffering from an asthma attack. A majority of relievers are a type of medicine called bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are inhaled and quickly relax and open airways. Side effects of relievers may include fast heartbeat, nervousness or restlessness, dry mouth, or shaky hands.

Since reliever medicine quickly reduces asthma symptoms, people with asthma sometimes tend to use them too often. Often overuse is from using the relievers as preventatives before activities that may not necessarily cause asthma symptoms. However, this overuse of relievers can cause problems. Using a reliever too much can actually make your asthma symptoms worse or cause your heart to beat too fast or in an odd rhythm.

If you suffer from asthma, it is always a good idea to have at least a 30-day supply of both your controller medicine and your reliever medicine. It is important to understand how your asthma medicine works and what the possible side effects are. If you are unsure, talk to your doctor to get all the information you need on asthma medication and do your own research to learn all you can about asthma and asthma medication.

About the Author
Daniel Lanicek is an life long sufferer of asthma on a mission to heighten world awareness of asthma. Over 14 million people in the United States alone suffer from asthma and there are ways you can help. Learn more about asthma at http://www.asthmaexplained.com

Do You Have Asthma?

2008-12-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

The number of newly diagnosed asthma cases in the United States has risen dramatically over the past ten to fifteen years. Part of the reason may be due to the availability of better medical care and early diagnostic methods used by many doctors today. More people may be willing to visit their doctors for breathing-related difficulties than in previous generations. But it is also likely that more people are afflicted with asthma than ever before due to a number of environmental factors like pollution, pesticides, and even building insulation.

With increased industrialization, more factories are burning more fuel and releasing greater amounts of waste products into the air. Since a significant percentage of the population now lives in urban areas, they are undoubtedly feeling the effects of chronic exposure to airborne toxins. Conversely, even in rural areas improved technology is impacting the way that farmers grow crops and control pests. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers may help to ensure better crops, but runoff from fields where these substances are used can get into the water system or food products and lead to the development as asthmatic-type symptoms.

Although many people do not know if they have asthma, there are some symptoms to look for that may indicate the presence or development of this chronic condition. The most obvious clue, and one that should be checked promptly by a doctor, is shortness of breath. This may come and go or show up only when a person is exposed to certain triggers, often allergens like dust, pet dander, or household chemicals. Some foods can bring on an asthma attack, especially nuts, eggs, and shellfish, although others are likewise culprits. See your doctor promptly if you develop a breathing disorder, and if you experience difficulty catching your breath, seek emergency assistance.

Other possible signs and symptoms of asthma include a dry cough, chronic allergy symptoms like sneezing or watery eyes, wheezing, and other related breathing changes. Asthma causes the airway to become congested, which tightens the throat and lungs, making it harder for air to pass through. This is what leads to breathing difficulties.

No matter how probable it may be that you or a loved one is showing signs of asthma, you will need to see the doctor for an accurate diagnosis and a prescription for treatment. You may need to use a bronchodilator, which blows a special medical vapor into your throat and lungs to ease constriction. Prescription medications can help, as can avoiding obvious or suspected triggers. Controlling allergic symptoms by removing household or job-related allergens also can help to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. Some doctors supplement conventional treatment with herbal remedies, but check with your physician before taking over-the-counter medications or formulas.

Asthma can be a serious condition and may even become life threatening for some. Work with your doctor to get the best care and improve your condition, or that of a loved one, to avoid serious complications from this chronic condition.

Author of this article is Charles Kassotis

Asthma and Its Symptoms

2008-12-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

In his book, Essential Allergy, Niels Mygind defines asthma as,

"A lung disease characterised by: 1, variable and reversible airway obstruction; 2, airway inflammation; and 3, bronchial hyper-responsiveness."

Asthma is a disease where bronchial tubes are sensitive to irritants, which cause them to inflame and produce difficult breathing. The inflammation can cause,

* contraction of muscles around the air passages,
* swelling of the airway lining due to airway inflammation, and,
* excessive mucus in the airways.

Asthma occurs in most western countries and is the leading chronic illness of children.

Asthma, in some cases, cannot be cured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life.

If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking medicines or natural remedies as directed by your doctor.

When a person experiences a worsening of their asthma symptoms, it is called an asthma episode or, in severe cases, an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes contract, making the airway openings narrower so less air can flow through. Inflammation increases and the airways become more swollen and narrow. Cells in the airways also make more mucus than usual, which narrows the airways further. The changes to the airways cause the symptoms of asthma.

Asthma attacks are not all the same-some are worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks. A person suffering from an asthma attack has a sensation similar to drowning.

Learning the warning signs or asthma symptoms can often alert a sufferer in time to take preventive action, such as medication or natural remedies.

Asthma attacks can occur over a long period of time. Although there are times when acute episodes strike asthmatics, most asthma sufferers say that there are long periods during which they suffer few, if any, asthma symptoms.

Here are some asthma symptoms:

* Coughing. Coughing in people with asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard for them to sleep. This may be the only symptom a child with asthma has.
* Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe.
* A tight feeling in the chest. This can feel like someone is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
* Shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers often say they can't catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath.
* Narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and hence increased resistance to airflow.
* Significant reversibility with steroid drugs
* Symptom-free periods
* Frequent occurrence of allergy
* Inflammation of the air passages
* Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to non-specific stimuli such as cold air, air pollution, pollen, dust, or other irritants
* Asthma symptoms brought on by exercises
* Coughing or wheezing brought on by prolonged crying or laughing

Not all people have these symptoms, and symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Some symptoms are mild and some are life threatening.

Symptoms also differ in how often they occur. Some people with asthma only have symptoms once every few months, others have symptoms every week, and still other people have symptoms every day.

Learn how to use natural remedies to reduce asthma attacks and to eliminate many of the asthma symptoms

About the Author
Rudy Silva is a Natural Nutritionist. To discover more about using natural remedies for asthma go to: http://www.asthmatreatments.info

Why Do You Have Asthma?

2008-11-29T21:59:00.000-08:00

Asthma is an inflammatory condition where your bronchiales constrict causing breathing difficulties. Your bronchioles become inflamed for a variety of physical, emotional and environmental reasons. It is not contagious so, you cannot catch it from another person.

But what is the real cause asthma? Why do some people develop asthma and why is asthma more common in the western world?

Inheriting Asthma

However, you can inherit the asthma tendency from your parents, although people with asthma should not worry about their future children on this score.

Studies show that children whose parents smoke are twice as likely to develop asthma as children of non-smoking parents. Also, children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy tend to be born with smaller airways, which greatly increases their chances of developing the disease.

The "westernised" environment and lifestyle in developed countries has a lot to do with the chances of whether a person will develop asthma or not.

Many people believe air pollution has something to do with asthma, although the evidence, at this stage, is surprisingly very weak.

Allergies

Causes of asthma include allergies to house dust mites, cats, dogs, and moulds.

Childhood infections and exposure to substances from bacteria in a dirty environment seem to protect against allergies, and this seems to be the main reason why richer populations have more allergic disease.

So the causes of asthma are complicated. They include genetics, exposure to chemical irritants and pollution, a low immune system, emotional or mental problems, allergies to certain foods.

Almost all asthma in young people is cause by allergies. This means that if you have asthma you probably have inherited genes which make it possible for you to get asthma. Add to this, allergy-producing things in your environment, such as house dust mites, cats, or dog and your asthma get worse.. The allergies and the genes are the causes for developing asthma, because if either of them were not present you would not developed asthma.

But, what about colds, exercise, laughter, or tobacco smoke, which are asthma triggers?

You can't cure your asthma by not doing exercise, or by not laughing. Quite simply, these are not causes of asthma, though they can be causes of an attack.

The type of interior house paint can apparently make asthma worse. Glossy oil paints used for home decorating can bring on asthma attacks. The good news is that emulsion paints don't seem to do this.

Polyurethane paints, usually recognisable because they come in two packs which need to be mixed together before use, can cause occupational asthma in people who use them regularly. However, they probably cause no great risk in people with asthma who use them infrequently. As always, when using chemicals and paints, it is surely a good idea to ventilate the area well during and after use.

Emotional issues

Now, deep seated emotionally issue can be the cause of asthma. When emotion is embedded into the body, it has to express itself in a way that its electrical charge can be released. This release happens over and over as outside situations trigger the memory.

The way an embedded emotion issue choses to express itself is by the path of least resistance. If your heart is weak, the emotional issue will pound your heart. If your joints are weak, it will pound your joints. If your bronchia or lungs are weak, it will pound them and eventually weaken those more, leading you to asthma or other respiratory diseases.

Early on everyone should be aware of their family illness history. This is something that is seldom considered. If it were, you could take preventative measures if you knew you were prone to asthma. Choosing the right foods and keeping specific body organs or systems strong, with the right nutrients early on, would definitely prevent you from having to suffer with asthma as you became older.

Author of this article is Rudy Silva. Rudy is a Natural Nutritionist. To discover more about using natural remedies for asthma go to: http://www.asthmatreatments.info

Early Detection of Childhood Asthma

2008-11-27T23:20:00.000-08:00

It is estimated that 5 million children in the United States suffer from childhood asthma. The American Lung Association estimates that 4 million children under the age of 18 have suffered an asthma attack in the past year. Asthma is considered one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and there is no cure. The best that a parent can do is seek medical treatment for the child and try to get the disease under control.

But how do you know if you should take your child to a doctor to determine if he or she has asthma? There are certain signs you can look for that will help determine if your child may be suffering from childhood asthma. If you detect any of these signs it is strongly recommended that you take your child to a doctor as soon as possible where a proper diagnosis can be made.

Coughing and wheezing are two prominent signs of asthma. Wheezing is like whistling sound when breathing and often occurs after a child has been running and playing. A tight feeling in the chest and shortness of breath after playing or exercise are also signs of asthma and if you suspect your child might have asthma you should pay close attention to your child during playtime and after playtime for these symptoms.

Colds can be difficult for children with asthma as the cold symptoms tent to concentrate on the chest, which affects breathing, and the colds tend to last longer. Children with asthma also tend to have more respiratory illnesses than normal and they are more severe. Often this is an indicator of “hidden asthma.” Children with hidden asthma often do not show the “classic” symptoms of asthma such as wheezing and this can make diagnosing asthma very difficult.

Allergies can also spark asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. If you know that your child is allergic to certain allergens whether it is food, pollen, mold, or something else, pay close attention to your child if an unavoidable situation arises that he or she comes in contact with an allergen. Is there an increase in breathing difficulties, wheezing, or coughing? Asthma is often induced by exposure to an allergen and can lead to an asthma attack.

If you detect any symptoms of asthma in your child at any time it is important that your child sees a doctor and is tested for childhood asthma as soon as possible. Your family doctor or pediatrician may refer you to an asthma and allergy specialist. Treatments are available that many times will keep the childhood asthma under control.

Daniel Lanicek is an life long sufferer of asthma on a mission to heighten world awareness of asthma and childhood asthma. By giving parents the information they need childhood asthma does not have to degrade the quality of life for their children. You can learn more about asthma at Asthma Explained.

Understanding Asthma

2008-11-24T22:41:00.000-08:00

ASTHMA is a worldwide affliction. It is estimated that 1 in 10 suffers from it. Young and old alike, townsfolk and countryfolk, manual workers and office workers, are among the sufferers.

Yet, The illness is little understood, especially by nonsufferers. Even asthmatics often do not understand what is happening to them, and this can create anxiety that only aggravates the condition.

In a typical attack, the sufferer feels a tightness in the chest. Wheezing and coughing, he struggles to breathe. The experience is frightening! An attack may be severe or quite mild. Symptoms may vary, as may the frequency of attacks. Some persons always have the symptoms, although they differ in severity.

What causes these unpleasant sensations? As you probably know, air is channeled into our lungs through the bronchial tubes. In many asthmatic patients, allergic reactions cause oversensitivity in these tubes. The muscles in the bronchial wall may contract, the membrane lining the tubes may swell, and the glands in the bronchial wall may produce excess mucus. The result? The tubes get narrower. No wonder the patient has difficulty breathing!

What Causes Asthma?

What triggers an attack? Perhaps an infection, an emotional upset, or a severe allergic reaction to something. However, once the disease has been triggered in a person, there may be several antigens, or specific substances, that will produce an oversensitivity in the bronchial tubes. And once the bronchial tubes are sensitized to these, other factors, such as temperature changes, varying humidity, emotional upsets, or exercise, may also cause attacks.

Doctors may be able to identify some of the antigens that bring on an asthma attack, but it is not often possible to find all of them. And even when they are found, it is not always possible to avoid them. Thorough investigation to find the causes of asthma and the best way to manage it may take time. It may involve much patience on the part of the sufferer and the doctor. But such time spent will likely result in greater ability to control the symptoms.

How to Prevent Attacks

Many things irritate the lungs and can provoke an attack in an asthma sufferer. Try to avoid contact with the following.

Tobacco Smoke: Do not smoke, and avoid smoke-filled rooms. Doctors quickly lose sympathy for asthmatics who insist on smoking. And friends of someone who suffers from the illness should not smoke in the person's presence. Although the person may not suffer an attack immediately, hours later the individual may be in dire straits because of the effects of the smoke.

Dust: Try to avoid dusty, enclosed areas as well as activities that stir up dust. If your job brings you into contact with a lot of dust, give serious consideration to changing it. Some asthmatics find that their symptoms occur only at night or in the bedroom. Could this be due to house dust or those tiny house-dust mites? In many cases it is; hence, the asthmatic's bedroom should be as free of dust as possible. Following are some housekeeping suggestions especially designed for asthmatics.

Clean the bedroom daily.

Each week, thoroughly clean and vacuum mattress, bed base, blankets, and floor. Hardwood floors are better than rugs or carpets, and venetian blinds than drapes.

Dust furniture, tops of doors, window frames, and windowsills with a damp or oily cloth.

The room should be aired thoroughly and the doors and windows closed after the airing, at least three to four hours before the person retires.

Mattress, blankets, and pillows should not be of allergy-causing materials, and they should regularly be aired in the sun if at all possible.

One more thing. Do not allow pets into the bedroom. And if there is any evidence that you are allergic to your pet, find another home for it-or, at least, always keep it out of the house.

Temperature and Humidity: Sudden temperature changes and extremes of heat and cold may provoke an attack. The ideal is air that is slightly warm and moist. Hence, if you suffer from asthma, go out as little as possible in foggy or crisp, cold weather. Avoid hot, dry central heating. If temperature changes cause attacks during the night, try having a thermostatically controlled heater in your room during the winter months. If humidity brings on your symptoms, try using a humidity controller.

Emotional Stress and Fatigue: Either of these may cause an attack. True, we cannot always control emotional stress. Also, wise sufferers of asthma try to be aware of their physical limitations, avoiding fatigue, which can also trigger an attack.

Food: Food allergies may be causes of an attacks, especially in children or in adults whose asthma started in childhood. Even common foods, such as milk, eggs, and cereals, may be suspect. But it may take a lot of detective work to determine the culprit, especially if it is a widely used substance, such as sugar. And, of course, it could be that more than one food is involved. Adult patients would be well-advised to consider alcoholic drinks, especially beer and wine, to be possible aggravating factors.

Exercise: Sometimes an attack is triggered by overexertion, usually striking after the exercise is completed. If this is your experience, avoid exercises, such as squash, that involve sudden bursts of energy and try a more gradual form of exercise, such as swimming and bicycling. Perhaps it may help to use a bronchodilator (a medicine that relieves congestion in the bronchial tubes) prior to any strenuous activity. A physiotherapist may be able to help you with a program that will increase your tolerance of exercise. This will enable you to take part in more activities without becoming short of breath.

Infection: Often, minor respiratory infections, such as a cold or influenza, will provoke an attacks or make the symptoms worse. The usual medication for relief of asthma is not always effective when an infection is present.

Living With Pollens: While the winter months cause many problems to those with respiratory disease, many suffer from what is called seasonal asthma. Microscopically small particles of pollen floating in the summer air can cause untold misery and discomfort to asthma sufferers. It is impossible to eradicate the sources of this pollen, but some commonsense measures may help. For instance, try to avoid freshly mowed lawns, as well as wilderness or country areas during pollen seasons, and use effective air-conditioning if possible.

Living With Molds: Thousands of molds, or fungi, inhabit our environment. Molds and fungal spores (reproductive bodies) grow on vegetable or animal matter. They are also abundant on wheat, oats, corn, grasses, and leaves. While only a small number have been shown to cause problems for sufferers, a study suggested that spores may be a major allergy factor. Hence, while it is impossible to eradicate airborne spores, the following measures may help:

Avoid damp, musty basements and buildings.

Do not rake or burn leaves or dry grass.

Disinfect or destroy any moldy articles.

Do not keep plants indoors or establish a compost pile in the garden.

Decontaminate household areas infected with mold.

Is Your Child Asthmatic?

If so, he will need your support. You, as well as his teachers, will need to understand his problem and help him to cope with it. The child must not be pushed to do more than he can manage, but neither should he be allowed to hide behind his asthma and avoid doing things that would be good for him.

His physical activities should preferably be noncompetitive, although many children with asthma can play most games when they are free of symptoms. However, the child with chronic asthma may be able to enjoy only limited activity, and adults should be careful not to push him to try too hard. The intelligent use of medication may help him to enjoy regular activities such as physical education, and the instructor should know when and how to use a bronchodilator aerosol.

A few children are so severely affected by asthma that they persistently have difficulty in breathing and are frequently wheezy. Such children are often anxious and tense, and their parents and teachers worry a lot about them. The children frequently miss school and may be unable to join in games.

A parent may be overprotective of such a child. If the child comes from a home where there is constant tension and argument, he may lack the support, love, understanding, and encouragement he so desperately needs. Parents who adopt a healthy, optimistic approach to asthma help reduce anxiety in the child, minimizing the severity of the disorder.

If Someone Has an Attack...

Move him to a quiet place and reassure him. He may stand or sit leaning forward, often the most comfortable position during an attack, and he should use his bronchodilator immediately. If the bronchodilator is an inhalant, it may work faster and therefore be more effective than a medicine taken orally. If the attack is severe-especially if the sufferer cannot speak properly-he should be taken to a doctor as soon as possible. By the way, the patient loses a lot of moisture during an attack because of the gasping and panting. Therefore, give him plenty to drink.

Treatment of the Asthmatic

Physiotherapy is an important aid in helping the asthmatic, especially in showing him how to breathe properly (using the diaphragm) and how to ease shortness of breath. The therapist can also teach him relaxation, good posture, and exercises that help to keep asthma under control. Treatments vary. A doctor is usually the most qualified to suggest what is best in each individual case.

Treatments include the use of drugs, such as sodium cromolyn and steroids, as well as several types of bronchodilators. Of course, with the use of drugs, there may be possible side effects. A doctor may be able to recommend other treatments.

Asthma is complex. Relatives and friends must understand this if they are going to be of any help. Avoid saying things like, 'Just get your mind off it' or, 'You look quite well to me.' We can be better prepared for asthma attacks, better equipped to avoid things that trigger them, and have their stress, anxiety, and discomfort greatly lessened.

Frankie Goh is a full-time family counsellor and researcher.
He manage a website : Earn Money Online http://www.ezy-cash.com
He is also the Internet Marketing Co-ordinator of Ultra-Herbal Products & HerbalBiz Affiliate Program.

Asthma Treatments – With Relievers and Preventers?

2008-11-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

There are two types of treatments to reduce the symptoms and effects of an asthma attack using drugs that resemble two of our natural hormones.

These are adrenaline (epinephrine in the USA) and the steroid hydrocortisone and they form the basis for relievers that provide quick relief of symptoms and preventers for longer term care.

Most asthmatics use both preventers and relievers to form a medical regime to control the asthma.

These medicines are usually taken as inhalers so that they can be breathed in through the nose or mouth. Inhalers have advantages over other forms of medication because…

oThe medicine is delivered where it is required in the lungs and so less of the medicine is needed.

oThe medicine can be made to be biodegradable inside the body. After it has done its work in the lungs it can be broken down in the liver so there is little chance of harmful side effects.

oThe medicine works more quickly.

Quick Relief Medicines

Drugs that resemble adrenaline (epinephrine) are known as 'relievers' and give rapid, short-term treatment and are used for when the asthmatic has worsening symptoms that if left untreated could lead to an asthma attack. The patient will feel the effects of these medicines within minutes but they only last a short time.

They are short-acting inhaled bronchodilators that work by relaxing the muscles that have tightened around the airways. They help open up the airways quickly and ease the patient's breathing and are used only when needed. They are sometimes called " rescue " or " relief " medicines because they can stop an asthma attack very quickly and anyone who has asthma should always carry one of these inhalers in case of an attack.

Long-Term Medicines

These are called preventers and are taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to prevent asthma episodes or attacks. Medicines which resemble hydrocortisone slowly reduce the sensitivity the patient has towards irritants and allergens that would normally trigger an attack. It will take a few weeks to for them to show any improvement and once an attack starts they do nothing to alleviate it. Patients with persistent asthma need long-term control medicines.

Long-term medication includes:

o The most effective and long-term medication for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid (or steroids for short) because this reduces the swelling of the airways that makes attacks more likely. This is the preferred treatment for controlling mild, moderate, and severe asthma and are safe when taken as prescribed by your doctor. There are many kinds of inhalers that require different techniques, and it is important to know how to use a inhaler in the correct way. In some cases, steroidal tablets or liquid are used for short periods of times in order to bring asthma under control.

o Long-acting beta-agonists are bronchodilators: these are not anti-inflammatory drugs but are used to help control moderate and severe asthma and to prevent night-time symptoms. Long-acting beta-agonists are taken together with inhaled corticosteroid medicine.

o Leukotriene modifiers (i.e., montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton) are long-term control medicines that used either on there own to treat mild cases asthma or used in tandem with inhaled corticosteroids for moderate or even severe asthma.

o Cromolyn and nedocromil are also long-term medicines used only to treat mild asthma.

o Theophylline is a long-termmedication used either on it's own to treat mild asthma or along with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate asthma. People who take theophylline should have their blood levels checked to be sure the dose is correct.

Most asthmatics will need both a short-acting bronchodilator to use when symptoms worsen and long-term daily asthma medication to control the ongoing inflammation. Over time, a doctor needs to make changes to the asthma medication, increasing or decreasing doses and changing medication where required. The desire should bd to use the least amount of medicine necessary to control the asthma effectively.

Asthma Treatments with Relievers and Preventers

There two main types of medicines for the treatment of asthma:

oQuick Relief Medicines - also called relievers , and,

oLong-Term Medicines - also called preventers .

Quick Relief Medicines are fast acting, providing short-term treatment within minutes and are taken when the patient feels worsening asthma symptoms that can lead to an asthma attack.

Long-Term Control Medicines are taken daily, over long periods of time, to control the disease.

Do you, a spouse or a child, have asthma? Learn more, including the treatments available at Asthma-Explained.com

Asthma Treatment

2008-11-20T21:36:00.000-08:00

More than 17 million people in the US alone suffer from asthma, a serious lung ailment, resulting in 5,000 asthma deaths a year. Asthma is an allergic inflammation of the lungs, which is generally triggered by pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, air pollution, chemicals, exercise, temperature changes or ingestion of certain foods. Asthma drugs, which are traditionally used to control asthma symptoms can have very serious side effects, plus they are also quite expensive.

Fortunately there are alternative asthma treatments which are quite effective, relatively inexpensive compared to drugs and best of all they are without negative side effects. However, it is best to prevent the development of asthma in the first place.

Asthma Prevention - Measures You Can Take to Prevent the Devlopment of Asthma

Doctors and researchers agree that the single most important thing that parents can do to prevent their child from developing asthma in the first place is to eliminate or significantly reduce dust mite allergens or asthma triggers in the home.

"Clinical studies have revealed that avoidance of dust mite allergens in early childhood can prevent the onset of asthma..." Michael LeNoir Md

Dust mite allergens are known to play a major role in it's development. Researchers have determined that other important allergens (after dust mites) that also need to be eliminated from the home are cats, certain types of mold, dogs, cockroaches and tobacco smoke. It is a popular misconception that children will "outgrow" asthma. It is a severe and potentially life-threatening illness that should be taken seriously. Long term use of steroid drugs is not recommended by doctors and has serious side effects. Making these preventative environmental changes is a much more viable, healthy and preferable alternative. If you or your child are already suffering from asthma or allergies these measures will certainly help.

What are Dust Mites?
Dust mites are microscopic insects and live in bedding, pillows, mattresses, blankets, upholstery, carpets etc. They thrive particularly in humid climates. They live off of dead skin cells and produce an allergen from their excrement, which is inhaled.

All Homes Contain Dust Mites No Matter How Clean They Are.
Studies have shown that dust mite allergens in the home must be reduced to at least 2mcg/g dust or mite populations decreased to 100/g dust to have any significant benefit. There are several things that can be done to accomplish this.

What Can Be Done To Eliminate or Reduce Dust Mites?
Researchers have found through numerous studies that these are the most effective measures:
Changing the relative humidity and temperature of the home:

-Keeping relative humidity less than 50% is proven to greatly reduce the dust mite population. (Portable dehumidifiers were not shown to significantly reduce humidity).

-Mechanical ventilation with a heat recovery unit has proved to be the most effective to reduce humidity in the home.

-Using air cleaners that have HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which will also eliminate other allergens such as pollen and animal dander.

-Cleaning using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and steam cleaning rugs and upholstery regularly.

-Washing all bedding in hot water (60 degrees C, 130 degrees F) on a weekly basis is known to kill dust mites. Drying bedding in a hot dryer.

-Dry cleaning quilts and blankets weekly will also kill dust mites.

-Placing plastic casings specifically made for dust mite control on pillows and mattresses.

-Chemicals used on carpets and upholstery which are known to kill dust mites include benzyl benzoate, permethrin, pirimiphos methyl, phenyl salicylate, tannic acid, common household disinfectants, combinations of these, and insect growth regulators. (please note: some chemicals can also trigger asthma and allergy reactions, therefore research them carefully before using).

Author of this article is Susan Millar.

Herbal Medicine for Chronic Asthma

2008-11-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Asthma, as we all know, can be a life threatening disease if we do not take necessary measures to keep it under control. Asthma attack can occur to anybody between the age 1 to 70. A 2-year old child can develop shortness of breath even though he never smoked. The only reason is that they carry asthma with them or in other words it is hereditary.

Asthma usually starts from early stage called wheezing (difficulty in breathing). Asthma attacks can also happen if you suffer with cold and flu often. It can also happen if you are allergic to cats. The severity depends on the symptoms and level of your asthma. Most likely you might have already visited doctors and have been given a prescription of drugs and inhalers for the rest of your life. While these drugs and inhalers can cause more harm by giving you temporary relief, they do not cure asthma from the root. There is nothing to worry there is a permanent cure for it in herbal medicine.

The use of herbal medicine has been around since the beginning of time. People from all cultures have been using herbs to cure almost any kind of ailment. Nowadays the use of herbs has become very popular. This is because people believe in the healing power of the herbs and they are less expensive, and there are no side effects to run with.

Usually the inhalers are not safe for people suffering with asthma as these inhalers will have some dangerous chemicals that might cause side effects, or even tighten your lungs causing death. The good news is that there are many herbal medicines which are safe and clinically proven to cure your chronic asthma. These herbal medicines can cure asthma from the root which no other drug or inhaler can do. And the most important of all is that the herbs do not contain any potentially dangerous chemicals and do not cause any side effect whatsoever.

Using herbal medicines can facilitate you in the following ways:
* It helps you breathe clearly without wheezing or chest tightness.
* Reduces your fear and anxiety related to your asthma. (Anxiety can sometimes result in increase of asthma).
* Eradicates the borders on your activities and helps you enjoy your life.
* Reduces asthma symptoms and avoid attacks, even when exercising or during night.
* Decreases the intake of your need for drugs and inhalers.

No matter what route you choose, regular exercises, effective breathing exercises and morning walks are the permanent remedy to completely eradicate asthma. In short you can lead a long life filled with lots of happiness. Now say bye bye to asthma forever.

Article By: Ranju Kumar

Know the Symptoms of Childhood Asthma

2008-11-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

It is one of the most common illnesses in children. Childhood asthma is the leading reason children miss school, and experts are telling us that close to 4 million kids under the ages of 17 have had some sort of asthma episode in the past year.

It is one of the most common illnesses in children. Childhood asthma is the leading reason children miss school, and experts are telling us that close to 4 million kids under the ages of 17 have had some sort of asthma episode in the past year. Don't you think it's important that you can recognize the symptoms of childhood asthma to help your child if an attach hits? The trouble with childhood asthma is that not all of the symptoms are easy to spot, some quite obvious but others hide under the radar.

Wheezing

High pitched breathing that's very noticeable when a child breaths out. This has to be the most common of all childhood asthma symptoms. It can be severe or mild. It occurs when mucus builds up in the airway, that is already somewhat restricted, making it difficult to breath.

Coughing

Of course not all children will wheeze, often a small percentage will only ever have a persistent cough. Usually most noticeable late in the evenings. This can be a hidden symptom also, as in about 5% of cases in childhood asthma coughing is the only symptom they have. If your child appears to have coughing fits after running, crying or high activity there's a chance they might have asthma.

Frequent Respiratory Infections

Children suffering from frequent and difficult to treat respiratory infections, such as bronchitis, and even pneumonia may have childhood asthma. Of course it doesn't have to be as severe as pneumonia they could just continue to battle chronic cold like symptoms. It's easy for these illnesses to attack a child's lungs that are of course already weakened by asthma.

Inactivity or Being Lethargic

If you notice a child that used to be very active, loved the outdoors running, sports, biking but now shows signs of not wanting to be outdoors anymore along with shortness of breath and check tightening this could be the reason for lack of exertion. Children fighting asthma find it painful when they exert them selves therefore find it easier to avoid the tightness in the chest and shortness of breath,

The real difficulty with diagnosing childhood asthma is that while some kids might display all symptoms other will report very in frequent battles with them. It's important that parents are familiar with the symptoms and can recognize patterns occurring after activity or at night. Knowing more information and recognizing a potential asthma attack will help you know what to do to reduce the intensity as well as help your family doctor diagnose the issues.

To learn more about how asthma can affect children, adults and for rememdies visit our website about medical issues.

What Is Asthma Homeopathy?

2008-11-17T23:53:00.000-08:00

Asthma homeopathy is an alternative asthma treatment method. It aim to use natural and non-invasive methods to cure asthma. That means no use of drugs such as aspirin for asthma attacks.

Asthma is quite a common problem that affects both young and old. It is caused by the inflammation of the airways which will restrict the flow of oxygen into the lungs thus causing an asthma attack. To date, there is no known cure for asthma but various drugs and medications have been developed to lower the chances of someone developing an asthma attack.

The main purpose of asthma homeopathy is to identify the root cause of asthma attacks. Drugs and medications only stop or reduce the symptoms of asthma attacks and do not completely tackle the real cause of the problem.

It should be noted asthma homeopathy is a long term solution to asthma problems and will take some time before the effects will be felt. Asthma homeopathy aims to strengthen the person’s immune system by taking natural supplements and holistic therapy. Once the immune system is strengthened, it can then fight asthma on its own as it is our body’s “defensive” system.

The type of asthma homeopathy treatment will vary from person to person. Some factors which will need to be taken into consideration are the frequency of asthma attacks and allergens etc.

There have been clinical studies that shows people who undergo asthma homeopathy develop a stronger immune system and body resistance. As a result, their asthma attacks have reduced and they are not reliable on any drugs or medication to curb asthma attacks.

Since asthma homeopathy is 100 percent natural and non-invasive with no side effects, it is suitable for people of all age groups.

Ricky highly recommend using asthma homeopathy if you or your family members have asthma. Visit his website at http://www.asthmahomeopathy.net for more information.

Different Types Of Asthma, The Causes And Remedies

2008-11-16T21:16:00.000-08:00

Asthma is an illness where irritants cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes, as they become very sensitive, and thus making it difficult to breath. Contraction of the muscles around the wind pipe can be a result of this inflammation. The inflammation can also cause excessive mucus in the air passage as well as swelling of the lining may occur if its an airway inflammation.

Age is not a factor as far as asthma is concerned though it's notable that around 50 percent of the cases initiate in children below the age of 10. And among these children around 65 percent are boys compared to only 35 percent girls. It is one of the chief culprits as far as respiratory illness among teenagers and children are concerned. Though its observed that the condition may improve with age. 17 million American citizens are asthma patients according to estimation.

Asthma is a lung disease which can be reversed either with treatment or it may heal spontaneously. Obstruction or constriction of the airway is the characteristics of Asthma. Lack of breathe called dyspnea and mild wheezing constitute the moderate symptoms of asthma while fatal respiratory failures are the grave symptom. The mild symptoms may occur before a serious attack.

People suffering from asthma face difficulty breathing out but can breathe in without any problem. During inhalation the diaphragm lowers pushing the ribs out and thus enlarging the lungs to let air around any blockage. But during exhalation when the rib cage closes in, the diaphragm moves up obstructing the air from moving around the blockage.

Two types of asthma

Intrinsic asthma and extrinsic asthma are the two types of asthma. When allergy to some kind of external material causes asthma its called extrinsic. And when an obvious external agent is not identifiable it is called intrinsic asthma.

Substances like dust, pollens, dander, food, molds, feather pillows, some types of food additives etc may cause spontaneous allergic reaction in some children which may be a beginning of extrinsic asthma. It is a hereditary disorder called atopy where the body has an inclination for allergic reactions.

An intrinsic asthma usually follows a serious respiratory infection to which no external allergen can be associated. An intrinsic asthma condition may worsen due to emotional stress, changes in temperature or humidity, fatigue, irritants, exposure to fumes and gases etc. some people may be patients of intrinsic as well as extrinsic asthma.

All asthma attacks are not of the same degree. The oxygen supply to the critical organs may get severely affected due to closing of the airways in a serious asthma attack. This may lead to a medical emergency condition. Severe asthma attacks are known to be the reason for many deaths. An asthma attack gives a person a sensation similar to drowning. Actions like medication or other remedies can be used to prevent an asthma attack if the asthma symptoms and its warning signs are learnt.

There may be long phases of time when an asthma patient either shows very few and feeble symptoms of asthma or doesn't show any at all. But asthma attacks can also be seen to last for prolonged periods.

The cough may sound dry and stretched during a severe attack. A a thick mucus is expectorated as the attack abates. Small children don't produce the mucus after an attack. The breathing is normal between severe attacks.

In symptomatic asthma it is typical for the breathing sound to get reduced. Also forced exhalation for long periods is typical of air passage blockage. Lung hyperinflation is usually very common in children. Tachypnea, tachycardia and diaphoresis may coincide with severe attack. The patient may not be able to speak without pausing to catch a breath after every few words. Initial signs of respiratory failure are lethargy, confusion and darkening (purple or blue) of the skin due to lack of oxygen called as Cyanosis.

Possible asthma remedies

Various drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin may initiate an asthma attack. Even chemicals like Tartazine (yellow food dye) can cause an asthma attack. Heavy work and exercise may cause huge loss of moisture and heat in the upper airways. This may be followed by bronchospasm leading to exercise induced attack. Even exercise can be an attack initiator.

When treating severe asthma patients the target is to address the symptoms like coughing, wheezing, inflammation, airway swelling, lack of breath and lower them while an attempt is made to increase the pulmonary ventilation. Following a severe attack the treatment usually is focused on addressing the initiating factors like the irritants or the allergens in the environment.

In a process similar to vaccination, asthma may be treated by injecting the patient with limited amount of the antigen causing the attack when the cause of the asthma is identified as a particular toxin, bacterium, virus or other substance foreign to the body. This way the response of the immune system to the antigen is brought under control.

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Asthma Symptom Cure to learn more about asthma condition symptom and other natural asthma treatment solution.

Asthma Natural Remedies With No Side Effects

2008-11-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

There are many causes of asthma and each person can have different asthma attack triggers. So, each person may need to use a different medical approach and different asthma natural remedies.

Using drugs to control your asthma makes sense when you first discover that you have asthma provided your asthma is well established or life threatening. Once you have your prescriptions and your doctor's instructions, you should consider looking at or experimenting with natural remedies to control or even eliminate your asthma, since drugs are not a cure.

No matter what type of drug or inhaler you are using, they all have their side effects. The longer you use drugs or an inhaler, the less effective they become and most likely you will see side effects.

You should use asthma natural remedies when you are having an asthma attack or when asthma is under control. There are four areas you need to concentrate on when examining asthma natural remedies.

Reduce mucus
Reduce inflammation
Reduce emotional and stressful situation
Improve immune system
Reduce Mucus

By using various herbs you can control and remove mucus from your bronchioles. Test various herbs or herbal combinations to determine which work best for you.

Drink carrot and celery juice and drink plenty of water daily to help dilute and move mucus out of your body.

Reduce Inflammation

There are quite a few different nutrients that can help you reduce inflammation. You should consider using more than one at a time. Start with these and then experiment with the others.

Add omega-3 to your diet by using flax seed oil or fish oil
Use MSM supplements
Take vitamin C supplement
Systemic enzymes, try Vitalzyme
Digestive enzymes
Reduce Emotional and Stressful Situation

Reducing stress in your life is a difficult area to deal with since some situations in your life are strongly anchored, like your job, your family, your friends, or marital situation. But if these areas are causing your stress and you frequently have asthma attacks, then you have to decide which is more important for you, your job or your health.

If your job is deteriorating your health, then start looking for a way out. This may require you to look for another job or to go back to school to get training for something you might like to do. Just take action and start changing your life.

Improve Immune System

Improving your immune system is accomplished through diet, through taking nutritional supplements, by reducing stress, and eliminating those conditions that overwork you body.

The fewer things your immune system has to react to and get under control, the stronger it is to take care of an asthma attack when it occurs. When your immune system has to deal with toxins in your colon and throughout your body, then it is weakened and not able to neutralize pollen or pollution you inhale from the air which can trigger an asthma attack.

Use drugs when you first discover you have asthma can make sense. But, if your asthma is light, then finding asthma natural remedies to control it, instead of using drugs, also makes a lot of sense.

Article Source: Health Guidance
Rudy Silva

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call .
http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com

Technorati Profile

Facts on Asthma

2008-10-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a condition where the airway in humans constricts, gets inflamed and is lined with mucus. The condition though generally associated with humans, is also being controversially diagnosed in house pets.

Asthma attacks are triggered by exposure to environmental stimulants like cold or warm or moist air, perfume or exertion/emotional stress. In the case of children, it is observed that the common triggers are viral illnesses.

The airway narrowing condition in asthma causes breathlessness, wheezing and coughing. This airway constriction is eased with the help of bronchodilators. It is common between episodes for the patients to feel well or exhibit mild symptoms.

The symptoms of mild to life threatening asthma can be controlled with a combination of medication and a change in the immediate environment. Research reveals that in the developed world, this killer is affecting up to one in four urban children!
Asthma is characterized by chronic respiratory impairment, episodic symptoms triggered by upper respiratory infection, stress, airborne allergens and air pollutants.

An acute exacerbation exhibits clinical hallmarks such as shortness of breath and wheezing and in the late stages of an asthma attack, the air motion may be so impaired that no wheezing may even be heard. If the patient coughs, clear sputum is produced.

The signs of an asthmatic episode include prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate, lung sounds that are audible only through a stethoscope, pulse that is weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation and over-inflation of the chest cavity.

During a serious asthma attack, the sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles of the neck are exerted causing the asthma sufferer to turn blue due to the lack of oxygen. The patient can also suffer the loss of consciousness and just before the loss of consciousness, the patient feels numbness in the limbs and experiences sweaty palms.

Asthma is caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The interaction of these factors influences how severe a person’s asthma is and the probability of how well the patient is likely to respond to medication.

It is observed that asthma prevalence has increased in developed countries with the increase in the use of antibiotics, c-sections and cleaning products. All of these negatively affect exposure to beneficial bacteria and other immune system modulators.

There are a number of environmental risk factors associated with asthma. These include traffic pollution, high ozone levels, tobacco smoke and maternal cigarette smoking, viral respiratory infections at an early age, use of antibiotics early in life, caesarean sections and psychological stress.

Many genes are related to the immune system and modulating inflammation. However, research results have not been consistent among all of the populations and hence, it is deduced that the genes are not associated with asthma under every condition.

Inflamed airways and bronchoconstriction in asthma as a result of the inflammatory response cause wheezing. During an asthma episode, the inflamed airways react to environmental triggers and produce excess mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe.

Stimulus to a trigger include waste from household pests, pollen and spores, indoor air pollutants like perfumed products, soap, dishwashing and laundry detergent, fabric softener, paper tissues and towels, hairspray and gel, cosmetics, facial sun cream, air freshener and products such as oil-based paint, medication like asprin and beta blockers, food allergies, presence of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide etc.

Hormonal changes in women associated with the menstrual cycle can worsen asthma. Some women experience their asthma improving during pregnancy. Emotional stress can also affect breathing temporarily and so can cold weather and high altitude.

It is recognized that patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and bronchial asthma, often improve when the former is diagnosed and treated.

Asthma is cured with the reversibility of the condition that occurs either spontaneously or with treatment. A physician diagnoses asthma on the basis of the patient's clinical history and examination. The measurement of the airway function is possible for adults. Diagnosis in children is based on analysis of the medical history and subsequent improvement.

With the proper use of prevention drugs, asthmatics can avoid the complications. However, it is observed that asthmatics stop taking preventive medication when they feel fine and this then results in further attacks.

Article By Gaynor Borade

Asthma Attacks And Air Temperature

2008-10-20T01:49:00.000-07:00

Patients should also consider air temperature. Cold air is extremely irritating in patients with bronchial asthma and may produce severe attacks. Individuals with asthma appear to warm cold air less quickly and efficiently than nonasthmatics. This warming takes place in the large air passages of the nose, sinuses, throat, and windpipe. One simple measure patients should take is to wrap the face with a scarf that warms air before it is inhaled. A cold air mask is commercially available and may provide more protection in the winter.

How to Avoid Severe or Fatal Asthma Attacks

Patients who experience severe or near-fatal asthma attacks must be active participants in monitoring and managing their asthma. Several characteristics of fatal or near-fatal asthma attacks stand out and I emphasize them here.

There is usually a period of falling airflows and increased wheezing, cough and shortness of breath that precedes a severe attack. In this critical time the introduction of oral cortcosteroid or an adjustment of maintenance treatment may prevent a near-fatal asthma attack. Unfortunately,patients with severe and subsequently fatal asthma often experience denial of their condition and symptoms. These patients are particularly vulnerable to fatal attacks, since they often disregard instructions to monitor flows and take medications. Usually, these patients admit to self-medication without communication with the physician, lowering dosages or omitting entirely oral and inhaled corti co steroids (for fear of side effects despite a life-threatening disease), and reducing the number of sprays from the recommended dosages of B-agonists, cromolyn, and nedocromil.

It is not clear why these patients place themselves at greater risk through denial of their disease and lack of communication with physicians. Unfortunate childhood experiences may playa role in how an adult deals with disease. Poor rapport with the physician or lack of detailed understanding of the nature of asthma may also be factors. It is only through education that patients may reach a better understanding of the potential severity and life-threatening aspects of bronchial asthma. Professional counseling may be necessary to reduce denial and to enlighten patients as to why they often do not follow instructions.

It has been reported recently that patients who have had near-fatal asthma attacks may have a reduced perception of shortness of breath.These patients may also have less response to reduced blood oxygen levels. These characteristics would make fatal attacks more likely. By carefully monitoring peak flows, these patients stand a better chance of recognizing the increased narrowing of airways that signals an asthma attack. When flows are reduced 25 percent from the patient's personal best, action must be taken at once. Written instructions help ensure an appropriate response.

Who Is Most Likely to Experience a Near-Fatal Attack?

Patients who have already experienced a severe attack that required respiratory support are the likeliest candidates for fatal asthmatic attacks.

When respiratory support is needed, the patient's airway or windpipe is intubated with a tube connected to a mechanical ventilator or respirator. Another characteristic that identifies "high-risk&" patients is an extremely variable or unstable airflow. These patients may have peak flows that drop or increase precipitously. Patients who have required frequent courses of oral corticosteroids or who are maintained on oral steroids should also be considered at greater risk for severe attacks.

About 10 to 25 percent of all deaths from asthma occur within three hours after the onset of an attack. These patients may progress from minimal sYmptoms to a collapse of their respirations in a short time. Investigators term this malady "sudden asphyxic asthma." For most patients there is a longer period during which the patient and physician can detect deterioration and instability and act quickly to avoid severe and near-fatal episodes. Without careful home monitoring of peak flows and close communication and compliance with physician instructions, patients who are at high risk for severe asthmatic attacks are likely to experience repeated episodes.

The best herbal vaporizers from across the globe. Use a vaporizer to inhale your herbs and feel the health benefits by using volcano vaporizer.

An Apple Juice A Day May Keep Asthma Away In Texas

2008-10-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

Researchers have discovered that kids in Dallas, Houston and the rest of Texas who drink lots of apple juice may be less likely to develop asthma symptoms. The National Heart and Lung Institute research is the latest to issue a study linking apples and individual human health.

The study found that children who drank apple juice daily were half as likely to suffer from wheezing as those who drank it less than once a month. The study concluded that eating fresh apples themselves gave no apparent benefits to children.

Researchers studied five to 10-year-old schoolchildren in the Greenwich area of London, asking parents about their child's fruit intake and any symptoms the children suffered. While there was no link found between apple juice consumption and a reduced chance of an actual asthma diagnosis, there was a strong link between wheezing and drinking the juice.

The appearance of wheezing symptoms is one of the most important signs that a child is at risk for asthma, although many children with the symptoms may not be diagnosed with the illness. There was a similar, but not as strong a benefit found for children eating bananas at least once a day, compared with less than once a month. The apple juice involved in the study was not fresh apple juice. Long-life juices made from apple juice concentrate were equally as effective.

Dr Peter Burney, who led the study, said that it was possible that "phytochemicals" in apples, such as flavanoids and phenolic acids, helped to calm the inflammation in the airways, which is a key feature of both wheezing and asthma.

He said it currently isn't clear why a link between eating apples themselves and reduced asthma symptoms -- already spotted in adult studies -- didn't appear among the children in this study. "Further studies are needed to confirm the protective effects of apple juice and bananas," he said.

Dr Mike Thomas, an Asthma researcher at the University of Aberdeen, said that the study was further evidence of the protective effect of apples.

Recent research from the university suggested that women who ate a diet heavy in apples during pregnancy were protecting their unborn children against asthma. "There is some evidence that a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins is good for asthma," Thomas said. "It is yet another reason why we should be encouraging a healthy diet."

Other recent studies suggest that apple consumption can help control weight gain, lower the risk of heart disease and fight cancer. And though most people think the flesh of the apple is the most delicious part, the skin is actually the most nutritious.

Apple skin contains 4 milligrams of quercetin, an anti-oxident compound that prevents oxygen molecules from damaging individual cells, which can prevent cell changes that could lead to cancer. A Finnish study recently showed that men who had a high intake of quercetin lowered their risk of heart disease by 20 percent. This compound has also been shown to inhibit the growth of tumors and keep cancer cells from spreading.

The insoluble fiber found in apples has a host of other benefits. The apple skin is considered roughage and is a great remedy for constipation. Insoluble fiber also helps the digestive tract run smoothly, helping prevent diverticulosis, which is a condition that can lead to colon cancer. Another benefit of apple's insoluble fiber is its filling effect, which is an appetite suppressant.

Apples also contain soluble fiber, which forms a gel-like material in the digestive tract that can help lower cholesterol, as well as stroke and heart disease risk. One of an apple's more well-known soluble fibers is pectin. Pectin reduces the amount of cholesterol produced in the liver, slows both digestion and the rise of blood sugar, making it ideal for diabetics.

As you'll discover, what you put into your body will affect your health. And your health, good or bad, will eventually affect your bank account as well.

Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at Precedent.com

What You Should Know About Asthma and Panic Attacks

2008-10-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

There are some facts you should know about asthma and panic attacks. You should know that panic attack and asthma will limit your ability to live a normal healthy lifestyle because the asthma and panic attacks look similar and yet completely different. Asthma can kill you if not well managed but panic attack will not kill you. However, there are some people who experience both asthma and panic attacks and such people must quickly treat both or any of them.

One thing you should know about asthma and panic attack is that asthma can cause so much anxiety that it can trigger a panic attack and like a vicious cycle can make the asthma attack serious. Asthma attack can cause the sufferer to have difficulty in breathing and a tight chest.

There is already some body of evidence that there is a relationship between asthma and panic attack. Asthma attack is associated with an increased risk of panic attacks among adults and there is a consistent relation between severity and persistence of both attacks. Most people with panic attacks experience one or several of the following symptoms, breathing difficulties, just like in asthma, feeling weak, faint or dizzy, chest pains, sense of terror or of imminent doom or death, racing heart, numbness in the hands and fingers, sweaty or having chills and loss of control.

In both asthma and panic attacks, there are now natural alternative remedies to treat asthma and panic attacks and they are effective and safe. Some people have found relief from both asthma and panic attacks through several natural treatments that work just as well as medications without side effects.

Take back your life and begin living your dreams and achieving your goals. You can download breakthrough techniques to help you treat panic attacks and anxiety quickly and effectively. Click here now to download.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flaviu_Serban

Asthma Treatment for Kids

2008-10-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Asthma treatments and allergy treatments in a natural way for children are often sought after by parents who are weary of dosing their offspring with medications such as steroids or other chemicals. A reason why parents are searching for natural ways to treat asthma is because parents are concerned with side effects from treating asthma with today asthma medications. With so many side effects in asthma treatment drugs parents having kids with asthma are continuing to search for alternative methods of asthma treatment for their kids. One of the issues is the number of asthma attacks continues to rise in countries where today’s growing industrial age grows in areas once considered 3^rd world countries. Once these older countries join the industrial revolution in today’s global economy, pollution has increased along with signs of kids with asthma. With pollution rising asthma attacks in children show affects of asthma attack from be mild, moderate, severe or even life threatening asthma attacks. This has increased concern that we need to figure out natural ways of treating asthma in kids.

The distinction between asthma in adults and children is the ability to have a chance to document the history of asthma or different trends. With adults we have the opportunity to track when attacks occur of a period of time. During allergies and hay fever attacks the sufferer has difficulty with allergic rhinitis or sneezing, congestions, runny and itchy nose. An allergic rhinitis reaction may be either seasonal or perennial. Although allergies can precipitate an asthmatic attack it isn’t necessarily the case.

Most allergies present themselves as symptoms in the head, sinus or nose. However, when the allergic reaction moves into the chest with angioedema and constriction it comes under the associated name of asthma. One of every six Americans has some type of allergy. Many of these allergies as described in earlier posts are triggered by pollen, weeds, grasses, as are asthmatic attacks.

There are natural cures for asthma and allergies in children that help to decrease the severity and number of the attacks. Some use hydrogen peroxide in the humidifier or medication aerosolizer. Others use stress reducers to decrease emotional stress and therefore a potent asthma trigger. Some of the other natural methods include trying to reducing dust in common areas and routinely changing a toothbrush or switching to a Sonicare toothbrush to help avoid tiny mold spores that can grow and possibly ignite and asthma attack.

Current or popular brand names of medications used in asthma treatment of kids or Children include asthma medications such as Pulmicort, Beclovent, Flovent, Ventolin, Advair, and Prednisone. Unfortunately for parents these medications all come with side effects of some type. Children with asthma as well as adults seeking asthma treatment could experience, nausea, nasal irritation, dry mouth, delayed growth in children, infection, osteoporosis, cough and wheezing, headache, permanent loss of smell or taste, pneumonia, rash, cardiac complications, increased risk of glaucoma, liver dysfunction and worsening diabetes if the suffers from diabetes. A medication interaction can lessen, increase or completely change the way in which reacts to either of the medications. Although some of these may not occur it really requires a concerned parent or caretaker to ask the doctor or pharmacist to approve a natural cure or method for treating asthma and allergies in children.

After you have researched the natural remedies for treating asthma in kids you may want to stock up on products prior to seasonal and have them on hand before the symptoms of up coming asthma attack begin to appear in the child. In addition asthma attacks are often worse at night although the asthma type might not be nocturnal asthma and parents should be aware of how the child is breathing prior to going to bed incase they need to implement a quick asthma treatment for their kid.

How Asthma-Friendly Is Your School?

2008-10-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

Children with asthma need proper support at school to keep their asthma under control and be fully active. Use the questions below to find out how well your school assists children with asthma:

Is your school free of tobacco smoke all of the time, including during school-sponsored events?
Does the school maintain good indoor air quality? Does it reduce or eliminate allergens and irritants that can make asthma worse? Allergens and irritants include pets with fur or feathers, mold, dust mites (for example, in carpets and upholstery), cockroaches, and strong odors or fumes from such products as pesticides, paint, perfumes, and cleaning chemicals.
Is there a school nurse in your school all day, every day? If not, is a nurse regularly available to the school to help write plans and give guidance for students with asthma about medicines, physical education, and field trips?
Can children take medicines at school as recommended by their doctor and parents? May children carry their own asthma medicines?
Does your school have an emergency plan for taking care of a child with a severe asthma episode (attack)? Is it made clear what to do? Who to call? When to call?
Does someone teach school staff about asthma, asthma management plans, and asthma medicines? Does someone teach all students about asthma and how to help a classmate who has it?
Do students have good options for fully and safely participating in physical education class and recess? (For example, do students have access to their medicine before exercise? Can they choose modified or alternative activities when medically necessary?)
If the answer to any question is no, students may be facing obstacles to asthma control. Asthma out of control can hinder a student's attendance, participation, and progress in school. School staff, health professionals, and parents can work together to remove obstacles and to promote students' health and education.

Contact the organizations listed below for information about asthma and helpful ideas for making school policies and practices more asthma-friendly. Federal and State laws are there to help children with asthma.

Asthma can be controlled; expect nothing less.

Resource Organizations for Parents and School Staff

National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
(301) 592-8573
Internet: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/naepp

NAEPP materials include:

Managing Asthma: A Guide for Schools
Asthma Awareness Curriculum for the Elementary Classroom
Asthma and Physical Activity in the School
Making a Difference: Asthma Management in the School (video)
Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.
2751 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 150
Fairfax, VA 22031
(800) 878-4403 or (703) 641-9595
Internet: http://www.aanma.org

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
611 East Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(800) 822-ASMA or (414) 272-6071
Internet: http://www.aaaai.org

American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(800) 433-9016 or (847) 228-5005
Internet: http://www.aap.org

American Association for Respiratory Care
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, TX 75229-4593
(972) 243-2272
Internet: http://www.aarc.org

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 550
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(800) 842-7777 or (847) 427-1200
Internet: http://allergy.mcg.edu

American Lung Association
For the affiliate nearest you, call
(800) LUNG USA
Internet: http://www.lungusa.org

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
1125 15th Street, N.W., Suite 502
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 7-ASTHMA or (202) 466-7643
Internet: http://www.aafa.org

Healthy Kids: The Key to Basics
Educational Planning for Students With Asthma and Other Chronic Health Conditions
79 Elmore Street
Newton, MA 02159-1137
(617) 965-9637

National Association of School Nurses
111 Cantril street
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Telephone: (303) 663-0403
Internet: http://www.nasn.org

National Education Association
Health Information Network
1201 16th street, NW, Suite 521
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 822-7570
Internet: http://www.asthmaandschools.org

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights, Customer Service Team
Mary E. Switzer Building
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-1328
(800) 421-3481 or (202) 205-5413
Internet: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Indoor Environments Division
401 M Street, S.W. (6604J)
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 233-9370
Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse
(800) 438-4318
Internet: http://www.epa.gov/iaq

Article by Institute of Child Health and Human Development

How Does Asthma Inhalers Work?

2008-10-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

Asthma inhalers are a lifesaver to asthma sufferers. Asthma inhalers provides a safety net for people with asthma and is used whenever an asthma attack is imminent.

The most common asthma inhaler is a canister that deliver asthma mediation via a nebulizer in the form of a mist.

Asthma inhaler has been used for nearly a hundred years and has improved a lot in recent years to deliver greater absorption and potency. The basic principle is still the same although the medication has changed over the years.

When an asthma person suffers an asthma attack, the muscles in the bronchial tubes becomes constricted and thus makes it difficult for the person to breathe. An asthma inhaler helps to relax the muscles enabling the person to breathe normally. Doctors also recommend asthma sufferers to use inhalers before going to bed at night and also when they wake up in the morning.

First use users of asthma inhalers may find it difficult to use at first. Although it looks simple, timing is very important. The mouthpiece is placed in the mouth and with a press of a button, you should breathe in hard at the same time so that the asthma medication can go into the lungs.

After the inhaler is released, you should exhale just as hard. It is important to get it right as during an asthma attack, a person may not have much time to think about it and should be able to do this instinctively.

By doing this in one motion, the full dosage of the medication is delivered to the lungs and you stand a better chance of recovering from an asthma attack.

There is no current cure for asthma and asthma inhalers are a very valuable lifesaver that has helped save many people’s lives.

Ricky is the online editor of http://www.asthmahomeopathy.net, a website dedicated to provide alternative forms of asthma remedies such as asthma herbal inhaler.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricky_Lim

Looking For Signs Of Childhood Asthma

2008-09-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that nearly 5 million children suffer from childhood asthma in the United States. Asthma is one of the most common childhood diseases and unfortunately there is no cure for it. The only way to handle asthma is to control it and to avoid situations which could bring upon an attack.

The two most common signs of childhood asthma are constant coughing and wheezing. Usually when a child has been running and playing, his breath comes out making a whistling sound which is known as wheezing. Your child can also experience tightness in the chest accompanied by shortness of breath.

Most children who suffer from asthma tend to get more respiratory illnesses than children who do not have asthma. If your child gets a cold, the cold will last longer than normal and it can be quite severe. The severity of a respiratory illness could be a hidden indicator that your child is suffering from asthma. If your child does not demonstrate the classic wheezing symptom associated with asthma, it can be difficult to diagnose asthma in him or her.

Sometimes certain allergies can spark an asthma attack. If your child is allergic to certain types of food, pollen or dust, pay close attention to see whether he or she is experiencing difficulties in breathing or he or she is coughing and wheezing.

If you detect any symptoms of asthma in your child, it is advisable to take your child to a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be done and medical treatment can be given to him or her to bring the childhood asthma under control.

About Author:

Pauline Go is a professional writer for many website like newbiemommy.com. She also writes other great articles like Know about Massive Heart Attacks, Fake Doctors Sick Note, Composition of Ultram Medication

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go

Effects of Asthma Medicine on Pregnancy!

2008-09-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

Women suffering with asthma always have doubts that will asthma medicine harm my child? As five percent of pregnant women are asthmatic, this is a common problem. The important news is that asthma medicine is known to be very safe during pregnancy. So, pregnant women can enjoy asthma free pregnancy with asthma medicine.

Your asthma symptoms may get worse or may be better or does not change at all during pregnancy. If your asthma is severe, chances are it can become worse during pregnancy.

If you want a healthy baby, you should be healthy. It is very important to treat asthma in pregnancy because the risks of uncontrolled asthma in pregnancy are greater than the risks of asthma medicine.

There is no information about the safety of new asthma drugs in pregnancy because a woman who is pregnant and who might become pregnant does not take part in the safety tests during the testing of drugs, because of the fear of harming the baby.

Even the drug manufacturers do not take risk with unborn babies. New asthma drug should be avoided during pregnancy if possible.

But the old asthma medicine has been used from years. These old asthma medicines have been used for years during pregnancy and are known to be safe in pregnancy and the drugs which are not safe are not used as long before they are declared as unsafe.

Pregnant women have doubt about the use of inhalers. The doctors believe that the amount of medicine you get from an inhaler is small and goes directly to the lungs and it is not likely to harm your baby.
Effects of asthma in pregnancy:
Especially in the third trimester, asthma improves with pregnancy. Due to the increasing size of uterus, sensation of breathlessness occurs and this is mistaken as worsening of asthma.

Many women experience worsening asthma symptoms as they stop using asthma medicine due to the fear of side effects on the unborn child. Women who stop their asthma medicine have worsened asthma symptoms and are more at risk of early labor and poor growth of baby.
Asthma medicine and pregnancy:
Visit your doctor soon after realizing that you are pregnant to discuss about the best way to manage the symptoms of asthma with asthma medicine. The doctor will prescribe effective asthma medicine during pregnancy and continue to workout throughout your pregnancy to ensure the treatment is effective without side effects.

Taking asthma medicine during pregnancy:
Follow the directions according to your doctor about when to take asthma medicine and how much dosage to take.
Talk to your doctor before taking any new asthma medicine.
Don't stop taking asthma medicine unless and until your doctor tells you to.
Controlling your asthma in pregnancy:
You have to take the asthma medicine as prescribed during pregnancy.
Monitor your asthma using a peak flow meter and observe your breathing symptoms.
Call your doctor if your asthma medicine is not working well.
Avoid things that trigger your asthma attack.
You can take a flu shot if you are pregnant during flu season. Visit Asthma Treatment

Allergy Asthma blog helps you learn everything you need to know about allergy relief. Know more about asthma control & protect yourself to improve your quality of life. Visit http://www.allergyasthmazone.com

What Is Asthma Homeopathy?

2008-09-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

Asthma and its causes

2008-09-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

Many studies have confirmed that allergies cause the greatest majority of childhood asthma cases. Doctors refer to cases of asthma that are caused by allergies as atopic asthma. Atopic asthma is the most common form of asthma and tends to run in families. It is an inherited over reaction—hypersensitivity—to allergens in the environment and the related overproduction of IgE antibodies by the human immune system. Antibodies produced by the immune system combine with allergens. This action stimulates an asthma attack, in which the immune system releases substances that bring on the constriction and inflammation of the airways of the lungs.

More than 80% of asthmatic patients also suffer from allergies such as hay fever. The medical term for hay fever is allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of atopic asthma. Many types of allergens can trigger the immune system to produce the typical hay fever symptoms that mainly affect the nasal region, such as stuffiness and a runny nose. The term "hay fever" does not accurately describe this problem, because it is rarely caused by hay and does not produce a fever in affected patients. Allergies even aggravate asthma in patients whose asthma was not originally caused by allergic factors. Small amounts of inhaled or swallowed allergens do not directly harm the tissues of the airways and lungs. However, they unfortunately act as triggers that set off the chain of events in the immune system that produce the symptoms typical of asthma.

People with asthma have increased sensitivity to allergens in the air they breathe in. Allergies are the human immune system's reaction to biological triggers—including indoor allergens such as dust mites, animal dander (pet hair or feathers), saliva, flakes of skin, secretions from pets and insects, mold, and substances found in food. Even "hairless" dogs can be a problem for asthmatic patients. Some foods, such as peanut, dairy products, and seafood, can cause attacks in some asthmatic children. Food additives, such as sulfites, and even natural foods like eggs, shellfish, and raw vegetables can act as triggers for asthma. Endotoxins, which are chemicals produced by molds growing on farm products, may contribute to asthma in agricultural areas. Synthetic (man-made) products like the latex material used in surgical gloves can also trigger asthma episodes.

In some of the more "developed" countries, an important contributing factor in the growing number of atopic asthma cases may be the reduced exposure to common childhood respiratory infections such as the flu and colds. Recent studies have shown that children who live in very clean, hygienic conditions and are relatively isolated from other young people are more likely to develop asthma later in life. This is commonly referred to as the "hygiene theory." It seems that children with older siblings and who attend day care programs where they may contract such illnesses have a lower risk for developing asthma. A possible explanation for this seemingly strange connection is that a child's immune system is fine tuned, or conditioned, by contact with these infectious organisms and other foreign agents at a very young age.

Non-Allergic Factors:

Non-allergic factors that can stimulate or aggravate asthma symptoms include tobacco smoke, chalk dust and talcum powder, cooking fumes, and fumes from chemicals such as household cleaners. Certain behaviors such as stress and emotional anxiety can also trigger asthmatic attacks. Young children can develop asthma or cause asthmatic episodes as a result of viral infections such as colds, flu, and pneumonia.

Exercise is a common trigger for asthma in about 80% of asthmatic individuals. In some asthmatic patients, exercise induces typical asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear during or after participation in physical activity. Pretreatment medications, such as short-acting bronchiodilators, quickly widen the air passages and thus help prevent the onset of asthma while a patient participates in physical activities. Some doctors advise their asthmatic patients to participate in sports like baseball or football that provide frequent breaks in activity rather than prolonged endurance sports such as swimming and long distance running.

Asthma does not have to be a barrier to participating in athletic activities. For example, 67 of the 596 members of the United States team at the 1984 Olympics tested positive for exercise-induced asthma, and that team won 41 Olympic medals. In addition, another survey revealed that 50% of the athletes participating in the 1996 Olympics displayed some form of asthmatic symptoms.

Changes in the weather, such as temperature and humidity variations can also negatively affect asthma patients. Winter is a tough time for people with asthma. They have difficulty in conditioning—warming up and humidifying—the air they breathe in. Some people with asthma wear a surgical mask that can trap warm, moist air that is exhaled with each breath. During cold weather, these individuals tend to spend more time indoors where they are more likely to catch contagious viral infections. Viral infections of the respiratory system are more likely to trigger severe asthmatic attacks during the winter months. In addition, unclean and poorly maintained forced air heating systems release many pollutants that further aggravate asthmatic symptoms.

Some remedies that could improve the quality of life for patients with asthma may also benefit the entire community in which they live. One study provides more evidence for a link between air pollution and asthma. During the 1996 Olympics, there were 42% fewer emergency hospital visits for treatment of severe asthma attacks in the Atlanta area. It is thought that this decline was linked to a sharp, but temporary, reduction in auto pollution caused by more people taking public transit instead of driving their cars during the two week event. So, cutting down on traffic congestion may help asthma patients breathe easier.

Every asthma patient is unique. Because there are so many environmental conditions that can affect people with the genetic predisposition for asthma, it is often difficult to pinpoint the primary cause of the disease in individual cases.

Treatment and Management:

Like all chronic diseases, asthma requires specialized medical care and attention. Doctors and other health professionals work in partnership with asthma patients to develop comprehensive, individualized management plans that help them cope with their asthma on a day to day basis. An effective management plan can reduce the incidence of serious asthma attacks and the need for emergency medical care. The key features of an asthma management plan include:

olearning about early warning signs and symptoms of asthma
oregular monitoring and recording of the appearance of asthma-related symptoms
omonitoring lung function
olearning how to use prescribed medications
oavoiding activities, such as prolonged exercise, that can trigger an asthma attack
oavoiding contact with possible environmental triggers, such as pets, allergens, tobacco smoke, etc.
omaintaining healthy lifestyle by controlling weight gain, salt intake, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels

Specific goals of asthma management programs include:

ocontrolling and minimizing chronic symptoms such as coughing and breathlessness early in the morning, at night, and after exercise
oachieving healthy pulmonary (lung) function as much as possible
orequiring the smallest possible dosage of medicine required to effectively control asthma symptoms, so that side effects from medications can be minimized.

Asthma in Homoeopathic Medicine:

Asthma is one of the distressing ailments which are not easy to cure. After using palliative medicine to over come an active attack, one should resort to constitutional in order to give permanent relief to the patient. The main medicines for constitutional treatment which should be given in addition to other indicate medicines are:

Tuberculium:

The above medicines are to be given intercurrence in potency not below 200 (1M or CM potencies preferable) no other medicine is to be given for two or three days before and after if any of the above medicine have the desired effect further drugging of the patient should be avoided.

A hint as to the diet is also necessary. The use of white flour and white sugar or its products, meat, fish, milk and puddings should be avoided. Whole wheat flour, Barbados sugar, honey, salads, and fresh vegetables should be eaten with eggs and chose.

1 Aconite, 2 ipecac, 3 k.c., 4 bell, 5 Aspidosparmia, 6 Grindeline, 7 carboneum sulf, 8 Blatta ori, 9 Ambrosia, 10 Aralia, 11 Kali, Bi, 12 k,p, 13 k,n, 14 k.s, 15 Lyco, 16 N.S, 17 Amonia carb, 18 Mephitis and 19 Ars. Alb.

With the newer, more effective medications now available, it is possible to provide patients with good short term and long term control of asthmatic symptoms. Asthma patients use both rescue medications and controllers, which provide long-term control of asthma symptoms. Most asthma patients take their asthma medicine with the aid of metered-dose inhalers. These hand-held devices deliver precise dosages of medication in the form of a pressurized spray that is inhaled orally by the user. Another device that delivers medication in spray-form are "nebulizers," which are sometimes used by younger children and hospitalized patients who are unable to properly manipulate inhalers.

Rescue medications include bronchodilators, which provide short term, rapid relief from the symptoms of an asthma attack after it has started. These medications act by relaxing the circular muscles in the bronchial tubes that connect to the lungs. As the muscles relax, the air ways become wider, making breathing easier. Bronchodilators alleviate or reduce the feeling of tightness in lungs due to inflammation.

Controllers such as corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that help prevent asthma attacks from happening. They help to prevent or reduce the onset of typical asthma symptoms that interfere with normal breathing, such as the build-up of mucus and the inflammation of the tissues that line the airways and lungs. Most anti-inflammatory drugs work by suppressing or interfering with the action of histamines after they have been released by cells of the immune system. Corticosteroids are often taken twice daily. They provide prolonged relief and help reduce long-term damage to the lungs.

Author Resource:- Dr. Mumtaz is the famous homeopathy doctor in Pakistan.

Asthma Triggers and Asthma Control Techniques

2008-09-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

Avoid the triggers and improve your asthma condition
No matter what asthma medication or asthma treatments you are using, reducing the negative effects of asthma relies on avoiding the asthma triggers as well as you can. The irritation of your breathing passages can be reduced if you live and work in a clean environment and if you keep pollen and dust away. If your asthma condition gets worse or better, write it al down and see which particular environments are positive or negative towards your asthma.
Is exercise an asthma trigger?
This is a fairly common question and in almost every case it is a good idea to exercise even if you do have asthma. Some patients notice that their asthma gets worse after exercising, but if you keep your asthma inhaler close by you should be able to overcome this obstacle. Asthma prevention treatments and asthma inhalers can help you reduce any potential side effects of your condition while you are exercising. If you are worried about this issue or if you experienced asthma attacks during exercise in the past, it is a good idea to gradually start exercising and see where you feel comfortable doing it.
Asthma out of control
There are a few symptoms that will let you know that your condition is getting worse. If you are waking up at night with the sensation that you cannot breath or if coughing and wheezing are always present, a visit to the doctor is required. Well prescribed asthma treatments will help you fight off such problems and regain control over your asthma. Loosing breath while talking or eating is also an indicator of asthma problems on the rise. Seeking specialized help and determining which is the best asthma inhaler or asthma medication for your own case is an important step.
Asthma peak flow meters
An effective method to control asthma is by using a peak flow meter. It is a small plastic tube that you can blow into and measure how much air you can blow out. This shows you how congested your airways are and how effective your asthma treatment is. The best way to control asthma is to treat it with seriousness and to stay constant with your asthma treatment.
More information here: Asthmaxpert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Rad

Is There a Link between Allergies and Asthma?

2008-09-19T04:39:00.000-07:00

The short answer is absolutely YES, there is a link between having allergies and developing asthma. As you know, asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory tract with symptoms like a choking sensation, tightness in your chest, shortness of breath and characterized by a wheezing sound. Simply stated, continued research now suggests that allergies are somehow related to the development of asthma.
An allergy specialist at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. James T. Li, has suggested that as many as 60% of the people with asthma have actually some form of allergy caused asthma. If completely accurate, this makes allergies one of the leading causes of asthma but at the very least, it establishes some type of casual link between allergies and asthma. This makes sense given that according to Dr. Li, up to 78% of the people who have asthma also suffer from hay fever.
While many of the common allergy treatments such as allergen immunotherapy, which is shots to desensitize are used also treat asthma, as the treatments are not used to treat an allergy. This is probably due to the fact that allergies are more nasal oriented, while asthma is much deeper into the respiratory tract and airway passages.
The key then is to understand that at a minimum, there is a casual link between allergies in the development of asthma. For this reason alone, it makes sense to try and limit your exposure to potential asthma triggers that may be in your home. Below is a link for a free report on eliminating asthma triggers in your home.
Although allergies seem to play a key role in the development of asthma, it's not the only cause to consider. There are many other forms of asthma that can develop over the course of time. With the prevalence of allergies playing a large role in the number of asthma cases, it just makes sense to protect yourself as much as possible.
Abigail Franks has done extensive research into Asthma, Allergies, and their triggers. Visit the Asthma site for more information on asthma and allergies and Asthma Treatments
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abbie_Frank

Suffering From Asthma Allergy At Night

2008-09-15T04:29:00.000-07:00

If you are suffering from asthma that wakes you up at night, this can be due to allergies. An asthma allergy would be caused by triggers in your bedroom that will affect you while you are sleeping.
The reason why some people are more prone to asthma while they are sleeping has to do with the position their body is in. More specifically, the horizontal position decreases the negative pressure on the lungs, leading to those susceptible to asthma to have an attack.
Developing an asthma allergy at night is different for everyone. It will most often be seen in children, who have been put to bed recently by their parents. In adults, an asthma allergy at night might start with coughing and waking up suddenly.
If you asthma is due to an allergy, it is recommended that you thoroughly clean your house, especially your bedroom from top to bottom. This is necessary to remove as much dust and debris from your house that might be triggering an asthma attack.
In your bedroom, remove all the old bed linen and wash them thoroughly. If the mattress is old, replace it because it might contain dust mites, which can trigger an asthma allergy attack. All of the pillows should be replaced as well. If you cannot afford to have a new mattress, you can opt to have it and your pillows cleaned. The same should be done for all curtains, and carpet within your bedroom. When the room is fully clean, you should stand a better chance at preventing an asthma allergy.
C Dietzig is co owner of asthmatreatment.first-results.com where they discuss asthma treatment and how to live a normal productive life with asthma.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C_Dietzig

Asthma Types and Its Symptoms

2008-09-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Asthma can happen to anybody. Asthma starts at all ages. If Asthma is detected in childhood, that is between the ages of two to six, it is mainly due to the exposure to allergens, pollens, smoke and dust particles or mites.

It is very difficult to diagnose whether the child has asthma or not. In many cases, the child shows symptoms which resemble the onset of asthma, but when observed carefully, the child does not get asthma. Adults may also get asthma. The main reason behind getting asthma in adults is respiratory tract infection.

There are two types of asthma.

1. Extrinsic

2. Intrinsic

Extrinsic asthma is the most common type of asthma seen in asthma patients. Extrinsic asthma develops due to allergies and allergens. Extrinsic asthma develops during childhood, since children are most susceptible to allergies. Most allergies in children are due to hay fever, eczema or family history of allergies.

These allergies disappear as the child grows up and so does asthma, but they may reappear in later stages of life. Intrinsic type of asthma occurs mostly in women who are in their 30s. It is not associated with allergies and intrinsic type of asthma is more chronic and perennial.

The cause of intrinsic asthma can be traced to respiratory tract infections. Asthma also has categorizations based on the intensity of the disease
Asthma can be mild, moderate and severe Mild asthma is found in 30% of the patients.

Patients with mild asthma do not have frequent attacks and can be cured or minimized with some precautions in dietary habits and lifestyle and a periodic checkup. These sorts of people do not need attention at all times and are self-supporting in case of an attack.

There is almost an equal percentage of people who have moderate asthma. These patients have moderately mild attacks and have the attacks more frequently.
Proper medication and precautions must be taken to help the patient remain healthy.

Severe asthma patients require urgent medical attention, as the attacks are frequent and severe. The symptoms of Asthma are almost the same in all cases.

The intensity and the frequency of such attacks increase. Asthma is definitely curable and the frequency of attacks can be minimized with proper support and precautions.

Visit Bjorn Gutter's Asthma Treatment website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bjorn_Gutter

6 Vital Topics to Know About Asthma by james ellison

2008-09-10T03:56:00.000-07:00

Asthma, as of today, does not have a cure but for most people there is a temporary solution for it and is controlled with diligence and most can have a full normal life. The control can come from plans and way of life changes that has shown to reduce the length of time of an asthma attack and increase the period of time that it does not affect you. I have put together a few questions and concerns that most people have about this disease.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering condition of the respiratory system differentiated by repeating occurrences of difficult or labored respiration (lack of breath), combined with wheezing (breathing with a whistling sound), a feeling of constriction in the chest, and coughing to a distinctly greater extent, through the night. The reason for this is because of swelling and inflammation that happens in the lining of your airways or bronchial tubes. Then comes a constricting of your air passages. This is all due to reaction to an irritant or allergen. In addition, mucus produced by the coughing and constriction makes the situation even worse.

Asthma is a disease mainly of children but is common in many adults. The cause of this condition is not exactly known or understood.

How To Diagnose Asthma Identifying the disease asthma particularly with kids that are below school age can be a challenge. The symptoms of asthma are very close to the common cold. This is where a family history of breathing and asthma problems can help your health care provider in their diagnosis. Then if someone gets repeated colds, shows wheezing, allergies and coughing then it might be beneficial to the patient to get a test for lung function (spirometer to measure vital capacity).

It will measure the total amount of air that is exhaled following a deep breath and get the asthma diagnosis.

An Asthma Attack Intense exasperated feeling of annoyance of asthma symptoms that are sudden or following advanced signals is known as an asthma attack. When the attack happens it is caused by the reduced motion of air in the patient's respiratory tract and make breathing hard to do. In severe cases the lack of oxygen is so bad that the patient may actually turn blue. In this case if not treated quickly it becomes a threat to life.

What Brings About An Asthma Attack?

An asthma attack is generally triggered by a response of the respiratory system to some allergens or irritants present in the air that one breathes.

When our respiratory system responds to an irritant or allergen in the air that you breath an asthma attack is likely. Some people may have an acid reflux episode where stomach acid rises up to the esophagus and brings on severe coughing leading to an asthma attack.

How To Treat Asthma

How asthma is treated mainly is accomplished in three steps.

1. Identify what the irritants or allergens are which brings about an asthma attack. This probably one of the most important step to control the disease by avoiding the named items.

2. Knowing when an attack is about to happen, allowing you to get ready for that attack. Knowing the warning signals.

3. Taking your medication as the physician has prescribed. Your medicine usually is of two types. Quick relief to manage the present symptoms. And long term protective medicines to ward off the severity and frequency of the attacks.

Asthma Triggers That Are Important

Here are some of the most common irritants or allergens that bring about asthma:

# Mold

# Pets

# Pollen

# Cold or wet weather

# Dust mites

# Cockroaches

# Factory or car air pollutants

# Strenuous exercise

# Tobacco smoke

# Food additives and some foods themselves

We have covered what asthma is and how to diagnose it. What an asthma attack is, the cause and how to treat it. What the top asthma allergens and irritants are.

If you stay away from the asthma triggers, take the advice of your doctor and take the prescribed medicine regularly, your are well on your way to living a close to normal life.

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Asthma

2008-09-09T04:37:00.001-07:00

Asthma starts at all ages. There are two types of asthma.

1. Extrinsic

2. Intrinsic

Extrinsic asthma is the most common type of asthma seen in asthma patients all over the world. Extrinsic asthma develops during childhood, since children are most susceptible to allergies. Most allergies in children are due to hay fever, eczema or family history of allergies.These allergies disappear as the child grows older and so does asthma, but they may reappear in later stages of life.

Intrinsic type of asthma occurs mostly in women who are in their late 20s and early 30s. It is not associated with allergies and intrinsic type of asthma is more chronic and perennial.

The cause of intrinsic asthma can be traced to respiratory tract infections. Asthma also has categorizations based on the intensity of the disease. Asthma can be mild, moderate and severe Mild asthma is found in 30% of the patients. With the decrease in air quality, asthma has become a very prevalent condition, especially in Western societies.

Scientists believe that if you have a parent with asthma, and depending on you genetic makeup, you run the risk of being predisposed to a diagnosis of asthma. Your risk of been diagnosed with an asthma allergy increases if you also have a sibling who has also been diagnosed with asthma. Preventers are used regularly and are taken long term to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. Relievers are used for speedy, short-term relief during symptoms of worsening asthma attack. Medications for allergy-induced asthma reduce your body's reaction to a particular allergy and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergies.

This article was write buy Phil Cullen, to find out more about asthma click on the link here. http://asthmalivingwithit.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Cullen

Symptoms of Asthma - Do You Experience Asthma Symptoms More Than Twice a Week?

2008-09-09T04:37:00.000-07:00

Asthma symptoms can be substantially reduced by avoiding known allergens and airway irritants. There are things in the environment that trigger your asthma symptoms and lead to asthma attacks. Allergens like animal dander (from the skin, hair, or feathers of animals), Dust mites, Cockroaches, pollen from trees and grass mold (both indoor and outdoor) can trigger asthma Irritants like cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold air or changes in weather, strong odors from painting or cooking, scented products can also cause asthma There also psychological factors like strong emotional expression including crying or laughing hard and stress that can trigger asthma A condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that causes heartburn can worsen asthma symptoms especially at night. This is not a complete list of all the things that can bring on asthma symptoms

If other people in your family have asthma then you are more likely to develop it. New research suggests that being exposed to things like tobacco smoke, infections, and some allergens early in your life may increase your chances of developing asthma Asthma in adults can be a recurrence of childhood asthma Asthma can develop when a person is middle-aged or older. Asthma control is about more than just treating symptoms. Asthma is what is known as a chronic disease, which simply means that it usually doesn't go away once you have it.

Do you experience asthma symptoms more than twice a week? Do your asthma symptoms limit your activities? Then you should immediately consult with your doctor and modify/increase or start on a course of medication so that you have fewer asthma symptoms throughout the day and night. It is important to recognize and treat even mild asthma symptoms so as to control the condition and prevent severe episodes.

Natural Remedy For Asthma

http://www.healasthma.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Kahn

The Effects Of Asthma In Pregnancy

2008-09-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman's life. Changes in your body may be matched by changes in your emotions. You don't know what to expect from day to day. You may feel tired, uncomfortable, or cranky one day and energetic, healthy, and happy the next. The last thing you need is an asthma attack.

Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions in the US and other developed countries. If you have asthma, you know what it means to have an exacerbation (attack). You may wheeze, cough, or have difficulty breathing. Remember that the fetus (developing baby) in your uterus (womb) depends on the air you breathe for its oxygen. When you have an asthma attack, the fetus may not get enough oxygen. This can put the fetus in great danger.

Symptoms of asthma during pregnancy are the same as those of asthma at any other time. However, each woman with asthma responds differently to pregnancy. You may have milder symptoms or more severe symptoms, or your symptoms may be pretty much what they are when you aren't pregnant.

In general, asthma triggers are the same during pregnancy as at any other time. Like the situation with asthma symptoms, during pregnancy sensitivity to triggers may be increased, decreased, or stay about the same. These differences are attributed to changes in hormones during pregnancy.

Common triggers of asthma attacks include respiratory infections such as a cold, flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis: Both bacterial and viral infections can trigger an asthma attack, cigarette smoke (firsthand or secondhand), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or regurgitation of stomach contents up the esophagus or "food pipe" , smoke from cooking or wood fires, emotional upset, food allergies, allergic rhinitis (hay fever or seasonal allergies).

Changes in weather, especially cold, dry air, exercise, strong smells, sprays, perfumes, allergic reactions to certain chemicals, allergic reaction to cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, Allergic reaction to irritants, such as dust/dust mites, molds, feathers, pet dander, etc. also trigger asthma attack.

If you took medication for your asthma before you became pregnant, especially if your asthma was well controlled, you may be tempted to stop taking your medication out of fear that it might harm the fetus. That would be a mistake without the advice of your health care provider. The risk to the fetus from most asthma medications is tiny compared to the risk from a severe asthma attack.

Moreover, women with asthma that is uncontrolled are more likely to have complications during pregnancy. Their babies are more likely to be born preterm (premature), to be small or underweight at birth, and to require longer hospitalization after birth. The more severe the asthma, the greater the risk to the fetus. In rare cases, the fetus can even die from oxygen deprivation.

How pregnancy may affect your asthma is unpredictable. About one third of women with asthma experience improvement while they are pregnant, about one third get worse, and the other third stay about the same. The milder your asthma was before pregnancy, and the better it is controlled during pregnancy, the better your chances of having few or no asthma symptoms during pregnancy.

If asthma control deteriorates during pregnancy, the symptoms tend to be at their worst during weeks 24-36 (months 6-8). Most women experience the same level of asthmatic symptoms in all their pregnancies. It is rare to have an asthma attack during delivery (10%). In most cases, symptoms return to "normal" within 3 months after delivery.

The important thing to remember is that your asthma can be controlled during pregnancy. If your asthma is controlled, you have just as much chance of a healthy, normal pregnancy and delivery as a woman who does not have asthma.

The best way to treat asthma is to avoid having an attack in the first place. Avoid exposure to your asthma triggers. This might improve your symptoms and reduce the amount of medication you have to take.

If you smoke, quit. Smoking can harm you and your fetus. Avoid being around others who are smoking; secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Secondhand smoke also can cause asthma and other health problems in your children.

If you have symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (for example, heartburn), avoid eating large meals or lying down after eating. Stay away from people who have a cold, the flu, or other infection. Avoid things you are allergic to. Remove contaminants and irritants from your home. Also, avoid your known personal triggers (cat dander, exercise, whatever sets you off).

Asthma medications usually are taken in the same stepwise sequence you would take them in before pregnancy. During pregnancy, inhaled corticosteroids are the mainstay for long-term control. Long-term medications are sometimes combined into single preparations, such as an inhaled steroid and a long-acting beta-agonist.

Rescue medications are taken only when symptoms appear. Inhaled short-acting beta-agonists are usually the first choice for fast relief of symptoms.

If possible, avoid regular use of epinephrine and other related medication (alpha-adrenergics) as they may pose a higher risk to the fetus. Epinephrine may be given as an injection to treat a severe asthma attack or a life-threatening allergic response. If this situation occurs, treating your reaction effectively and quickly is important to decrease the risk of oxygen deprivation to the fetus.

Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These medications are used to relieve headaches, muscle pain, inflammation, and fever. They are not recommended during late-term pregnancy.

If medications are needed to control GERD (heartburn), avoid regular use of antacids that contain bicarbonate and magnesium.

Jigfo.com is a global platform for sharing and learning knowledge. For more information on this article topics visit: http://www.jigfo.com http://asthmatic.jigfo.com/ http://allergicasthma.jigfo.com/ http://immunizationduringpregnancy.jigfo.com/ http://trimester.jigfo.com/

Asthma Treatment Ways

2008-09-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

Asthma can be treated in many ways

1. Using conventional medicines and therapies

2. Using alternative medicines such as herbs or other traditional medicines

3. By using alternative therapies such as Yoga, Acupuncture, etc...

Every type of therapy has its own scope and time span. The first and the most widely accepted therapy is the conventional medicines and procedures. In this procedure of asthma treatment, the patient is treated in two ways

1. Short term treatment

2. Long term treatment

Short term asthma treatment involves the instant relief of the patient from asthma attacks. Short term treatment involves the administration of inhalers and orally administered drugs. Asthma cannot be cured, but the scope of asthma can be controlled with the help of a proper asthma management program.

Short term treatment is done mainly by using Metered Dose Inhalers or MDIs. Dry powder inhalers are also gaining favor in the treatment of asthma.
For those patients who cannot use the MDI’s, nebulizer therapy is used.

Long term asthma treatment involves more of Parallel treatment and lesser use of drugs.

In parallel asthma treatment, environmental components and surrounding analysis is done to minimize the factors that lead to Asthma attacks. In this type of treatment environment components such as pollen grains, allergens etc are minimized from the patient’s surroundings to minimize the chances of an asthma attack.

For this it is necessary that the patient’s place of residence be cleaned every week, the patient must be kept away from pets with fur or feather, weekly washing of the bedding of the patient in hot water.

Avoid using synthetic material in the patient’s bedding, replace upholstery based furniture to vinyl or leather ones.

Remove carpeted floors. They may contain dust particles that could cause problems to the asthma patient.

Use the Air conditioner to protect the patient from subtle temperature changes.

Keep the house dry. Humidity effects the asthma patient.

After the parallel asthma treatment is completed, lung functioning is monitored to look for effective changes. After this, medicines like corticosteroids and bronchodilators are administered. Periodic check up is necessary to know about any changes in the condition of the patient.

For patients have persistent asthma attacks, an annual dose of influenza vaccine is necessary.

Written by Bruno Brown for Asthma Treatment. This article can be reproduced as long as the autor's name and ACTIVE link are displayed.

Bruno Brown writes articles on different topics for websites. This article was written for http://asthma--treatment.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruno_Brown

Asthma Management and Treatment Guidelines For Asthma

2008-09-08T04:37:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a serious disorder affecting our respiratory system. Medical advances have improved the recognition of Asthma and its treatment. It is now accepted that asthma attacks are not just episodes of spasm but are mainly due to a chronic, or constantly present, inflammation of the airways.

Treatment of asthma has now improved rapidly. The presence of inflammation of the airways, in all asthmatic patients, has given new direction to the treatment and control of the disease. Anti inflammation treatment is now widely used for management of asthma. Early in the course of the disease anti-inflammatory therapy using cromolyn or inhaled corticosteroids is done to reduce and to reverse the inflammation.

According to a study by the National Asthma Foundation on Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, Beta2-adrenergic agonists, also known as Beta2-adrenergic receptor agonists are the first line of defense against Asthma. They bring about smooth muscle relaxation resulting in dilation of bronchial passages. Salbutamol also known as Albuterol and Terbutaline are commonly used Beta2-adrenergic agonists.

In many cases of Asthma the patient has to take such beta -2 - agonists agents almost daily or several times a week. In such cases Along with such beta -2 - agonists anti inflammation treatment should also be added to the overall asthma management plan. Anti inflammation treatment will reduce most asthma symptoms and will even prevent them from occurring.

In many asthma patients beta agonist may not be able to improve the conditions. In such cases corticosteroids are necessary to stop the asthma attack and symptoms. The beta-2 agonist agents are considered to be better than corticosteroids when it comes to side effects so there is an excessive reliance on it for the management of asthma. Depending only on broncho-dilating beta-2 agonist agents and not treating underlying inflammation may lead to more serious asthma, which may even be fatal.

The best treatment for asthma is preventing attacks by building long term immunity to allergic triggers and avoidance.

http://www.healasthma.com

ISO 9002 ACCREDITED NATURAL TREATMENT FOR ASTHMA

Asthma Attack Medicinal Plants $39.99 ONLY

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Kahn

Asthma Treatment - What Medication You Need

2008-09-05T03:39:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic and a common condition that occurs when the main air channel of the lungs and bronchial tubes become swollen. It causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and difficulty in breathing. Asthma is a treatable condition. Treatments usually seek to reduce the frequency, severity and duration of your asthma attacks.

Though Asthma cannot be cured permanently, asthma treatment if managed effectively can prevent asthma attack. One of the Asthma treatments that are usually followed is using medications which can be taken orally or inhaled in vapour form. They reduce inflammation in your airways and prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into your airway tissues.

Asthma therapy needs to be flexible according to changes in symptoms, which should be determined thoroughly by your doctor and then the treatment can be adjusted accordingly. In case the asthma is kept well under control, your doctor may prescribe less medicine. However, if your asthma is not kept under control or has worsened, your doctor may accordingly raise your medication dose and also advise more frequent checking.

Asthma can be treated through several types of medications. A combination of long-term control medications and quick relief medications is generally used. The main types of asthma medications include:

Long-term-control medications, also called as preventers are used regularly and are taken long term to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. These medications are generally used every day for a long time, in order to control chronic asthma.

Quick-relief medications, also called as relievers are used for speedy, short-term relief during symptoms of worsening asthma attack.

Medications for allergy-induced asthma reduce your body's reaction to a particular allergy and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergies.

Due to a lot of different factors involved in asthma, a treatment plan will be different for different patients. Your doctor may prescribe and change the medications according to the severity of the asthma attack. It is advisable for you and your doctor to work together to control asthma, reduce severity and frequency of attacks and help lead a normal and active life.

For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from chemical intolerance and food sensitivity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amit_Salkar

Treatment for Asthma - How to Treat It

2008-09-05T03:37:00.000-07:00

Asthma is chronic disease that affects the airways or the tubes that carries air in and out of the lungs. Asthmatics have inflamed airways or the inside walls of the airways are swollen with excessive mucus production making breathing difficult. Symptoms include wheezing, chest pains, difficulty breathing and coughing. Asthma is a very uncomfortable and life-threatening disease if not treated correctly. You should know how to treat your asthma to avoid serious attacks.

Asthma attacks vary from person to person, but severe asthma attack is life threatening. The airways may close due to too much swelling and mucus production; in this case your body vital organs will not receive enough oxygen and this may cause death. You have to know how to treat your asthma before it could get serious.

Managing and knowing how to treat your asthma is a vital part of your life if you are an asthmatic. You cannot afford to ignore your asthma if you want to lead an asthma attack free life. You have to take all the cautions and the stay away from things that will trigger an asthma attack. Asthma treatment includes:

* Avoid your triggers or the things that will worsen your asthma symptoms. By following this you can control your asthma and may not need medication all the time. You have to identify your asthma triggers to know how to treat your asthma. Some triggers are allergens like dust and pollens. Viral infections like common colds and irritants like perfumes and aerosols are also asthma triggers.
* Observe the condition or monitor your asthma to know when your symptoms are getting worse so that you can prevent asthma attacks. By anticipating asthma flare up you can prevent possible asthma attacks.
* There are 2 types of asthma medications one is to prevent asthma attacks and another is to treat asthma attacks. You have to work closely with your doctor on how to administer and take these medications to achieve a better condition and to know how to treat your asthma.
* Learn and read more about asthma, there are new developments and treatments discovered as time goes on and those who are interested enough to read and learn the latest treatment for asthma are those who are successful in controlling their asthma. You need to know the latest development on how to treat your asthma.

Asthma can be controlled and managed and asthmatics can live normally. Did you know that you can have an asthma attack free life? Do you want to be free of your asthma and allergy symptoms? Do you hate asthma and allergy drug side effects? You and your loved ones never have to suffer a potentially life-threatening asthma or allergy attack again.

To find out how to treat your asthma visit Asthma Information Page

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including How to Treat Your Asthma. To know the Secrets of Asthma Diet visit Secrets of Asthma Diet

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Restrivera

Treatment for Asthma - Know Your Asthma Treatment

2008-09-04T08:16:00.001-07:00

· Let your doctor know if you are taking any other types of medication. Some medication types can affect the actions of asthma medications when combined.

· Before preparing or taking medications you should make sure your hands are clean.

· Double-check the instructions on the asthma treatment medication before taking it.

· Store the asthma drugs according to given instructions.

· The best asthma control can be achieved if you follow your asthma chart. Following the guidelines set by your doctor will increase the effectiveness of asthma inhalers and asthma medication

· Ask your doctor to describe medication side effects, although these are rare and of reduced danger.

· Make sure to always have sufficient supplies of medication nearby.

· Check out the links below for more relevant asthma control medication

There are two main components related to asthma that you can use specialized medications for: the airway inflammation and the constriction of the air passage muscles. Asthma medication is mostly used to prevent inflammation, thus reducing the negative effects of the condition and eliminating chances for asthma attacks. Here are the main types of asthma medications:

Asthma control medication

This sort of medication has to be taken on a daily basis for extended periods of time. Getting control of asthma is now possible, but only if the asthma treatment is carried our consciously and without interruptions. Persistent asthma can be subdued is the right medication is prescribed for the patient. Activity impairing asthma attacks are less frequent when the proper asthma medication is used, a fact that determines many patients to follow their asthma treatment continuously. Among long term asthma medications you will find anti inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, beta agonists and bronchodilators.

Asthma attack medication

Most quick relief medications are also very efficient during asthma attacks. Short acting bronchodilators and beta-agonists are some of the drugs commonly used to relieve asthma symptoms. Some systemic corticoids are also found in asthma medication designed for attack stoppage.

More relevant asthma information is available below:

Asthmaxpert

Arthritis treatment information

Depression Treatment Expert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Rad

Michael Rad - EzineArticles Expert Author

Treatment for Asthma - The Genetics Of Asthma

2008-09-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

With the decrease in air quality, asthma has become a very prevalent condition, especially in Western societies. An asthma allergy is often seen in children and adolescents, with it being less common in adults. Even though it is less common in adults, it is still possible for many adults to be diagnosed and suffer from asthma.

An asthma allergy is a condition in which targets the respiratory system. An irritant is breathed into the lungs, and this goes on to cause inflammation of the tubes of the lungs called the bronchi and bronchioles. This inflammation initiates release of chemicals that causes the entrances to the lung tissue to constrict. The result of this is the coughing sound produced along with any wheezing.

Even though there has not been a gene located that shows if someone will be diagnosed with asthma or not, asthma allergy does have a tendency to run in families. Therefore, scientist believe that if you have a parent with asthma, and depending on you genetic makeup, you run the risk of being predisposed to a diagnosis of asthma. Your risk of been diagnosed with an asthma allergy increases if you also have a sibling who has also been diagnosed with asthma.

However, even though asthma allergy might have a genetic tendency, the environment still plays a factor in the flare up of an attack. For example, being around pets, cigarette smoke, and dust mites can lead to an asthma attack for some people. Anyone with should try to avoid conditions that might triggers there asthma.

C Dietzig is co owner of asthmatreatment.first-results.com where they discuss asthma treatment and how to live a normal productive life with asthma.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C_Dietzig

Treatment for Asthma - Dealing With An Asthma Allergy

2008-09-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

For someone suffering from asthma allergy, it is beneficial to have an idea of what exactly this condition entails, and ways you can prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. Depending on the person and what has caused the asthma, an asthma allergy can vary from a mild attack of asthma to a more severe attack of asthma. A severe attack of asthma is characterized by a difficulty breathing, with lack of oxygen in the lips and extremities.

Often the best way to treat an asthma allergy is to have a checkup by a trained medical professional such as a doctor. A doctor can run a series of tests to confirm if you have an allergy that causes asthma. Then the doctor can choose the best course for treatment.

The best type of medication for the treatment of an asthma allergy involves a substance, which is able to decrease the inflammation of the lining of the respiratory system. Some of these medications function by decreasing the production of other chemicals, which cause inflammation and narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi and bronchioles. It is important to seek help quickly so this type of medication can be administered quickly in the event of an acute asthma attack.

Even with medications for treating an asthma allergy, it is still a good idea to remember that prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, it is a good idea to stay away from any of the chemicals and substances, which cause you to have an asthma attack.

C Dietzig is co owner of asthmatreatment.first-results.com where they discuss asthma treatment and how to live a normal productive life with asthma.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C_Dietzig

How Vitamins Prevent From Asthma

2008-09-04T00:16:00.000-07:00

Health and Fitness has now become one of the major concerns. Earlier humans used to hunt for their living, due to which their body had to undergo a lot of physical exercise. This made life active and alert. Now, life has become more simple and easy. Everything we need is just a phone call away. This easy life has restricted humans to do that bit of physical exercise which is required to keep the body fit and healthy. We get instant, spicy and variety of food which lose their nutrition during the process.

Eat more cold water fish with high content of fish oils. Eating oily fish like salmon, halibut, sardines (packed in mustard or tomato sauce, not oil), or tuna regularly may reduce the risk of asthma symptoms. Children who eat lots of amounts of whole grain products and fish seem to have a reduced risk of developing asthma. "The rise in the prevalence of asthma in western societies may be related to changed dietary habits. Studies of children have shown that asthma is less likely with increasing intake of "fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and fish. Teens who don't eat enough fruit and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids are more likely to suffer from bronchitis, wheezing and asthma.

Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet and decreasing both high-fat and high-sugar items also may be part of a process of natural asthma remedies. Controlling highly processed and chemical-laden foods may eliminate any simultaneously occurring food allergies that may be increasing the severity of your asthma conditions. Avoid foods that are made with white flour and try to choose whole grain alternatives. Whole-wheat pastas, breads and even dinner rolls are a wonderful alternative to the highly processed white breads usually consumed in Western diets.

Sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils like olive oil, canola and sunflower oil, margarine, wheat germ, nuts, sunflower seeds, leafy green vegetables, meat and fish. So eating salad before one meal every day is a habit to strive for not just for pregnant women, but for everyone.

A lack of Vitamin B6 has been found in many asthma sufferers.(1) This may be due to the fact that the medications in many asthma inhalers interfere with the absorption of B6 by the body. In mild to average cases, the addition of a B6 supplement to the diet appears to lessen the occurrence of asthma attacks.

Vitamin C in apples helps the immune system and helps protect against bleeding gums and bruising easily. There is also a benefit in preventing tooth decay, as apples have properties that can kill up to 80 per cent of bacteria, and here is a major benefit that most people don’t know about. Apples contain phytonutrients which are substances that can help prevent neurodegenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Anyone who suffers from asthma should eat a healthy, whole-foods diet based on lean proteins, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Large amounts of saturated and animal fats should be avoided as should dairy products which tend to increase the production of mucus. Recent research suggests that Western diets may be linked to asthmatic and allergic reactions in children.3 Vegan and vegetarian diets have been tried as therapy for asthma and have shown benefit in some people, possibly due to the elimination of allergens and/or altered fatty acid metabolism.

Read about Herbal Remedies, Natural Remedies. Also read about Breast Enlargement and Breast Enhancement and Pregnancy Information Guide.

What Is Asthma?

2008-08-31T23:05:00.000-07:00

Asthma (Az-muh) is a chronic disease that affects your airways. The airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation (IN-fla-MAY-shun) makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they get narrower, and less air flows through to your lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning.

Asthma cannot be cured, but most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live active lives.

When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it is called an asthma episode or attack. During an asthma attack, muscles around the airways tighten up, making the airways narrower so less air flows through. Inflammation increases, and the airways become more swollen and even narrower. Cells in the airways may also make more mucus than usual. This extra mucus also narrows the airways. These changes make it harder to breathe.

Asthma attacks are not all the same—some are worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks.

So, if you have asthma, you should see your doctor regularly. You will need to learn what things cause your asthma symptoms and how to avoid them. Your doctor will also prescribe medicines to keep your asthma under control.

Taking care of your asthma is an important part of your life. Controlling it means working closely with your doctor to learn what to do, staying away from things that bother your airways, taking medicines as directed by your doctor, and monitoring your asthma so that you can respond quickly to signs of an attack. By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all activities.

If your asthma is not well controlled, you are likely to have symptoms that can make you miss school or work and keep you from doing things you enjoy. Asthma is one of the leading causes of children missing school.

What Causes Asthma?

2008-08-31T23:04:00.000-07:00

It is not clear exactly what makes the airways of people with asthma inflamed in the first place. Your inflamed airways may be due to a combination of things. We know that if other people in your family have asthma, you are more likely to develop it. New research suggests that being exposed to things like tobacco smoke, infections, and some allergens early in your life may increase your chances of developing asthma.

What Causes Asthma Symptoms and Attacks?

2008-08-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

There are things in the environment that bring on your asthma symptoms and lead to asthma attacks. Some of the more common things include exercise, allergens, irritants, and viral infections. Some people have asthma only when they exercise or have a viral infection.

The list below gives some examples of things that can bring on asthma symptoms.

Allergens

Animal dander (from the skin, hair, or feathers of animals)
Dust mites (contained in house dust)
Cockroaches
Pollen from trees and grass
Mold (indoor and outdoor)

Irritants

Cigarette smoke
Air pollution
Cold air or changes in weather
Strong odors from painting or cooking
Scented products
Strong emotional expression (including crying or laughing hard) and stress

Others

Medicines such as aspirin and beta-blockers
Sulfites in food (dried fruit) or beverages (wine)
A condition called gastroesophageal (GAS-tro-e-sof-o-JEE-al) reflux disease that causes heartburn and can worsen asthma symptoms, especially at night
Irritants or allergens that you may be exposed to at your work, such as special chemicals or dusts
Infections

This is not a complete list of all the things that can bring on asthma symptoms. People can have trouble with one or more of these. It is important for you to learn which ones are problems for you. Your doctor can help you identify which things affect your asthma and ways to avoid them.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Asthma?

2008-08-29T03:23:00.000-07:00

Common asthma symptoms include:

Coughing. Coughing from asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe.
Chest tightness. This can feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
Shortness of breath. Some people say they can't catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath. You may feel like you can't get enough air in or out of your lungs.
Faster breathing or noisy breathing.

Not all people have these symptoms, and symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Symptoms can differ in how severe they are: Sometimes symptoms can be mildly annoying, other times they can be serious enough to make you stop what you are doing, and sometimes symptoms can be so serious that they are life threatening.

Symptoms also differ in how often they occur. Some people with asthma have symptoms only once every few months, others have symptoms every week, and still other people have symptoms every day. With proper treatment, however, most people with asthma can expect to have few or no symptoms.

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

2008-08-29T03:12:00.000-07:00

Some things your doctor will ask about include:

Periods of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness that come on suddenly, occur often, or seem to happen during certain times of the year or season
Colds that seem to "go to the chest" or take more than 10 days to get over
Medicines you may have used to help your breathing
Your family history of asthma and allergies
Things that seem to cause your symptoms or make them worse

Your doctor will listen to your breathing and look for signs of asthma or allergies.

Your doctor will probably use a device called a spirometer (speh-ROM-et-er) to check how your lungs are working. This test is called spirometry (speh-ROM-eh-tree). The test measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs after taking a deep breath, and how fast you can do it . The results will be lower than normal if your airways are inflamed and narrowed, or if the muscles around your airways have tightened up.

As part of the test, your doctor may give you a medicine that helps open narrowed airways to see if the medicine changes or improves your test results.

Spirometry is also used to check your asthma over time to see how you are doing.

Spirometry usually cannot be used in children younger than 5 years. If your child is younger than 5 years, the doctor may decide to try medicine for a while to see if the child's symptoms get better.
If your spirometry results are normal but you have asthma symptoms, your doctor will probably want you to have other tests to see what else could be causing your symptoms.

These include:

Allergy testing to find out if and what allergens affect you.
A test in which you use a peak flow meter every day for 1-2 weeks to check your breathing. A peak flow meter is a hand-held device that helps you monitor how well you are breathing.
A test to see how your airways react to exercise.
Tests to see if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease.
A test to see if you have sinus disease.

Other tests, such as a chest x ray or an electrocardiogram, may be needed to find out if a foreign object or other lung diseases or heart disease could be causing your symptoms. A correct diagnosis is important because asthma is treated differently from other diseases with similar symptoms.

Depending on the results of your physical exam, medical history, and lung function tests, your doctor can determine how severe your asthma is. This is important because the severity of your asthma will determine how your asthma should be treated. One way for doctors to classify asthma severity is by considering how often you have symptoms when you are not taking any medicine or when your asthma is not well controlled.

Based on symptoms, the four levels of asthma severity are:

Mild intermittent (comes and goes)—you have episodes of asthma symptoms twice a week or less, and you are bothered by symptoms at night twice a month or less; between episodes, however, you have no symptoms and your lung function is normal.
Mild persistent asthma—you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day. You are bothered by symptoms at night more than twice a month. You may have asthma attacks that affect your activity.
Moderate persistent asthma—you have asthma symptoms every day, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms more than once a week. Asthma attacks may affect your activity.
Severe persistent asthma—you have symptoms throughout the day on most days, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms often. In severe asthma, your physical activity is likely to be limited.

Anyone with asthma can have a severe attack—even people who have intermittent or mild persistent asthma.

How Is Asthma Treated?

2008-08-29T02:43:00.000-07:00

Your doctor can work with you to decide about your treatment goals and what you need to do to control your asthma to achieve these goals. Asthma treatment includes:

Working closely with your doctor to decide what your treatment goals are and learning how to meet those goals.
Avoiding things that bring on your asthma symptoms or make your symptoms worse. Doing so can reduce the amount of medicine you need to control your asthma.
Using asthma medicines. Allergy medicine and shots may also help control asthma in some people.
Monitoring your asthma so that you can recognize when your symptoms are getting worse and respond quickly to prevent or stop an asthma attack.

With proper treatment, you should ideally have these results:

Your asthma should be controlled.
You should be free of asthma symptoms.
You should have fewer attacks.
You should need to use quick-relief medicines less often.
You should be able to do normal activities without having symptoms.

Your doctor will work with you to develop an asthma self-management plan for controlling your asthma on a daily basis and an emergency action plan for stopping asthma attacks. These plans will tell you what medicines you should take and other things you should do to keep your asthma under control.

Medicines for Asthma

There are two main types of medicines for asthma:

Quick-relief medicines—taken at the first signs of asthma symptoms for immediate relief of these symptoms. You will feel the effects of these medicines within minutes.
Long-term control medicines—taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to prevent symptoms and asthma episodes or attacks. You will feel the full effects of these medicines after taking them for a few weeks. People with persistent asthma need long-term control medicines.

Quick-relief medicines

Everyone with asthma needs a quick-relief or "rescue" medicine to stop asthma symptoms before they get worse. Short-acting inhaled beta-agonists are the preferred quick-relief medicine. These medicines are bronchodilators. They act quickly to relax tightened muscles around your airways so that the airways can open up and allow more air to flow through.

You should take your quick-relief medicine when you first begin to feel asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. You should carry your quick-relief inhaler with you at all times in case of an asthma attack.

Your doctor may recommend that you take your quick-relief medicines at other times as well—for example, before exercise.

Long-term control medicines

The most effective, long-term control medicine for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid (kor-ti-ko-STE-roid) because this medicine reduces the airway swelling that makes asthma attacks more likely.

Inhaled corticosteroids (or steroids for short) are the preferred medicine for controlling mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. They are generally safe when taken as directed by your doctor.

In some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used for short periods of time to bring asthma under control. The tablet or liquid form may also be used to control severe asthma.

Other long-term control medicines include:

Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists. These medicines are bronchodilators, or muscle relaxers, not anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used to help control moderate and severe asthma and to prevent nighttime symptoms. Long-acting beta-agonists are usually taken together with inhaled corticosteroid medicines.
Leukotriene modifiers (montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton), which are used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate or severe asthma.
Cromolyn and nedocromil, which are used to treat mild persistent asthma.
Theophylline, which is used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate persistent asthma. People who take theophylline should have their blood levels checked to be sure the dose is appropriate.

If you stop taking long-term control medicines, your asthma will likely worsen again.

Many people with asthma need both a short-acting bronchodilator to use when symptoms worsen and long-term daily asthma control medicines to treat the ongoing inflammation.

Over time, your doctor may need to make changes in your asthma medicine. You may need to increase your dose, lower your dose, or try a combination of medicines. Be sure to work with your doctor to find the best treatment for your asthma. The goal is to use the least amount of medicine necessary to control your asthma.

Most asthma medicines are inhaled. They go directly into your lungs where they are needed. There are many kinds of inhalers, and many require different techniques. It is important to know how to use your inhaler correctly.

Use a Peak Flow Meter

As part of your daily asthma self-management plan, your doctor may recommend that you use a hand-held device called a peak flow meter at home to monitor how well your lungs are working.

You use the peak flow meter by taking a deep breath in and then blowing the air out hard into the peak flow meter. The peak flow meter then gives you a peak flow number that tells you how fast you moved the air out.

You will need to find out your "personal best" peak flow number. You do this by recording your peak flow number every day for a few weeks until your asthma is under control. The highest number you get during that time is your personal best peak flow. Then you can compare future peak flow measurements to your personal best peak flow, and that will show if your asthma is staying under control.

Your doctor will tell you how and when to use your peak flow meter and how to use your medicines based on the results. You may be advised to use your peak flow meter each morning to keep track of how well you are breathing.

Your peak flow meter can help warn you of a possible asthma attack even before you notice symptoms. If your peak flow meter shows that your breathing is getting worse, you should follow your emergency asthma action plan. Take your quick-relief or other medicines as your doctor directed. Then you can use the peak flow meter to see how your airways are responding to the medicine.

Ask your doctor about how you can take care of your asthma. You should know:

What things tend to make your asthma worse and how to avoid them
Early signs to watch for that mean your asthma is starting to get worse (like a drop in your peak flow number or an increase in symptoms)
How and when to use your peak flow meter
What medicines to take, how much to take, when to take them, and how to take them correctly
When to call or see your doctor
When you should get emergency treatment

Treating Asthma in Children

Children with asthma, like adults with asthma, should see a doctor for treatment of their asthma. Treatment may include allergy testing, finding ways to limit contact with things that bring on asthma attacks, and taking medicine.

Young children will need help from their parents and other caregivers to keep their asthma under control. Older children can learn to care for themselves and follow their asthma self-management plan with less supervision.

Asthma medicines for children are like those adults use, but doses are smaller. Children with asthma may need both a quick-relief (or "rescue") inhaler for attacks and daily medicine to control their asthma. Children with moderate or severe asthma should learn to use a peak flow meter to help keep their asthma under control. Using a peak flow meter can be very helpful because children often have a hard time describing their symptoms.

Parents should be alert for possible signs of asthma in children, such as coughing at night, frequent colds, wheezing, or other signs of breathing problems. If you suspect that your child has asthma or that your child's asthma is not well controlled, take your child to a doctor for an exam and testing.

Your doctor will choose medicines for your child based on the child's symptoms and test results. If your child has asthma, you will need to go to the doctor for regular followup visits and to make sure that your child uses the medicines properly.

Treating Asthma in Older Adults

Older adults may need to adjust their asthma treatment because of other diseases or conditions that they have. Some medicines (like beta blockers used for treating high blood pressure and glaucoma; aspirin; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can interfere with asthma medicines or even cause asthma attacks. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medicines that you take, including over-the-counter ones.

Using steroids may affect bone density in adults, so ask your doctor about taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and other ways to help keep your bones strong.

Treating Asthma in Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, it is very important to both you and your baby to control your asthma. Uncontrolled asthma can lower the oxygen level in your blood, which means that your baby gets less oxygen too.

Most asthma medicines are generally safe to take during pregnancy. Doctors recommend that it is safer to take asthma medicines during pregnancy than to take the chance that you will have an attack.

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about your asthma and how to have a healthy pregnancy.

Treating Exercise-Induced Asthma
Regular physical activity is important for good health. If exercise brings on your asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about the best ways to control your asthma when you are active. Some people with asthma use inhaled, quick-relief medicines before exercising to keep symptoms under control.

If you use your asthma medicines as directed, you should be able to take part in any physical activity or sport you choose. Many Olympic athletes have asthma.

Treatment for Asthma - Asthma Medication and Treatment

2008-08-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

Asthma treatment is a growing field in the health care community. That is because so many people, particularly children, are being diagnosed with the condition. An increasing number of families are looking for more innovative asthma treatment programs. In general, asthma treatment can be divided into two categories: systematic long-term control and quick-relief symptom medications.

Long-term control medications must be taken each day as part of asthma treatment. This kind of asthma treatment regimen is primarily designed to control the inflammation of the airways. Quick-relief medications can provide effective asthma treatment by relaxing the bronchial smooth muscles, and combatting acute asthma attacks.

Asthma treatment involving medication can be taken orally or through inhalation. The most common asthma treatment method involves metered-dose inhalers, or MDIs. However, another popular asthma treatment option is the dry powder inhaler. Nebulizers are a favorite asthma treatment method for children because they're easier to use.

One asthma treatment strategy involves anti-inflammatories which prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into the airway tissues. Through the reduction in inflammation, this asthma treatment method reduces the likelihood of spasms of the airway muscle.

While asthma cannot be cured, it can be managed through appropriate asthma treatment. One of the first steps in asthma treatment involves changing an asthmatic's environment. This type of asthma treatment can be as simple as washing bedding each week in hot water, or eliminating pets from the home.

Other effective asthma treatment involves using the air conditioner, replacing carpeting with hardwood or tile, using leather or vinyl furniture rather than upholstered chairs and sofas, and replacing down bedding with bedding made with synthetic materials. Keeping the humidity low can be another asthma treatment strategy.

Yet another asthma treatment option involves allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy. With this asthma treatment, allergen extracts are injected into a patient to desensitize the person. The asthma treatment usually involves no more than five shots a week, with the dosage increased over time.

The author, Bill Urell, reviews only the best diet and fitness plans, tips, and articles that promote healthier lifestyles. Visit us and claim your FREE ebook, 101 Romantic Ideas as a welcome gift ==>http://www.online-weight-loss-resources.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Urell

Asthma - A Disease on the Rise - What Can You Do About it?

2008-08-28T05:49:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic disease involving the respiratory system in which the airways become constricted, inflamed and lined with excessive mucous, often in response to one or more environmental triggers.

The incidence of asthma is increasing worldwide and has become much more common in affluent countries over the last few years. It is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors that researchers do not fully understand as yet.

Asthma symptoms usually begin in early childhood, however asthma can present at any age, including in elderly persons. It is not generally considered a serious illness in most people who have it, mainly due to the mildness of symptoms and the range of very effective medicines. Even so, asthma is one of the most common reasons for emergency department visits and hospitalization. Severe asthma attacks which may not be responsive to standard treatments are life threatening and may lead to respiratory failure and death. Despite the severity of symptoms during an asthmatic episode, between attacks even severely asthmatic people may show few or even no signs of the disease.

Prevalence is greater in females after puberty and in the majority of adult onset cases diagnosed in persons over 40 years in females. The incidence is increased in very young persons and the very old because of airway responsiveness and lower levels of lung function

Asthma often runs in families and you can inherit the susceptibility to Asthma, which is then triggered by certain factors in the environment Attacks are usually easily kept at bay with simple preventative measures and judicious use of bronchodilating inhalers. Asthma can however have an effect on quality of life because attacks can be unpleasant and distressing and can restrict activity.Having said that, while Asthma cannot be cured, appropriate management can control the disorder and enable people to enjoy most of the activities their peers take part in.

Many environmental risk factors have been associated with Asthma but a few stand out; poor air quality from pollution, smoking or high ozone levels, hormonal changes in adolescent girls or women, pregnancy, pets and wool fibres. The condition can be triggered by respiratory infections, exercise, cold air, tobacco smoke, and other pollutants, stress, food or drug allergies. Strong emotional states can also trigger attacks.

Tests used to diagnose asthma include spirometry and peak flow meter tests which involve blowing into devices that measure how well the lungs are performing, as well as allergy tests and special exercise tolerance tests.

Symptoms can be substantially reduced by avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants. The most effective treatment is identifying triggers and eliminating them. When medication is necessary, the specific medical treatment recommended depends on the severity of the patient's illness and the frequency of their symptoms. Medications are divided into 2 categories, quick relief and preventative long term medications, both are usually dispensed by means of inhalers. In severe asthmatics oral glucocorticoids may be added to the normal medications when a major attack occurs. As with other disorders, many asthmatics use alternative treatments including, allergy desensitization, osteopathy, chiropractice and physiotherapy.

The use of hypoallergenic mattresses and pillow covers to control dust mites is also commonly recommended. Hypnotherapy is a particularly useful control method for those willing to believe.

Dick Aronson has been involved in the healthcare industry for 35 years. He has written numerous articles on the subject and runs a number of informative websites, visit: http://www.healthinnovationsonline.com/Asthma-Liberation.html and http://www.asthmaselect.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dick_Aronson

Can Asthma Be Prevented?

2008-08-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

We don't yet know how to prevent asthma, but there are some things that can lower your chances of having an asthma attack.
To prevent asthma symptoms:

Learn about your asthma and how to control it.
Use medicines as directed by your doctor to prevent or stop attacks.
Avoid things that make your asthma worse as much as possible.
Get regular checkups from your doctor.
Follow your asthma self-management plan.

Scientists do not yet know how to prevent the inflammation of the airways that leads to asthma. Scientists are exploring some theories:

Babies exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to get asthma. If a woman is exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy, her baby may also be more likely to get asthma.
Obesity may be linked to asthma, as well as other health problems.

Key Points

2008-08-28T04:46:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs.
In asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed, or swollen. The inflammation makes them very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When they react, they get narrower and less air flows through to your lungs. This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning.
Asthma cannot be cured, but most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live normal, active lives.
When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it is called an asthma episode or attack. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen can get to your vital organs. People can die from severe asthma attacks.
Taking care of your asthma is an important part of your life. Controlling it means working closely with your doctor to learn how to manage your condition, staying away from things that bother your airways and bring on asthma symptoms, taking medicines as directed by your doctor, and monitoring your asthma so you can respond quickly to signs of an attack. Ask your doctor for a written daily asthma self-management plan and an emergency action plan for asthma attacks, and make sure you understand and know how to use them.
Researchers still do not know what causes asthma, although they do know that if other people in your family have asthma, you are more likely to develop it. Being exposed early in your life to things like tobacco smoke, infections, and some allergens may also increase your chances of developing asthma.
Some of the more common things that bring on asthma symptoms include exercise, allergens, irritants, and viral infections.
Common asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and faster or noisy breathing.
Doctors find out whether you have asthma by looking at your family history of asthma and allergies, exploring the things that seem to cause your symptoms or make them worse, and giving you a test, called spirometry, that measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs after taking a deep breath and how quickly you can do it. They may also perform tests to find out if you have allergies, to see how your airways react to exercise, to find out whether you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or sinus disease, and to rule out heart disease and other lung diseases.
Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms.
Short-acting inhaled beta-agonists are the preferred quick-relief medicine. The most effective, long-term control medicine is an inhaled corticosteroid, which reduces inflammation in your lungs. Most long-term control medicines must be taken daily, even when you do not have symptoms.
Other long-term control medicines include inhaled long-acting beta-agonists, leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn, and theophylline.
Most asthma medicines are inhaled. As a result, they go straight to your lungs where they are needed. It is important to learn how to use your inhalers correctly.
Many people with asthma need to monitor their condition with a peak flow meter. This is a hand-held device that measures how well your lungs are working. A peak flow meter can help you detect early changes in your condition, especially if you change your medicines, and warn you of a possible attack even before you feel symptoms.
Parents of children with asthma need to help them manage their asthma, including making sure the child uses his or her medicines properly and watching for any signs of an attack.
Older people with asthma may need to adjust their treatment because of other diseases or conditions that they have. Some medicines that many older people take can interfere with asthma medicines or even cause asthma attacks.
It is especially important for pregnant women with asthma to control their asthma. Uncontrolled asthma can limit the supply of oxygen to the fetus. Doctors recommend that it is safer to take asthma medicines during pregnancy than to take the chance that you will have an attack.
Regular physical activity is just as important for people with asthma as for the rest of the population. If exercise brings on your asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about the best ways to control your asthma when you are active.

If You Think Allergies Are Not a Big Deal, Think Again

2008-07-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

There's always seemed to be a suspicion of a link between asthma and allergies. Asthma, is a chronic illness characterized by inflammation of respiratory tubes that result in wheezing, a choking sensation and shortness of breath. A better understanding of asthma will result in an appreciation of the importance to address allergies quickly. Simply stated, continued research is suggesting that allergies are a main cause of the development of asthma.

The case concerning the connection between allergies and asthma is so strong that it has led Dr. James T. Li, an allergy specialist at the www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergies-and-asthma/ to suggest that it's many as 60% of the people with asthma have a form of allergy induced asthma. If correct, this makes allergies one of the leading causes of asthma. Given the high number and type of asthmatic triggers that have been identified, it shouldn't come as a surprise that allergies may play a large role in the development of asthma

A trigger is simply an event that can cause someone with asthma to have an attack. While many people with allergies have cold and flu like symptoms, an allergy attack can seriously affect one's ability to breathe. Asthma triggers include dust, dust mites, molds and mildew, pet dander, smoke odors and almost anything that can be taken into the body by breathing. So it stands to reason that many of the causes of allergy would be closely related to asthma.

Allergen immunotherapy, which is allergy shots that desensitize, have been shown to significantly improve asthma. If you or someone you know has allergic asthma, the best treatment continues to be reducing your exposure to the things that may trigger an asthma attack. Understand however, that having allergies does not automatically mean that you will develop asthma, only that it increases your risk significantly. According to Dr. Li, up to 78% of the people who have asthma also have hay fever.

The key then is to understand that at a minimum, there is a casual link between allergies in the development of asthma. For this reason alone, it makes sense to try and limit your exposure to potential asthma triggers that may be in your home.

Although allergies seem to play a key role in the development of asthma, it's not the only cause to consider. There are many other forms of asthma that can develop over the course of time. With the prevalence of allergies playing a large role in the number of asthma cases, it just makes sense to protect yourself as much as possible.

About the Author
Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects . For more information on asthma and asthma treatment visit the site at http://www.asthma-treatment-resources.com/treatment-asthma/treatment-asthma-index.html and the main asthma page at http://www.asthma-treatment-resources.com

Fight Asthma With Vitamins And Over The Counter Products

2008-07-02T01:58:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by episodes or attacks of inflammation and narrowing of small airways in response to exposure to environmental stimuli. Asthma attacks can vary from mild to life threatening. The main symptom of Asthma is shortness of breath as the result of the bronchial passages becoming narrowed through exposure to some type of stress, either physical (allergy) or psychological.

During an asthma attack, histamine and leukotrienes are produced by respiratory system, which results in a rapid constriction of the smooth muscle of the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes narrow and reduces the amount of air that can pass.

Asthma is a seriously debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disease that affects more than 8 million adults in the United States. The incidence of asthma cases has surged in recent years, although researchers are not sure why. Asthma is the most common chronic pulmonary disorder in the United States. Asthma prevalence has been increasing to epidemic levels, especially in areas with high urbanization. More than 5,000 deaths are attributed to asthma attacks each year.

Asthma is experienced during the life span of approximately 10% of the population, resulting in morbidity and mortality costing a substantial economic burden on individuals and on society. Although the research in asthma has advanced rapidly in recent years, the etiology of asthma remains unclear. Asthma is not contagious, and although it appears to follow some genetic pattern. Researchers have found that an asthma attack can be caused by heredity, air pollution, food allergy, infections, emotional disturbances, and dozens of other factors.

Almost 5% of adult-onset asthma cases were recognized as having work-related symptoms. A worker reporting improvement of symptoms after being gone from the workplace over the weekend or after a vacation and then reporting a worsening of symptoms upon returning to the workplace is labeled as having work-related asthma.

Among the various risk factors of asthma, those of occupational origin are gaining more importance with time due to use of various chemicals in industries which potentially induce hypersensitivity and predisposition to asthma. In addition, there has long been evidence that physicians do not adequately assess the work-relatedness of many diseases, including asthma. It appears that providers seldom recorded information about occupation in notes on asthma unless they considered the symptoms triggered by workplace exposures.

Although prescription medication for the treatment of asthma are abundant and are improving in effectiveness, there are inherent risks and side effects with most of them. Despite many newer drugs for asthma, people are dying more frequently from this illness. It is apparent that asthma is not well controlled in many individuals.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Arteriosclerosis such as Vitamin C, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Butterbur, Vitamin A, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Manganese, Omega Smooth and Flavonoids.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the human body immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation report published in December 8, 2005 revealed that taking Vitamin D supplements could help improve the effects of steroid drugs used to treat Asthma.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Butterbur is a common herbal extract that is highly effective asthma therapy. As far back as the 17th century, butterbur was used to treat cough, asthma, and skin wounds.

A number of studies have suggested that taking antioxidants such a Vitamin A reduces the risk of bronchoconstriction associated with asthma. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Many find pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against asthma symptoms. It is another form of non-toxic Vitamin B.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from asthma symptoms.

Magnesium has been employed in the treatment of acute asthma, but its use has not become universal, nor has it been studied for the treatment of chronic asthma. Manganese has been found deficient in bronchial biopsies of asthmatic patients, indication manganese replenishment could aid in the treatment of asthma.

Omega smooth is a delicious tasting liquid that is derived from fish oil. Regular fish consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of children having asthma attacks.

Flavonoids are the brightly colored pigments found in most fruits and vegetables. When consumed, they have antioxidant properties and have been associated with improved lung junction.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

About the author:
David Cowley has created numerous articles about the relationship between diseases and vitamins.

Aging Treatment

Allergy Treatment

Bladder Treatment

Heart Disease

Other Articles by David Cowley

How to cure Asthma at home

2008-06-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. It is a disease of the airways or branches of the lung (bronchial tubes) that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma causes the airways to narrow, the lining of the airways to swell and the cells that line the airways to produce more mucus.

A chronic disease in which the bronchial airways in the lungs become narrowed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing. Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes or when the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. Condition characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of coughing, chest constriction, labored breathing, lung congestion and wheezing.

Asthma involves over reactivity by the parasympathetic vagus nerve. Constriction of the airways (bronchial tubes) to the lungs, producing symptoms of cough and shortness of breath. It may be an allergic response.

Any drug that is constantly used , stops working.Then the medication has to be changed and or dose increased. At last, a stage comes when all drugs in maximum doses become ineffective. But Asthma stays. Treatment for asthma varies, depending on severity. You could use an inhaler for individual attacks, take a pill daily to keep attacks from happening, or even take breathing treatments regularly to keep your airways open. Check with you Doctor for the best treatment for your asthma! Asthma is always related to a sudden, unexplained difficulty of breathing with accompanying wheezing and controlled only with bronchodilators (drugs). Emotions trigger the release of some hormones that tighten airways. When the emotion is controlled, problem is corrected.

The best non-medication treatment for asthma is to learn your triggers and avoid them. Asthma is an allergy. Allergies are triggered by irritants. If its pets, don't let the pet in the house or at least not in the bedroom. If its smoke, don't smoke or go places that are smoky. If you are unable to figure out your triggers, you will need prescription medications. Natural remedies just don't work most of the time.

Some tips and suggestion for asthma patients:

Avoid smoke, especially cigarette smoke, vapours and chemical fumes.
Stay indoors during the humid season or the change of seasons especially when the pollen count is high.
Do not use fans in closed and dusty places.
Cover mattresses and pillows with plastic covers. Wash the bedding in hot water every week.
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is thoroughly cleaned.
Do not have close contact with pets. Pet owners should bathe their pet weekly.
The cleaning of the house or the surroundings should be done by wet mopping rather than sweeping, wherever possible. This avoids the generation of allergen aerosols which could act as a triggering factor.

Author Bio - Sander Bel writes articles for weight loss. He also writes for natural herbs and womens health.

The main culprits in an asthma attack

2008-06-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Do we blame governments for not doing enough to combat asthma, or do we blame ourselves for not knowing enough?Who's to blame for the increasing amounts of asthma cases?Asthma cases are still rising. Compared to studies made twenty years ago the difference is amazing and frightening. We as people tend to want to find someone or something to blame when things go wrong. But in the case of asthma,

Asthma is not just a summer disease

2008-06-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

When summer is here an asthma child's parents are usually getting prepared for the worst. It is the time for high pollen counts that can cause havoc to an asthma sufferer. But the winter months can be just as bad, if not worse. Winter is the cold and flu season when everyone should be on their guard. If you or a family member has asthma, you need to take special precautions during these months to

Is asthma another reason to quit smoking?

2008-06-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

If ever you needed a good reason to stop smoking, developing asthma would be the most dramatic and unfortunate. We all know that smoking causes cancer of the lungs, chronic bronchitis and will also complicate viral infections. For the asthma sufferer the effects are ten fold. A person who is allergic to peanuts doesn't eat peanut butter for breakfast every morning, and if you have or develop

Asthma and scuba diving

2008-06-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

In many countries scuba diving for asthma sufferers is prohibited, but in many other countries is it not. more...Asthma treatmentsOriginally Posted on 6/17/2006 7:36:14 PMContent source: http://www.cure-your-asthma.com/articles/asthma09.htm

Asthma Treatments

2008-06-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Learning to read the signs goes a long way to controling asthma attacks.

The main problem with diagnosing asthma is that the typical asthma symptom can easily be confused with a common cold or flu virus. If you suspect yourself or your child to be displaying one of the following symptoms, go straight to your doctor. It's amazing how many people don't bother making an appointment with their GP,

A Familiar Vitamin for Asthma Treatment

2008-06-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

The word Asthma comes from the Greek meaning “to pant and really that is the singular most common asthma symptom and characterized the disease. During asthma attack the bronchial tubes and airways get swollen or even blocked completely, making it difficult for the sufferer to breathe. Compared to the Greek, the medical term for asthma is more of a mouthful: reversible obstructive airway disease; although this can be shortened to ROAD. The medical term is a little more revealing: asthma is reversible, meaning that asthma treatment is available. Treatment more often than not involves asthma medication that opens up the airways again and reduces the severity of the attack.

However, there is increasing research done into ways of preventing asthma attacks all together or at least improve the body’s ability to cope when any attack occurs. This asthma treatment is often natural, and reduces the need for any strong medication. Often, essential vitamins available in the diet can be used to both reduce the risks of asthma attacks, and reduce the severity of asthma symptoms.

Knowing the Cause of Asthma (http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Asthma.html)

The first step in asthma treatment, whether the natural root is taken or not, is to ask what the cause of your attacks is. Asthma is generally caused by an allergy, but the allergen could be anything from dust and pollen, to alcohol or pet dander; or even air-conditioning.

Reducing the Risks of Asthma Attacks
Part of any asthma treatment (http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Asthma.html) should be exercise and some light sports activity. Care must always be made not to overdo it, as this can trigger an asthma attack, but exercise can certainly improve the lungs capacity to withstand an attack when it does occur. Part of an exercise regimen for the treatment of asthma is to make sure you take time to warm up and cool off. Don’t attempt to push yourself and stop if you feel very tired.

A Familiar Vitamin
It seems that vitamin C is an effective treatment in almost every common disease or health concern. While it is certainly not a nutritional panacea - other vitamins are just as essential - vitamin C plays a role in reducing the effects of a number of diseases, asthma being no exception.

Studies have indicated that asthma treatment that includes plenty of vitamin C in the diet or as a supplement can reduce the number and risk of attacks. This vitamin is an antioxidant and its presence is necessary for building up lung tissue. A study done in young asthmatics showed that vitamin C in asthma treatment reduced the occurrence of symptoms considerably.

Another recent study also indicated that by upping vitamin C intake, the frequency of asthma attacks could be reduced. The study also tested the blood of those who participated and it found that those who suffered from asthma had lower levels of vitamin C. It is advisable to include fresh citrus fruits in the diet, and with extra supplementation vitamin C can be used as a natural asthma treatment without the side-effects of conventional medicine. Asthma treatment should bear this in mind and ensure that an adequate amount of vitamin C is part of the asthma treatment (http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Asthma.html).

Hives - Find Authoritative Natural Treatment Information, Plus Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements for Supporting Hives treatment, Symptoms, Causes.

Natural Treatment for Hives

Allergic asthma symptoms

2008-06-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

Discussing asthma we can look at two forms of Asthma. There is allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma. Both are still asthma and the asthmatic still suffers the same type of asthma attack. However, it's the way the asthma is triggered that makes the final decision about whether the asthma is triggered or classified as an "allergic asthma" or "non- allergic asthma". Several studies discuss the connection between people with Allergies and Asthma. As with "Asthma Treatment" the best method for treating people with allergic asthma is avoiding those"Asthma Triggers" or allergens which may launch your body into an asthma attack.

People suffering with allergies which are exposed to conditions where their allergies are affected will most likely suffer an asthma attack stemming from the reaction to their allergies. I read somewhere that people living in the U.S. suffering from asthma are typically diagnosed as having allergic asthma. This is common and people that are considered an allergic asthmatic is based around the conclusion that their asthma attack would not have been triggered if they would have been treated for their allergies prior to or in conjunction with their "long term asthma treatment". The other factor besides "allergens" to initiating an asthma attack could be something as simple as an asthmatic who has physically exerted themselves or the asthma attack was started because of exercise or some other strenuous activity.

Although I have discussed in other posts that their are two forms of Asthma treatment. Treating asthma for people with allergies will also fit into either of the two categories asthma treatment categories. Short term asthma treatment and long term asthma treatment. This treatment depends on how severe your allergies are. Hopefully, your not like me and suffer from allergies year round. I also suggest people with asthma that seem to notice that their asthma only acts up during a certain time of the year I would recommend these asthmatics see an "allergy specialist"

Why see an allergy specialist? I suggest this on the basis of the results that you will receive from a "scratch test" that the allergist will perform. As I stated prior, I suffer from allergies year round. I could understand when my allergies flared up in the spring or fall. However for the life of me I could never understand why they flared up during the winter. I found my answer after meeting with an allergy specialist. I was highly allergic to molds and dust. Living in an area where it is winter 8 months out of the whole year now made sense why I still suffered from allergies.

Non-Allergic(intrinsic) asthma
As the phrase alludes too.. asthma is for non-allergic asthmatics is not linked to allergies, the asthma attacks mostly stem from issues such anxiety, cold air, dry air, smoke viruses or other irritants. This basically leads to the asthmatic to other symptons and most likely can be identified if the asthmatic has kept track of their history of asthma and when their asthma attacks hoave occured.
In order to help prevent these asthma attacks or decide how to treat asthma we have to revisit and identifiy what the asthma triggers are before we can be sure whether the asthma attack stemmed from an allergic or non allergic reaction. Still in the end the focus always shifts back to long term asthma treatment versus long term asthma treatment. Yet, non of these treatment options can be used if we can not figure out what triggers our asthma attacks.

Coping with an asthma attack

2008-06-10T00:47:00.000-07:00

Asthma Treatments
Learning to deal with your illness is an important factor in dealing with asthma.

Knowing what to do and when.

In order to keep asthma under control and lead an ordinary life you need to learn to deal with your illness. An asthma attack can be a terrifying ordeal, and not only for children. Every year, thousands of people -young and old alike- have to be taken to hospital to

Asthma Triggers vs Causes

2008-06-08T00:39:00.000-07:00

If you have asthma, do you know the difference between its triggers and causes? You should -- your breathing may depend on it.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants, and this is characterized by difficulty in breathing. Asthma cannot be cured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life.

If you have asthma, managing it should be an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking your medicines as directed by your doctor.

When discussing diseases, it is important to distinguish between causes and triggers. A trigger is something which sets off an attack, but which did not make you asthmatic in the first place.

"Trigger factors", or "triggers", of asthma are used to describe the things which can cause an attack in someone who already has asthma..

But you hear these words used for the dog to which you are allergic, or the cat, or the pollen that cause your asthma, or the mold on the wallpaper which causes your asthma, and even about house dust mites. Instead of calling these causes, which is what they are, people call them "triggers". They say that their cat is triggering their asthma.

This is a bit like calling an on-coming car the trigger of an accident.

Demoting causes, by calling them triggers, makes people think that the causes are not so important, and that maybe they should just keep using their inhalers instead of making efforts to root out the cause of their asthma and remove these from their environment.

A cause is something, without which, an effect (such as asthma) will not occur. Thus, a cause is something without which you would not be asthmatic. There may be more than one cause for an asthma attack.

We normally think of a trigger as something small that causes something big to happen suddenly. A trigger is one type of cause. But the implication is that the important causes have to be there already if the trigger is to work, and that the trigger is not important. It is the cause which is important.

For example, if you don't have asthmatic lungs, or your asthma is under control, a cold won't give you any symptoms of asthma.

In this sense, it is fair to call the cold a "trigger factor". In addition, if you stopped catching colds, this would not stop you having asthma, so in that sense it cannot be called the true cause of the disease.

But if you have an attack whenever you go near dogs, then dogs in the past have been the cause, and a dog now can trigger an attack. In other words, a dog can be a cause of asthma and also the trigger of an attack.

Concentrating only on the triggers of the attacks misses the really important point that contact with dogs was a cause of the asthma in the first place.

Obviously, an asthma sufferer will want to avoid both the causes and triggers of asthma, but the causes are more serious. Without the causes, the triggers could do absolutely no harm.

By: Barbara Jones

Diet For Asthma

2008-06-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

Yogic Diet for Asthma

Yoga lays great emphasis on diet and insists on avoiding common dietary errors. Sattvic (pure) foods form the ideal diet for an asthmatic. They are both, nourishing as well as easy to digest. An asthmatic’s diet should ideally be lacto-vegetarian. Research has proven that a predominantly vegetarian diet is best for them. Meat proteins take longer to digest and tend to be put a burden on the metabolic system. Non-vegetarians may start by cutting down on red meat, then gradually eliminate it altogether. Later, as they develop a taste for vegetarian fare, they will find themselves giving up other meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, too. However, seafoods, if not fried, have been proven beneficial to asthmatics.

An asthmatic’s diet should ideally contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins (they are acid-forming), with liberal helpings of alkaline foods like fresh fruits, green vegetables and germinated grains and pulses. Have plenty of dried fruits, like prunes, oranges or berries or a few black raisins with honey. Also have lots of salads of raw vegetables like beets, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, lettuce and wheat bread with one or two green vegetables, sautéed or slightly cooked.

Asthmatics should always eat less than their full capacity as it bears down upon the chest, resulting in a feeling of over-fullness and discomfort. Besides, they should pay careful attention to eating slowly, chewing their food well. They should also drink anywhere between six to ten glasses of water daily, but avoid liquids during meals.

Vitamins and Minerals for Asthma

1. Vitamin A plays a vital role in curing asthma. Beta-carotene A precursor to Vitamin A is found abundantly in carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, cantaloupe, pink grapefruit, apricots, broccoli, and spinach. The more intense the color of a fruit or vegetable, the higher is the beta-carotene content.

2. Vitamin B-6 enhances the autoimmune function and formation of hemoglobin. It is amply found in beans, nuts, legumes, eggs, meats, fish, whole grains, and fortified breads and cereals.

3. Vitamin C is another highly beneficial ingredient. Apples, apricots, avocadoes, breadfruit, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, kiwifruits, jujubes, melons, cantaloupess, peaches and pears are rich in Vitamin C.

4. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that increases the blood capacity to carry oxygen. It is found in wheat germ, corn, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, asparagus, and other green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils.

5. Zinc is an immune-enhancer that supports the adrenal glands. It is found in profusion in the following: baked beans, raisin bran, black, dried, peas, oatmeal and mixed nuts, particularly unsalted, roasted peanuts, almonds and walnuts.

6. Selenium is an antioxidant that protects the immune system from hypersensitivity. Brazil nuts, dried, oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat bread, black, dried, walnuts are all selenium rich foods.

7. Essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3 oils are extremely beneficial in reducing inflammation and alleviating asthma attacks. They are found abundantly in vegetarian foods like almonds, walnuts, pumpkin and flax seeds.

8. Tulsi or Holy Basil is one of the most beloved Ayurvedic herbs that helps reduce mucus and symptoms of irritability. The chemical eugenol, found in Tulsi is one of the most active constituents that contributes to its therapeutic effects.

Other Dietary Tips on Asthma

1. Common food allergens that tend to trigger an asthma attack include eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, chocolate, citrus fruits, food preservatives and coloring.

2. Remember an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. They are rich in flavonoids that function as antioxidants and reduce inflammation.

3. If you have a tendency to produces excess mucus, avoid dairy products.

4. Other foods that tend to produce phlegm are rice, sugar, pickles, chutneys, ice and iced drinks and curds, as also fried stuff and are difficult to digest and best avoided.

5. Spicy, fried, fatty foods, too much tea and coffee are best avoided.

6. The evening meal should preferably be finished before sundown or at least three hours before bedtime.

By: Kevin Pederson

Fish Oil Reduces Symptoms Of Exercise Induced Asthma

2008-06-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Fish oil can reduce the symptoms of exercise induced asthma to below the threshold for diagnosing it and at the same time lower the need for emergency medication according to the results of a trial carried out by Indiana University in Bloomington, USA.

The trial was a randomised double blind cross over study and involved 16 people who had mild to moderate asthma and who normally took medication on a daily basis to control it. During the trial those taking part were given either fish oil or a placebo for a period of three weeks. The dose of fish oil was quite high containing 3.2gr of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 2gr of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Both at the beginning and at the end of the trial, the participants were subjected to lung efficiency tests and had their sputum analysed for pro inflammatory cells and markers. Those who were given fish oil showed improved lung efficiency of about 64% and reduced their need for emergency medication by around 31%. They also had a lower level of pro inflammatory cells and markers in their sputum. These promising results are believed to be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of the Omega 3 fatty acids that are present in fish oil.

What is exercise induced asthma?

After exercise and sometimes even during exercise, the airway passages in people with exercise induced asthma become inflamed and narrower resulting in decreased lung efficiency, often making it necessary to use inhalers. The constriction of the airways causes various symptoms including coughing, tightness across the chest, wheezing and shortness of breath. These symptoms generally start to ease off gradually over a period of half an hour or so following exercise.

No one really knows what causes it but it is thought to be triggered by the drying out and cooling of the airway passages which results in the cells releasing pro inflammatory chemicals which then causes a narrowing of the airways. Consequently, exercising in cool and dry conditions outdoors is more likely to result in an attack of asthma than physical activities such as swimming where the air is moist and warmer.

One major problem with exercise induced asthma is that it can be a barrier to exercise for many people, particularly youngsters who can be put off sport and other physical exercise because of it. It is also on the increase and the reason for this is thought to be linked to an increased consumption of Omega 6 fatty acids in the diet along with a reduction in the amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 6 is known to be pro-inflammatory whereas Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory properties and it is this difference in ratio that is thought to be responsible for a rise in a number of health problems.

Omega 6 is found in processed foods, vegetable oils, meats and dairy products so there is an abundance of them in our diet. The Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA on the other hand are only found in oily fish or fish oil as plant sources of Omega 3 do not contain EPA and DHA, they are in the form of Alpha linolenic acid or ALA, but the problem with ALA is that our bodies cannot easily process it to produce EPA, which is the fatty acid best known for its anti inflammatory effects.

You would have to eat an awful lot of fish to get the same amount of EPA that is present in fish oil, which isn't a good idea due to the potentially harmful toxins, including mercury, that are found in our fish. So, for this reason, fish oil offers a viable and safer alternative. Another point worthy of consideration is that long term use of medication for asthma can make it less effective and of course as with any medication there can also be unwanted side effects so if fish oil can reduce the need for medication and inhalers in people with exercise induced asthma, then that is exciting news indeed.

Conclusion

Fish oil is already known to offer both preventative and therapeutic health benefits for a number of conditions and so is an excellent supplement to promote good health in general. However, a word of caution, if you are thinking of trying fish oil supplements it is essential to opt only for the best quality fish oil known as pharmaceutical grade fish oil due to the potentially harmful toxins that can be present in lesser grade fish oils.

About The Author

Dave McEvoy is an expert in omega 3 fish oil EPA with over 20 years experience; for more information about fish oil and how it can help come and visit. http://www.mind1st.co.uk/fishoil_fishoilsupplements.asp

Yoga For Asthma

2008-06-04T00:35:00.000-07:00

What is Asthma?

Asthma is an ancient Greek word that means "panting, gasping or short-drawn breath." It is one of the most discomforting of respiratory ailments, known to affect around 5% of the world’s adult population and 10% of children. Asthmatics suffer from periodic attacks of breathlessness interspersed with bouts of complete normalcy.

When normal people inhale, their air sacs fill up with air like small balloons. In exhalation they deflate expelling air. Airways are clear and open in healthy people. In asthmatics, the reverse takes place because their airways and air sacs have lost their shape and have become floppy. Their bronchi and alveoli collapse, rather than expand when air flows through them. As a result, they can inhale and exhale less.

Symptoms of Asthma

1. Dry cough
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Shortness of breath
4. Feeling of lightness in the chest
5. Wheezing (hissing or whistling sounds during exhalation.)
6. Sometimes an attack is preceded by a running nose, irritated eyes, or an itchy throat.

Two peculiarities of asthmatics:

1. Almost all patients suffer more attacks at night, in their sleep.

2. Asthmatics have more trouble exhaling than inhaling.

Causes for Asthma

Factors that precipitate an asthma attack are called triggers. They cause the air passages to get clogged and constricted, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. The inflamed bronchioles generate more mucus and also cause the muscles around them to tighten and get irritated, constricting the airways. This is called a bronchospasm.

However, asthma has a variety of causes.

1. Allergy: For most it is an allergy to foods, perfumes, scents, body sprays, deodorizers, the weather, drugs or any other irritants. They vary from person to person. However, dust allergies seem to be the most common factor.

2. Combination of Factors: For others, it is triggered off by a combination of allergic and non-allergic factors including stress and tension, air pollution or infections.

3. Abnormal Body Chemistry: Asthma may result from the abnormal body chemistry involving the body’s enzymes or a defect in muscular action within the lungs.

4. Heredity: In 75 to 100 per cent cases it has been found that when one or both parents suffer from asthma, the children have similar allergic reactions.

Yoga Therapy for Asthma

Tests carried out at Yoga Therapy Centers, across the world, have shown remarkable results in curing asthma. In some cases it has also been found that attacks can actually be averted, without the aid of drugs, just through yogic practices. There is ample research evidence to substantiate the fact that Yoga Therapy makes the treatment so much more successful. Nowadays, even allopathic and homeopathic doctors have arrived at the consensus that Yoga is an excellent alternative therapy for Asthma.

Since Yoga believes that the mind is central to a diseased condition, pacifying and placating it would, in itself, help cure the disease to a great extent. The practice of yogasanas, yogic kriyas, pranayamas, relaxation and meditation calm down the whole system. This, in turn, facilitates proper assimilation of food and strengthens the lungs, digestive and circulatory system. Over a period of time, that checks attacks and even cures the condition.

This is because Yogic practices result in more anxiety reduction than drugs do. Yoga gives patients access to their own internal experience and helps them pin-point the cause of their ailment, i.e find their own triggers. This comes through increased self-awareness. Simple Yogic practices help regulate breathing patterns, as well as enhance lung functioning. Result: Most patients are able to manage their condition by simply allaying their fears and anxieties.

Yoga also has a stabilizing effect on the body’s immune system. It is now proven that the regular and consistent practice of yoga raises the body’s tolerance to infection as well as its local resistance to infections in the respiratory tract. Yogic rest and relaxation reduce the nervous system’s overall activity, leading to remarkable recovery. Only Yoga offers resources like Abhyasa (regular, constant practice) and Vairagya (detachment) as means of holistic healing.

For best results, do all the practices prescribed in our sections on Yoga Asanas, Cleansing Techniques and Pranayama. Lay more emphasis on cleansing techniques like Jala Neti and Sutra Neti, Vaman Dhauti and pranayamas like Kapalbhati, Anuloma-Viloma, Ujjayi, Surbyabhedana and Bhramari. All yogaasanas prescribed are highly beneficial without exceptions or emphasis on any. However, Shavasana, should be practiced for as long as possible and whenever possible, lying down, sitting or standing

The practices work best on an empty stomach, but you should continue to sip water from time to time, to help keep your airways moist. Wear light, loose-fitting clothes and practice in a comfortable, well-ventilated, airy room or outdoors, with adequate room to lie down. If you experience any symptoms lying down, sit on a chair for a while and rest your head on a table, either on your folded arms or on one cheek. If you feel nauseous, anxious, or short of breath in any of the practices, stop immediately, get up and walk around. You are probably just hyperventilating and need to burn off some energy. Don't resume your practices right away. Rather give them a break for about a day or two.

Above all, tell yourself from time to time – particularly when you get irritated or upset with yourself – that the way you breathe now is what is making you ill. It is conditioned behavior, which can easily be altered.

By: Kevin Pederson

Allergies And Asthma

2008-06-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic lung affliction that is characterized by breathing difficulties. People who suffer from asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. In the course of an asthma attack, the airways suffer irritation and react by narrowing and constricting, resulting in increased resistance to airflow, and obstruction of the flow of air flow through the air passages to and from the lungs. The cause of the inflammation which underlying most asthma in younger sufferers is the result of one or more allergies. Compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world, a greater number of people in western countries are affected by allergies. Additionally, allergy rates are on the rise. This is a concerning fact, particularly when allergies affect young children.

There is increasing evidence that virtually proves that asthma is an environmentally-induced disease. This would suggest that asthma may be able to be prevented by altering our environment. The treatment of asthma by removing the allergic cause can be very successful when the trigger is easily removed. An example of this is when the allergic trigger is a dust or vapour inhaled only on the job. This is also true when the trigger is a domestic pet such as a cat or dog, an allergic source that could easily be removed from the environment of the person with asthma. Sadly, though, reluctance to part with a much-loved pet commonly prevents using this successful measure. The most common cause of asthma is a house dust mite allergy. Sufficiently eradicating mites to have a great effect on asthma requires a major lifestyle change on the part of the sufferer and is very costly to achieve.

In the future there may be treatments which diminish, modify, or even abolish the allergic process in the body. Due to the great number of asthma sufferers in the world, not surprisingly, this is an area of considerable research.

By: Patricia Davis

The Asthma Society

2008-05-31T00:29:00.000-07:00

The Asthma Society is an organization that is generally affiliated with various countries. If you are someone that is looking for information about asthma, working with any of these societies that are geared towards providing relevant information that you need is a great place to start. For many people that visit these society pages, the goal is to learn about what asthma is and how in the world you will learn to deal with and even live with it. Many of those that visit the society are looking for more information about asthma because they have just been told by their doctors that they have asthma or that they may have it.

What is important to take note of when visiting any society’s website to learn more about asthma is that your condition is not alone. Today, there are many millions of people that have asthma and live with it day in and day out. Asthma does become a condition that you need to manage but when you do so carefully, following the recommendations that the society for asthma as well as your doctor tell you, you can lead a normal life without worrying about asthma every day of it.

Another benefit of any of the asthma societies that you will find throughout the web is the wide range of new treatment options available. There are always tests and clinical studies being done to help aid those that are suffering from asthma to get relief. New medications, new treatments, and even new diagnosing tools are something that can offer a bit of help to those that are looking for a solution to their asthma condition. Best of all, when you visit the society’s website, you will also learn that you are not the only person that is struggling with asthma and therefore you can get through it.

By: Roger Thompson

Asthma Inhalers- Do You Need It?

2008-05-29T00:26:00.000-07:00

Asthma inhalers allow a person that is facing asthma to experience what is happening to them with a bit of protection along the way. Asthma is not a condition that can be predicted. There are going to be times when something that you did not know was there causes a trigger in the person that causes the reaction of blocked airways. Although there are many various methods to treating asthma, having an inhaler is almost a must for those that face this type of condition with any severity. Even those that have mild asthma that does not often trigger with an episode should have access to an inhaler.

An inhaler that is used for asthma is quite important. This tool allows a person to get the almost immediate relief that they need from an asthma reaction. If you are outdoors, enjoying the day and then all of a sudden find yourself facing a reaction to the mist that you are breathing in, you need to be able to have an inhaler to help you. These inhalers work by allowing you to simply breathe in the medication quickly. This allows it to get right into your airways causing the muscles there to open up and allow you to breath normally again. Other medications that are taken in the form of a pill or even those that are injections will take more time to actual get into your system and provide help.

Not everyone that has asthma will have the same medications within their inhaler. The severity of your specific asthma reaction is what will trigger the type of medication that your doctor prescribes. You should always keep your medications up to date and keep them with you to provide the help that only your inhaler can. Of course, no one wants to use the inhalers that they have but when a time comes that you need one, can there be anything else that is more important?

By: Roger Thompson

Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment

2008-05-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Treating asthma naturally

Asthma Treatment offers several options, however the most enthusastic treatment discussions revlove around or creates interests when the discussions move towards dealing with the disease in a natural way or more specifically when dealing with asthma when its realted to an Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment. The difference is, the method and medication used to treat asthma.

The whole thought behind controlling and treating asthma naturally is the ability to assist the body's natural defences to encourage daily activities and nature to work together to fight any allergies that could possible cause an asthma attack; in doing so, you strenghten your body to fight asthma in an a naturistic way. Working on breathing techniques such as; buteyko, pranayam, or yoga is one method for treating the bronchial side of an asthma attack and it can be an effective form of "asthma treatment". Although this is only effective if used as a way to help prevent asthma attacks it most likely will not work if the person is in a full blown asthma attack. However, using these breathing techniques will assit the asthmatic until they can access vital asthma medications that they find effective when suffering an asthma attack. Whether the medications is in the form of a Naturist Treatment or whether it is a doctor prescribed medication such as advair, abuterhol or some other form of asthma medication to help controll asthma attacks or help prevent asthma attacks from reaching a full blown asthma attack that would eventually lead to a stay in the hospital.

To examine "Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment" we should break down the meaning of each word to get a better understanding of exactly what information we wish to attain by looking for a "natural treatment" of asthma.

To begin to break down the phrase we need to look at the aspect of Allergic. Allergic per the websters dictionary derives from allergy which further defines itself as abnormal or pathological reaction to envirmental substances such as dust, pollens, foods or microrganisims.

Second ,we need to define Bronchial, per the websters dictionary it is a chronic or acute inflamination of the bronchi. In which case, Bronchi is the large tubes leading from the trachea to the lungs. Here we can see that "accute inflamnination" of any tube leading to the lungs will cause difficulty breathing. Now that we know what the bronchial part is of Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment, we should look at the "Naturist" aspect of the term. I skipped over the "Asthma" portion becuase I assumed you know what the definition of asthma is. If you don't, do not fret that can be found under my "Asthma History" post.

Now, back to looking at the Naturist portion of bronchial asthma naturist treatment. To revisit websters dictionary Naturist is just another word for Naturalist. Decifering naturalist per the webesters dictionary it is defined as one who studies natural history or advocates naturalisim.
So, to get the best idea for treating asthma in a natural way we need to understand the history behind asthma and the history of the specific asthmatic to actually begin to either start asthma treatment or to help prevent asthma attacks.

We don't have any regular herbs or spices to treat asthma. Yet, we can look at what triggers asthma attacks. Looking at the triggers and specific ways to monitor your breathing activites is the best method for treating a persons asthma.

In the end the best explanation of "allergic bronchial asthma naturist treatment' is the ability to see what the person is allergic to? What is it in their natural enviroment caused their airways (bronchial) to swell and become irratated and what was the affect on the asthma. Additionally, figuring out these factors is there a way to naturally avoid these triggers to help the individuals asthma treatment in a natural way without constantly use asthma medications to treat asthma.

Asthma Medication

2008-05-27T00:28:00.000-07:00

There are several types of asthma medication that can be used to help a patient that is struggling with asthma. Usually, a doctor will prescribe medications from the start of the episodes that seem to be that of asthma. If the medication helps to relive symptoms, the patient is considered to have asthma. In other cases, medications can be given after the diagnosis has been made that the patient has asthma.

The most common medications for the treatment of asthma are called bronchodilators. These medications are well known as simply inhalers. They are small sized inhaler units that offer a measured dose of the correct medication to the patient, allowing him to receive almost instant help from asthma symptoms. The medications within the asthma inhalers can range. Short acting medications such as salbutamol, terbutaline and bitolterol are some options here. There are older medications that some asthma suffers take. These are adrenergic agonists such as ephedrine tablets and epinephrine in an inhaled form. Ipratropium bromide is another medication that is provided to asthma suffers. This medication, unlike others, does not have as many potentially drastic health risks.

All of these medications have some type of side effect or can cause potentially life threatening conditions if the medications are used in the wrong way or over used for asthma treatment. Some will cause heart reactions such as high blood pressure and should be monitored closely.

To help a child or an adult to get relief from the asthma that they suffer from, a wide range of medications are available. Usually, these medications will be administered through an inhaler that will allow the medications to instantly enter the airways, opening them up and allowing the asthma symptoms of restriction to vanish. The right medication is something that can take a bit of working out to find the right one for the specific asthma reaction the individual has.

By: Roger Thompson

Stop Asthma

2008-05-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

Asthma caused by allergens can now be stop! prevention is the new way to stop asthma attack that are caused by dust mites, pollen, pet, and mould

For so long now the medical profession has focused on treatment of asthma and not on the cause and prevention. Lower the level of air allergens and you reduce the chance of an asthma attack.

Mites, one of the major causes of these allergies, can be found everywhere. Mites live off human skin flakes that consist mainly of keratin protein. The mites are not the real problem. The elements in the house dust that cause the allergy come directly from the secretions of the mites whose main component is protein, namely essentially polypeptides in the form of protein chains. That's why people with dust mite asthma have problems at night because mattresses are the main place in a home that the mite loves best. Mould spores are also significant causes of allergic reactions indoors. Another allergic effect comes from the keratin of fine animal hair. Usually substances from the skin and salivary glands, which stick to the hairs cause the allergy. Plus the pollen from grass trees causes problems to many people in the form of hay fever. So how do you lower the level of air allergens?

These harmful air allergen can be broken down by using a enzyme. this enzyme is from a fruit so it harmless to you system.

By mixing this agent with microsplitter you then can combat problem areas like mattresses. dust mites are one of the major causes of discomfort to asthma sufferers. so by cleaning and treating your mattress your keep them at bay.

The air spray is great as dust carrying these harmful particle blow around in the air in your home causing you to breath them in. by spraying the room with the product you lower the levels. making the room safe and comforting to you.

About the Author
Cleaner Network is part of a network of cleaners that use a product that prevents asthma attack pollen, dust mites, mould, and pet. http://www.allergystop.carpet-upholstery-cleaner.com/

The Emotional Cause Of Asthma

2008-05-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

There is still some resistance to believe that early childhood trauma can cause disease in the medical field and by individuals. But believe that most alternative practitioners and many doctors have seen what influence early childhood traumas have on the diseases of their patients. Read on to find out more about this critical aspect and how it influences asthma.

Article:

Asthma is also influenced by certain emotions such as laughing, crying, anger, panic, etc. But many in the medical community believe there is no proof people with asthma are any more psychologically disturbed than their non-asthmatic peers. However, it is not possible to have an illness without it having an emotional or trauma component associated with it. Our brain and body is not a split organism where our brain and body work independently of each other.

Having asthma is most likely related to birth traumas where the newborn is being suffocated by the birth process or has a difficulty coming out thus weakening the lungs and the bronchioles. Or, possibly where the parents were over protective or dominating, or demanding to the point of, in a sense, suffocating the child.

And, there are many other asthmatic scenarios that could weaken a persons lungs and bronchioles during childhood. You might know what yours is.

In his book, How to Get Well, 1974, Paavo Airola, Ph.D., says,

“Extensive studies show that there are two basic causes of asthma: one, the typical allergic reaction to one or more allergens; two, psychic factors. Doctors agree that many young asthmatics (according to studies, about 25%) have in common a ‘deep-seated emotional insecurity and an intense need for parental love and protection’. When emotional causes are suspected, these must be dealt with before biological and nutritional treatments can be effective.”

Emotions and feelings, such as apprehension, concern, anxiety, and panic can cause muscular tension and contraction around the bronchioles. Over a long time, these tensions can cause muscle spasms and weakening of the bronchioles, which can then lead to asthma as an adult.

In his book, Cleanse & Purify Thyself, 1998, Richard Anderson, N.D., N.M.D., says,

“Our own research indicates that Love is the great key. When we understand that Love is the natural state of our beings and when Love is not flowing through our beings every moment, than some other emotion or concept is interfering. These interferences are usually emotions of great intensity or some quirk in our point of view, such as the habit of judging conditions, things, or people in negative ways, and most of the time they are unconscious. One of the activities we all need to initiate is to remove these conscious and unconscious negative emotions so that Love may flow through us. Here in lies one of the most important point in this book.”

For many healers of the past it was clear that childhood trauma and the lack of love provided an atmosphere where illness could develop. Asthma sufferers need to look for and heal that emotional component that prevents them from healing so that they can start the asthma healing.

By: Rudy Silva

Asthma Cure? Is It There?

2008-05-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

Is there an asthma cure? While we know that there are millions of people around the world that are suffering from asthma, the cure for this condition may or may not be in the works. If you suffer from asthma, though, there are many things that you can do to just about cure your asthma attacks. The chronic condition of asthma is something that many suffer from on a daily basis. But, with the help of the right medications, possibly even all natural treatments for asthma, and the right type of lifestyle, those that have asthma may be able to avoid and even cure the symptoms that they face.

The cure for asthma may happen one day but until then there are some things that the asthma sufferer can do to feel better. First off, the asthma sufferer should determine what their trigger is. About 60 percent of all of those that face asthma have an allergic reaction to something that brings on an asthma attack. Removing that trigger from their lifestyles can work as the first step in the cure to asthma for them. Improving their health and well being by getting exercise, staying fit and keeping in good spirits can also improve and even help take a step closer to curing their asthma.

In addition to these things, those that want to find a cure for their asthma symptoms should work on insuring they have the best medications in store for the asthma attack should it come on and they should have the best possible natural remedies on hand to help in warding off possible asthma attacks as well. Natural products always work in a natural way to help the individual to rid themselves of the occurrence of asthma attacks. While there is no for sure cure just yet, there are many possible ways to improve the lifestyle and cure symptoms of asthma that you face.

By: Roger Thompson

Identification Of Asthma

2008-05-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

Asthma (pronounced AZ-muh) is defined in the book "Essential Allergy", by Mygind, Dahl, Pedersen, and Thestrup-Pedersen as "A lung disease characterised by: 1. variable and reversible airway obstruction; 2. airway inflammation; and 3. bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes bronchial passages that make up one's airways particularly sensitive to irritants. It is primarily characterized by breathing difficulties. Asthma is a highly-ranked chronic health condition for adults in a majority of western countries. It is also the leading chronic illness afflicting children. Asthma cannot be cured. However, most patients can control it so that they suffer only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life.

If you suffer from asthma, managing it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma entails avoiding things that bother your airways and taking medicines under your doctor's direction. With daily asthma control, serious symptoms can be prevented and it is possible to participate in all normal activities. When asthma is not well-controlled, your symptoms may cause you to miss school or work and may keep you from enjoying other activities.

Asthma sufferers have hyper-responsive or very sensitive airways. An asthma episode, or, in severe cases, an asthma attack occurs when a person experiences a worsening of their asthma symptoms. During an asthma attack, the smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes contract, narrowing airway openings thereby restricting air flow. As inflammation increases, the airways become more swollen and increasingly narrow. Cells in the airways also overproduce mucus, which further narrows the airways. These airway changes cause the asthma symptoms. It becomes difficult for air to pass in and out of the lungs and blood-oxygen levels decrease.

This narrowing of the air passages is due to different combinations of:

* swelling of the airway lining caused by airway inflammation
* excessive mucus in airways
* contraction of muscles around the air passages

Not all asthma attacks are created equally. Some are more severe than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close to the extent that vital organs do not receive enough oxygen. This condition constitutes a medical emergency. It is possible die from a severe asthma attack. Suffering from an asthma attack has been compared to the sensation of drowning. Sufferers of an asthma attack describe symptoms such as a tightness in the chest, wheezing or whistling noises in the chest, coughing, breathlessness, and breathing difficulties that occur as the airways become narrowed, inflamed, and blocked by mucus. An asthma attack can flare up suddenly. However, asthma sufferers learn to recognize those warning signs that signal an attack. These indicators include an itchy nose or skin, dizziness or light-headedness, or an irritating cough. Learning the warning signs is essential to alert a sufferer to take preventive action, such as medication in time to avoid an attack. Because of this asthma sufferers should have regular contact with their physician. They need to educate themselves as to what things cause a worsening of their asthma symptoms methods to use to avoid them. Additionally, your doctor will prescribe medicines to manage your asthma.

In the Western world, about one in thirteen adults and one in eight children have asthma and rates are on the rise. It can affect anyone, any place, at any age. In the developed world asthma is becoming increasingly common and is presently the most common chronic condition in the west. Major contributing factors are thought to be aspects of our modern environment such as air pollution, processed foods, and centrally heated, double-glazed houses which are an ideal breeding grounds for house dust mites. Because it is considered a chronic condition, that means that attacks can occur over a long period of time. Although there are times when asthmatics suffer acute episodes, the majority asthma sufferers report that there are long periods during which they suffer few, if any,symptoms. Asthma can change progressively during the lifetime of the asthma sufferer. For example, children may grow out of asthma, but of these, some redevelop asthma at a later age.

Medications, such as those resembling two naturally-occurring hormones, help asthma. These two hormones are adrenaline or, in the United States, epinephrine and the steroid hydrocortisone. There are additional drugs which help treat asthma. Though drugs can remove all of the symptoms for a mild asthma sufferer, more severe or long-standing cases of asthma generally do not get such good results. To combat this, alternate medications have been developed. Over time, lifelong asthma sufferers see a decrease in the effectiveness of medications in removing the obstruction of the airways. One of the current treatment goals is to minimize the inflammation in the lung passages as this is thought to precipitate this long-term decline.

By: Barbara Brown

Asthma Treatment and Prevention

2008-05-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

Asthma may occur at any age, although it's more common in younger individuals (under age 40). There are many causes of asthma environmental pollution can make asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. The airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and cells in the lungs produce extra mucus further narrowing your airways. This can cause minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing. Asthma is a common condition: More than 6 million kids and teens have it. Asthma in children occurs in approximately 10%-12% of kids.

Many environmental risk factors have been associated with asthma. Irritants found in the workplace may lead to a person developing asthma. Exposure to various allergens and irritants may trigger your asthma symptoms. Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of a child developing asthma. People who have a family history of asthma have an increased risk of developing the disease. Allergies and asthma often occur together. Adult onset asthma may develop after a viral infection a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease that causes heartburn and can worsen asthma symptoms, especially at night.

There are several types of drugs available to treat asthma. Drugs such as anticholinergic ipratropium bromide can be used instead. Corticoids inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs are the most effective medications for asthma. They reduce inflammation in the airways. At long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs) medicines are part of a group of medications called bronchodilators, which open up airways.In hampered some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used for short periods of time , to bring asthma under control. Cromolyn and nedocromil, which are used to treat mild persistent asthma.

Asthma Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Regular physical activity is important for good health.

2. Keep your environment clear of potential allergens.

3. Don't smoke because smoking is always a bad idea for the lungs.

4. Cromolyn and nedocromil, which are used to treat mild persistent asthma.

5. Theophylline, which is used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma

6. Leukotriene modifiers , which are used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma.

7. Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists medicines are bronchodilators, or muscle relaxers.

8. Oral medications include aminophylline, leukotriene antagonists, and corticosteroid tablets.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for http://www.healthatoz.info/, http://www.health-disease.org/ and http://www.health-care-articles.info/.

Asthma In Children: What Causes It And How Do You Treat It?

2008-05-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

Childhood asthma is a very common condition amongst growing boys and girls. However, it can produce some very unpleasant and frightening symptoms, and, when uncontrolled, it can even be life threatening.

Children with asthma may experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.

Children with asthma are at risk for sleep-disordered breathing which can cause a wide range of problems, including diminished cognitive functioning, behavior and mood difficulties, and daytime sleepiness.

Children with asthma have different sets of triggers. Triggers are the factors that irritate the airways and cause asthma symptoms. Children's airways are narrower than those of adults. This means that triggers that may cause only a slight problem in an adult can create more serious problems in children.

Children with an allergy are more likely than other children to develop asthma. Most children with asthma have allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis or both.

Why Are Children Prone To Asthma?

Children with asthma have long been recognized as particularly sensitive to outdoor air pollution. Many common air pollutants, such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter are respiratory irritants and can exacerbate asthma.

Children in poor inner-city communities are disproportionately exposed to both indoor and outdoor allergens -- cockroaches, mice, mold, dust, cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, soot -- that can trigger breathing problems.

Children, in particular, are prone to pet allergies due to their tendency to cuddle and play with their pets and, especially, to hold them close to their faces. The usual symptoms are associated with the respiratory system in the form of hay fever, running nose, etc.

How Do You Treat Asthma In Children?

Children with moderate or severe asthma should learn to use a peak flow meter to help keep their asthma under control. Using a peak flow meter can be very helpful because children often have a hard time describing their symptoms.

Children 4 years and older may be prescribed the asthma inhaler Advair. Advair is a combination of two medications that treats both airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Children with asthma who are 12 years and older are treated as adults.

Children as young as three can learn to use an inhaler with a spacer. And for babies and very young children, a face mask can be attached.

Children may not eat, sleep, or play as usual with certain medications, but these symptoms are difficult to report or observe until they represent a marked divergence from normal behaviors.

Finally

Children rarely have symptoms between episodes (maybe just one or two flare-ups per month involving mild symptoms at night). Mild asthma should never be ignored because, even between flares, airways are inflamed.

Children with asthma (with the help of their parents) also need to know how to manage their own condition. Simple educational interventions designed to teach self-management skills among children have been shown to reduce the readmission rate and morbidity.

Children may be embarrassed about taking their medicine at school. Work with your child's teacher, school nurse, and coach to make sure your child takes his medicine. Children with asthma can play sports and be athletic as long as they monitor their condition. Instead of restricting your child's play or exercise, try to protect him/her from the irritants that commonly trigger attacks.

Children and their parents need to understand how to use a peak flow meter and to understand the symptoms and signs of an asthma exacerbation. Regular follow-up visits (at least every 3 to 6 months) are important to maintain asthma control and to reassess medication requirements.

Childhood asthma properly managed can go on to have a successful life. New advances in the care of asthma, while not curing asthma, have allowed children to stay free of troublesome night and day symptoms and keep physically active.

Is asthma ruining your life? If it is, drop by http://www.breatheyourasthmaaway.com now and find out you can use a natural treatment to get rid of your asthma once and for all!

Contact the Author
Barry McDonald

More Details about asthma here.

Asthma Attacks - What To Do

2008-05-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

When a person with asthma experiences a sudden worsening of his or her asthma symptoms it is called an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, the smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes in the lungs contract, making the airway openings more narrow. Less air can flow through these openings and inflammation of the lungs is a result. This inflammation quickly increases and the airways become more swollen. Mucus production by the cells in the airways increases more than usual and this narrows the airways even further. These changes to the airways cause the symptoms of asthma, notably wheezing and difficulty in breathing.

When you are with someone who is having an asthma attack there are things you can do to help them. First of all you should remove the victim from the cause of the attack. This will be a certain allergen such as pollen in the air or on the skin, smoke, or other strong odors. Keep the victim calm, comfortable, and sitting upright.

If the asthma attack victim has not already used a rescue inhaler, ask the person if he or she has an inhaler and assist the victim with the inhaler, if necessary. A rescue inhaler is the best first aid for asthma attacks. It is important that you use the rescue inhaler prescribed to the asthma attack victim and not use someone else's inhaler.

In the event that there is no rescue inhaler to use or if the asthma symptoms do not improve after administering the inhaler, you can also use steam to help the victim. Run very hot water from a faucet and have the person inhale the steam being careful not to touch the scalding water. Help the victim focus on their breathing and pucker their lips when he or she exhales.

If an asthma attack is severe then it may be possible that all of the preceding steps will not decrease the asthma symptoms. In this event, or when a rescue inhaler is not present, you may need to call for emergency medical help. The information given here is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. If someone you know or love has asthma it is important to learn all you can about this condition so that you can help the person in the event of an asthma attack.

By: Daniel Lanicek

Asthma Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Remedies

2008-05-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

A common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs (alveoli) or the lung tissue (the parenchyma of the lung) itself.

Asthma attacks all age groups but often starts in childhood. It is a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. In an individual, they may occur from hour to hour and day to day.

This condition is due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs and affects the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the airways so they become easily irritated. In an attack, the lining of the passages swell causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs.

Asthma Causes :The cause of asthma is not known, but there is evidence that many factors play a part.

Genetic factors: asthma tends to run in families, and many people with asthma also have other allergic conditions such as rhinitis (inflammation of the nose lining). "Allergy" is a hypersensitivity to some proteins foreign to the body; a small dose of the "allergen" will produce a violent reaction in the person concerned.

Environmental factors: in wealthy, hygienic Western countries, most babies are not exposed to bacterial infections that "kick start" the immune system in early life and may be important in directing the immune system away from allergic responses. They also grow up in warm, well-furnished, carpeted homes that don't allow much airflow. This encourages the rapid breeding of large numbers of house dust mites in bedding, carpets and furnishings.

Dietary changes: changes in diet in Western countries, such as a high proportion of processed foods, a higher salt intake, a lower antioxidant intake and a lack of fresh oily fish (lower intake of omega-3 fatty acids) may contribute to the development of asthma.

Asthma treatment : Your doctor can work with you to decide about your treatment goals and what you need to do to control your asthma to achieve these goals. Asthma treatment includes:

Working closely with your doctor to decide what your treatment goals are and learning how to meet those goals.

Avoiding things that bring on your asthma symptoms or make your symptoms worse. Doing so can reduce the amount of medicine you need to control your asthma.

Using asthma medicines. Allergy medicine and shots may also help control asthma in some people.

Monitoring your asthma so that you can recognize when your symptoms are getting worse and respond quickly to prevent or stop an asthma attack.
With proper treatment, you should ideally have these results:

o Your asthma should be controlled.
o You should be free of asthma symptoms.
o You should have fewer attacks.
o You should need to use quick-relief medicines less often.
o You should be able to do normal activities without having symptoms.

About The Author:

Read about Premature Ejaculation Treatment, Erectile Dysfunction Treatment . Also read about Gifts for Girlfriend, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Boyfriend, Gifts for Him and Male Sexual Enhancement and Increase Penis Size.

Asthma: Try the Natural Remedies

2008-05-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

While a lot is known about prescription medications for controlling asthma-related symptoms, more and more people are turning to natural remedies. These can be very effective, especially in the case of mild to moderate asthma sufferers.
There are many medications that are used to control asthma-related symptoms and outbreaks. These prescription medications are well researched and very effective; however some individuals prefer to use natural asthma remedies to control their symptoms. Natural asthma remedies can work very well for some individuals, usually those with mild to moderate asthma conditions. Even when using natural asthma remedies, be sure to check with your doctor to ensure that there will be no complications or problems with existing medications. In addition, be sure to keep short-term or emergency inhalers available at all times in the case of a serious asthma attack.

Some of the most common natural asthma remedies include:
* Fish oil products – used as anti-inflammatories. These may be taken in liquid or capsule form. Be careful if you have any known food allergies, as fish oil may cause significant and severe reactions.
* Magnesium supplements – magnesium works with the muscles in the body to increase relaxation and prevent tightening of the muscles around the air passageways.
* Antioxidants – these may include green tea supplements, Vitamin E and selenium and other products that are designed to minimize the free radicals in the human system. Free radicals are often the cause of colds, coughs and other respiratory problems that can increase the irritation of the respiratory system.
* Chamomile, rosemary, spearmint, thyme and cloves contain many antioxidants and also work to increase the relaxation of muscles, as well as induce sleep. Some mixtures of the various herbs are available in health food stores in the forms of teas or powders and capsules.
* Ginseng and licorice, among other herbs, are often used in Asia as a treatment for asthma and may be found at health food stores. Generally these treatments work most effectively when taken consistently and for long periods of time.

Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet and decreasing both high-fat and high-sugar items also may be part of a process of natural asthma remedies. Controlling highly processed and chemical-laden foods may eliminate any simultaneously occurring food allergies that may be increasing the severity of your asthma conditions. Avoid foods that are made with white flour and try to choose whole grain alternatives. Whole-wheat pastas, breads and even dinner rolls are a wonderful alternative to the highly processed white breads usually consumed in Western diets.

Avoiding any type of smoke, either first or second hand, and trying to stay away from environmental pollutants such as car exhausts and burning fireplaces is also important. Finally, taking a good, high-quality multivitamin supplement every day is another one of the factors that contributes to the success of natural asthma remedies.

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about natural asthma treatments, visit his webpage here.

Article By Terry Roberts

Symptoms Of Asthma

2008-05-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes bronchial tubes particularly sensitive to irritants. This is characterized by breathing difficulties.

The symptoms of asthma include:

* Shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers often say they feel as though they can't catch their breath, they feel breathless or out of breath. They feel like you can't get enough air into or out of their lungs.

* A feeling of tightness in the chest. This can feel like someone is sitting on or squeezing your chest.

* Coughing. Coughing in people with asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making sleeping difficult.

* Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you inhale or exhale.

* Faster or noisy breathing

* Inflammation of the air passages, characterised by eosinophils in the airway wall

* Episodes of wheezy difficulty in breathing

* Rapid and considerable changes in airway obstruction (peak flow variation >= 20%)

* Narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and resulting increased resistance to airflow

* Symptom-free periods

* Frequent allergy occurrence

* Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to non-specific stimuli such as cold air or histamine

* Frequent nocturnal episodes and low morning peak flow values

* Significant reversibility with new steroid drugs

* Significant reversibility with drugs that resemble adrenaline, the beta2 agonists

People with asthma may have:

* Coughing or wheezing when they are near an allergen or irritant

* Asthma symptoms brought on by exercises such as running, biking, or other brisk activity, especially during cold weather

* Frequent coughing, especially at night (this is occasionally the only sign of asthma in a child)

* Wheezing when they have a cold or another illness

* Coughing or wheezing precipitated by prolonged crying or laughing

Not all people suffer all of these symptoms. Additionally, symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Symptoms can also differ in severity. For example, symptoms may be mildly annoying at times and at other times they can be serious enough to demand your immediate attention. Sometimes symptoms can be so serious to the point of being life threatening and require medical attention. Symptoms also differ in frequency. Some asthma sufferers only have symptoms once every few months, others have symptoms weekly, and while other people have daily symptoms. With proper treatment and management, however, most asthma sufferers can expect to endure minimal or no symptoms, and are able to lead normal, active lives.

By: William Brown

Asthma

2008-05-13T23:31:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a common disease of the respiratory system. It comes from the Greek word “aazein”, or “sharp breath Allergens, common cold or even other triggers like exercise or stress can cause the airways or the tubes that carry air to the lungs. These become narrow and inflamed, with the build up of excessive mucous and breathing becomes a problem. A distinct wheeze can be heard during the entire cycle of respiration.

The asthma patient will be coughing and panting during inhalation with an uncomfortable tightening of the chest. It strikes patients more at night and in the morning, so sleeplessness is often a factor that adds to the discomfort. Some chronic asthma patients become hypersensitive to stimulants like strong smells, pollens or even pollutants.
Some of the other triggers of asthma are dust mites, cockroaches, and even some pathogens. Sleep apnea is said to be one of the factors causing asthma.

In some cases a patient taking bronchoconstrictor medicines, like beta-blockers or some hypertension medication, which could trigger severe breathing problems. In these cases, asthma attacks can be sudden and even life threatening. Today across the world, asthma has become the most prevalent disease.

The clinical conditions of asthma make it an easy to diagnose disease; however, one must understand that there is no cure for it. Modern medicine has ensured that there are many ways to control it. These cures are often used in conjunction with the ancient science of Yoga, especially “pranayam” or its highly evolved breathing practices.

One of the most essential treatments of asthma is of course removing the triggers that cause asthma. Long-term infections would need to be cured, and the underlying causes of asthma clearly understood. Rigorous efforts of cleaning the home from dust mites, and other pest like cockroaches will have to be undertaken. Mattresses would have to be changed, it is best to use the newer types that do not collect dust mites. The house would have to be made insect and dust proofed.

Anyone who suffers from asthma would have to ensure that he or she is well guarded against triggers like pollens, strong smells, pollutants and more. Sleep apnea will have to cured, this may require surgery, and medicines will have to be examined to understand whether any of these are responsible for the sudden asthma attacks. Anyone smoking is advised to give up the habit, as it can increase the frequency of the attack.
There is a range of instant relief bronchodilators available in pocket-sized, metered-dose inhalers. This can be used with an “asthma spacer” to get a full dose; this is a plastic cylinder that is especially useful for children.
Some of the most common bronchodilators are beta2-adrenoceptor agonists, such as salbutamol, levalbuterol, terbutaline and bitolterol. These improve the lung capacity immensely. Though they may be side effects, thus a full medical history has to be understood before any of these medicines are prescribed.
In case the asthma attack is unmanageable and the patient is unable to breathe a nebulizer, providing a continuous dose is used. The medicine is an easy to inhale saline solution and administered through vapor.

In case of severe asthma, hospitalization is required, and the patient may need oxygen for a while, along with a wide range of relief medications and antibiotics to cure infections if any.

There is an increasing tendency to turn to alternative practices to manage asthma. Yoga offers the most effective solutions. Pranayam or the life breath, is a method to understand the importance of the breath and use it to optimum. These exercises help in the management asthma. The inhalation and exhalation practices help clear the air passages and bring in a fresh inflow of oxygen. This science has to be learnt from a well-regarded teacher.

Acupressure and Acupuncture also helps in better asthma management. These need to be administered by registered practitioners, as they are specific forms of treatment.

Though one has to live with asthma, there are many ways in ensuring it does come in the way of getting the most out of life.

Asthma Inhalers

2008-05-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

Asthma medication comes in many different forms. One of these forms is the Asthma Inhaler. When someone suffers from asthma they could go into an asthma attack. This is caused when their bronchial tubes start to close, making it hard for the person to breath. Asthma Inhalers such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids can help reopen the tubes and help the person breath properly again.

First is the bronchodilators, this type of asthma inhaler includes metered-dosed brands such as albuterol, pirbuterol, and advair. A bronchodilator relaxes the bronchial muscles so they will open back up. An albuterol or pirbuterol inhaler is used for fast action relief. Doctors recommend using this before and during physical activity to prevent an attack, as well as before bed and when you wake up.

As a dry powder form the Corticosteroid can be inhaled more quickly then the Bronchodilator and will help with the bronchial tubes from constricting again. The corticosteroid is a longer acting asthma inhaler then the bronchodilator. Typically this asthma inhaler is used once in the morning and the evening along with the bronchodilator. The use of the corticosteroid will help you breath easier thoughout the day. It is always best to consult a doctor to see what asthma inhalers fits you needs.

It is very important to use an asthma inhaler properly also. The recommended technique for the meter dosed asthma inhaler (which is also known as Aerosol) is as follows:

1. Shake well. Be sure to shake the inhaler several times before each use

2. Do not lie down; stand with your head up straight

3. Exhale as much as possible until you feel you have no more air inside your lungs then insert the asthma inhalers mouthpiece into your mouth sealing it with your lips

4. After you have sealed the mouthpiece start to breathe in and simultaneously press down one time and only one time on the canister to release a single dose

5. Pull the device out of your mouth and continue to try and breathe through your open mouth for four to five seconds until your lungs are full of air

6. After your lungs are full of air hold your breath for at least ten seconds

7. Exhale

If after step seven you still are not breathing properly repeat steps one-seven.

Incorrect asthma inhalers technique can cause poor delivery of your medication to the lungs. This most likely will occur if your delivery is late when inhaling and pressing once on the canister, a released puff half way through the process will be lost. It is important that you know how to use the asthma inhaler before leaving the doctor office to help with asthma control when an asthma attack comes on.

Asthma is a serious condition especially if not properly cared for. But with the help of good ashtma control, asthma medicine, and asthma inhalers a person can lead a normal, full, happy long life.

By: Sarah De Young

Does Diet Causes Asthma?

2008-05-11T23:37:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system, where the airways get obstructed due to muscle spasm and swelling within the airways which may be with or without secretions. Ayurvedic texts have it that wrong and unsuitable diet and subsequent digestive impurities are a potent cause for respiratory allergy leading to asthma. A combination of other allergic or non-allergic factors, including air pollution, vagaries of the weather, emotional stress and heredity predispositions, can also be responsible for the genesis of asthma in susceptible persons.

In recent years a number of scientific studies have come to the conclusion that certain foods and nutrients exacerbate asthmatic inflammation and bronchial hyperactivity while others reduce such pathology and promote easier breathing. Due to the advanced and effective emergency management of asthma available these days its reasons are often overlooked. But it is a fact that an asthmatic attack in the case of young patients is mostly precipitated by wrong food.

According to ayurveda, asthmatic reactions to food can vary widely as both the whole and the processed foods are known to precipitate such attack. Diet, the chemicals added to food items these days and individual susceptibility supported by seasonal discrepancies and other environmental factors are found to set off allergic reactions in the body. It is widely documented that several commonly used food items like milk, yoghurt, ice-cream and other dairy products cause coughing and wheezing in many asthmatics.

Any unsuitable food can lead to a respiratory spasm, or cause irritation or inflammation that will then overreact with environmental triggers like virus, pollens, smoke and dust. Apart from any ordinary fruit and vegetable, this may include even common foods like cereals such as wheat, rice and maize, poultry products and bakery items or eatables made of yeast.

Many modern foods consumed occasionally or as part of our daily diet have preservatives, flavors and colors which are considered as potential prompters of respiratory or other allergies.

It is seen that in some patients even an attack of hyperacidity sets into motion an episode of asthma. This factor highlights the ayurvedic dictum of maintenance of post- digestive purity also. Asthmatics are advised to choose a food that suits their digestion in perfect order. It is better to scan one’s diet and evolve a food plan carefully as many times the reactions occur hours after a particular food has been eaten.

By: Lucy Nicholas

Effects Of Asthma Medicine On Pregnancy!

2008-05-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

Women suffering with asthma always have doubts that “will asthma medicine harm my child?” As five percent of pregnant women are asthmatic, this is a common problem. The important news is that asthma medicine is known to be very safe during pregnancy. So, pregnant women can enjoy asthma free pregnancy with asthma medicine.

Your asthma symptoms may get worse or may be better or does not change at all during pregnancy. If your asthma is severe, chances are it can become worse during pregnancy.

If you want a healthy baby, you should be healthy. It is very important to treat asthma in pregnancy because the risks of uncontrolled asthma in pregnancy are greater than the risks of asthma medicine.

There is no information about the safety of new asthma drugs in pregnancy because a woman who is pregnant and who might become pregnant does not take part in the safety tests during the testing of drugs, because of the fear of harming the baby.

Even the drug manufacturers do not take risk with unborn babies. New asthma drug should be avoided during pregnancy if possible.

But the old asthma medicine has been used from years. These old asthma medicines have been used for years during pregnancy and are known to be safe in pregnancy and the drugs which are not safe are not used as long before they are declared as unsafe.

Pregnant women have doubt about the use of inhalers. The doctors believe that the amount of medicine you get from an inhaler is small and goes directly to the lungs and it is not likely to harm your baby.
Effects of asthma in pregnancy:
Especially in the third trimester, asthma improves with pregnancy. Due to the increasing size of uterus, sensation of breathlessness occurs and this is mistaken as worsening of asthma.

Many women experience worsening asthma symptoms as they stop using asthma medicine due to the fear of side effects on the unborn child. Women who stop their asthma medicine have worsened asthma symptoms and are more at risk of early labor and poor growth of baby.
Asthma medicine and pregnancy:
Visit your doctor soon after realizing that you are pregnant to discuss about the best way to manage the symptoms of asthma with asthma medicine. The doctor will prescribe effective asthma medicine during pregnancy and continue to workout throughout your pregnancy to ensure the treatment is effective without side effects.

Taking asthma medicine during pregnancy:

o Follow the directions according to your doctor about when to take asthma medicine and how much dosage to take.
o Talk to your doctor before taking any new asthma medicine.
o Don’t stop taking asthma medicine unless and until your doctor tells you to.
Controlling your asthma in pregnancy:

o You have to take the asthma medicine as prescribed during pregnancy.
o Monitor your asthma using a peak flow meter and observe your breathing symptoms.
o Call your doctor if your asthma medicine is not working well.
o Avoid things that trigger your asthma attack.
o You can take a flu shot if you are pregnant during flu season.

Allergy Asthma blog helps you learn everything you need to know about allergy relief. Know more about asthma control & protect yourself to improve your quality of life. Visit www.allergyasthmazone.com.

Asthma Diagnosis

2008-05-09T23:54:00.000-07:00

The asthma diagnosis comes from a series of tests. In many cases, a doctor will be able to determine if a patient has asthma and diagnose them right on the spot. In these cases, the diagnosis will be determined by the patient’s pre history. The doctor will look at the patient’s history of illness as well as his family history to determine if the symptoms and signs there are likely to be that of asthma. In addition, most doctors will use a simple examination to confirm their diagnosis of the asthma condition.

When an adult is to be diagnosed with asthma, the doctor may take some measurements of his airways. In asthma, the airways will constrict tightly, not allowing enough air to pass through them. This is a test that offers diagnosis of the condition, but can not be done on children. The doctor will use what is called a peak flow meter to help test and then diagnosis the adult asthma patient. In addition to it using an inhaler to test the benefits it offers to the potential asthma patient. For children to be diagnosed with asthma, the doctor will look at his medical history. Then, to insure that the patient does have asthma, he or she will monitor the child’s response to various inhalers using bronchodilator medications.

In many cases, a doctor will diagnosis asthma within a matter of minutes due simple to the conditions that the patient is facing. Those that are facing asthma symptoms will usually be able to be diagnosed based on the conditions in which they face asthma like reactions. Doctors often can diagnosis a patient within a matter of minutes just by knowing the various factors that cause the body to react. In these cases, the final test comes from testing medications on the potential asthma sufferer to see if they do in fact relieve the condition.

By: Roger Thompson

Allergic Asthma: What have viruses got to do with it?

2008-05-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

Epidemiological evidence suggests that certain viral infections not only trigger asthma-related symptoms but also contribute to allergic sensitisation and the development of asthma.

Read about the role of viruses in the development of allergic sensitisation and asthma……

Brief Statistics

1. Asthma costs 1-2% of the total health budgets in direct costs, with large indirect costs for time lost from work and reduced productivity.1
2. Survey data demonstrates that 95% of asthmatics have the dust mite allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) within their mattress, to levels in excess of WHO guidelines.1
3. Survey data demonstrates that approximately 17% of homes are contaminated with mould. This is significant as there is strong evidence linking asthma exacerbations to contamination of the indoor environment with moulds.1
4. Since most people spend 90% of their time indoors, exposure to major allergens is significant.1
5. Up to 35% of the population demonstrate evidence of reactivity to allergens.1
6. 5-10% of the population show clinical features of one or more allergic disorders such as asthma, hay fever or eczema.1
7. The Health Survey for England (2002) reported rates of doctor-diagnosed asthma of 20.5% in 0-15 year olds and 14.5% for all ages.1
8. Repeated surveys have proven that incidence of asthma is steadily on the increase.1
9. Epidemiological evidence suggests that certain viral infections may not only trigger asthma-related symptoms but also contribute to allergic sensitisation and the development of asthma.2
10. Clinical and epidemiological observations strongly link viral infection with acute worsening of asthma in as many as 80% of cases in children and 60% in adults.3

Introduction
Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterised by airway inflammation (resulting in airway swelling), mucus hypersecretion and airway hyperreactivity in response to inhaled allergens, such as pollens, dust mite, moulds, fungal spores, etc., causing narrowing of the airways.4 Over the last few decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in more economically developed and rapidly developing countries. As a result, they have become major public health problems and an enormous burden on health care resources. Severe asthma and systemic allergic reactions are potentially life-threatening conditions, which adversely affect the quality of life of millions of adults and children.5

Role of viruses
There is substantial evidence that respiratory viral infections are associated with the development of allergic sensitisation, asthma and other allergy-related illnesses. Several factors including age, type of virus, severity, location and timing of infection as well as the interactions with allergens and/or pollutants have been implicated in the development of allergic diseases related to viral infections, particularly asthma.2 Recent studies have shown that allergens and viruses may act together to exacerbate asthma. This indicates that domestic exposure to allergens acts in collaboration with viruses in sensitised patients (that is allergic individuals), thereby increasing the risk of hospital admission.1 Although their exact role in viral respiratory tract infections remains controversial, influenza virus (INF), respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) and Rhinovirus (RV) have been implicated in causing allergic sensitisation and the development of asthma.4 Traditionally, RSV has been considered as the most frequent cause of respiratory symptoms in preschool children, whilst in older children and adults, RV accounts for more than 50% of viral-triggered exacerbations.2, 3 What is peculiar about RSV is that unlike many other viral infections, it regularly re-infects children and adults. As with exposure to allergens, the age at first infection may play an important role in the subsequent response to re-infection at a later age; this fact is especially important in children of preschool age. Exposure to both allergens and viruses can occur anywhere: at home, in offices, factories, schools, etc.

Current preventative measures for viral allergic asthma exacerbation
Current preventative measures include,
1. Vaccination: This is often given in early childhood and some evidence suggests that some vaccines might influence the development of allergy. However, no clinical trials have been done to assess the immune modulatory effect of vaccination in the primary prevention of allergy. There is also no feasible vaccination against viruses such as rhinovirus.5
2. Antiviral Agents: There is currently no specific agent active against the human rhinovirus, which is the main cause for viral-triggered asthma exacerbations in adults and children. Several potential antiviral compounds are being evaluated, and some have reached clinical trial testing.3
3. In the absence of the effective strategies to control viruses, a reduced exposure to allergens is also a preventative measure; however, how feasible is this? 1
4. Air quality solutions such as air purifiers and air sterilisers, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Recommended products include,
1. The 5000 Exec-UV
2. The Airfree Air Sterilizer
3. The LightAir Air Ionizer

Useful link
http://www.airpurifierstop.com/alerts/57/how-do-air-purifiers-help-asthma-symptoms/

References
1. Green, R. M. et al. (2002) Synergism betweens allergens and viruses and risk of hospital admission with asthma: case-control study, British Medical Journal; 324: 1-5.
2. Xepapadaki, P. et al. (2007) Viral infections and allergies, Immunobiology; 212 (6): 453-9.
3. Tan, W. C. (2005) Viruses in Asthma Exacerbation, Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine; 11(1): 21-26.
4. van Rajit, L. S. et al (2005) Respiratory viral infections and asthma pathogenesis: A critical role for dendritic cells?, Journal of Clinical Virology; 34: 161-169.
5. Arshad, S. H., Primary prevention of asthma and allergy, Current Reviews of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; 116: 3-14.

Disclaimer
This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Asthma and Altitude

2008-05-08T03:25:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways.

During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air passages to and from the lungs.

It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.

However, fit, healthy people with well-controlled asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes provided that they ascend slowly and recognise and accept their limitations, adjusting their medicine if need be.

In freezing conditions, pressurised inhalers may not work properly. They should be warmed (e.g. in the hands) before use.

In addition, the conditions are high altitudes are often dry and cold, and these conditions tend to exacerbate and trigger asthma. People whose asthma is triggered by cold conditions might find that high altitudes are a problem, as the air temperature usually decreases at higher altitudes.

Also, climbing can be a very strenuous exercise and this may trigger exercise-induced asthma in some people.
However, people whose asthma is triggered by house-dust mites may find that their asthma improves, as the house-dust mite cannot survive at altitudes higher than 'the snow line'.

People with asthma who fly directly into a place that is at high altitude will not have time to acclimatise and may experience problems. This should be discussed with a doctor so that the altitude reached by aircraft should not pose problems for people with asthma.

The best thing to do is to discuss your trip with your doctor several weeks in advance of your departure. This will allow time to work out a personal asthma action plan for the trip. This might involve increasing your preventer treatment for several weeks before the trip to give the airways extra protection, or measuring peak flow while away to determine how altitude is affecting your lung function, or even simple things like ensuring that you have enough medication and backup medication.

Asthma and Altitude: Conclusion

It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.

It is also possible that asthma can become worse with altitude, especially if people ascend too quickly or ignore their limitations.

Visit Bjorn Gutter's Asthma Treatment and Asthma Cure websites.

Breathe Away Asthma

2008-05-07T23:36:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a chronic obstructive respiratory disease characterized by difficulty in breathing. It is caused mainly due to tightening of the airways or bronchial tubes of the lungs. It is a common disease among children, teens and adults.

Asthma is mainly of two types:

Extrinsic Asthma
Intrinsic Asthma

Extrinsic asthma is caused by the allergens. It happens when we inhale or sometimes ingest some allergens, our body reciprocates it with allergies. Some of the allergens are dust mites, tree and grass pollens, mold, feather pillow, food additives containing sulfites, dander, house dust etc. Extrinsic asthma is more common among children and the people between the age group of 16-30. Intrinsic asthma is non allergic and mostly occur among the people above the age of 30. It is caused by respiratory infection, inhalation of chemical irritants like cleaning fluids or fresh paint, air pollution, and sometimes by exercise.

According to the occurrence, asthma can be classified as follows:

Nocturnal asthma - mainly occurs at night, and more often in the morning between 2-4 a.m. It affects people with both types (extrinsic/ intrinsic) of asthma.

Seasonal asthma - this type of asthma happens only at certain time of the year. It mainly affects people with extrinsic asthma. It is more prevalent during summer, and it is the reason why 15% more death of asthma occurs in summer than the rest of the year.

Exercise-induced asthma - it will affect the people with all types of asthma. During exercise, due to rapid inhalation of air that is cooler and drier than that of the air passages, the lungs lose water and heat, so the people experience shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, wheezing, coughing or endurance problems.

“Prevention is better than cure,” so recognizing the early warning signs of asthma is very important, because you can begin the treatment earlier which seems to be very effective.

Early warning signs of asthma are listed below:

Breathing changes
Feeling tired
Feeling weak
Fever
Headache
Runny/stuffy nose
Coughing
Sneezing
Dry mouth
Moodiness
Sleeping disorder
Glassy/watery eyes

If prevention is not taken in time, these early warning signs will lead to mild to severe cases of asthma and the symptoms are as follows:

Wheezing
Coughing
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Tightness in the chest

In more severe cases, patient can feel severe coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath in walking, nasal flaring, hunched shoulder etc.

Asthma is not curable but it is a preventable disease. Its attack also ranges between mild and moderate to severe. Once you suffer asthma, your lungs will always react to the things that can cause asthma attack..

In mild attack, you may feel coughing, restlessness, or have trouble sleeping and may make wheezing or whistling sound when you breathe, and in severe attack you may become breathless, and have trouble in talking. As you breathe, your neck muscle may become tight and your lips and fingernails may turn to grayish or bluish colour.

Asthma treatment can be divided into long-term and quick relief medication. Long-term control medications are taken daily to control asthma by preventing airway inflammation, while quick-relief medication is followed in order to achieve control over acute asthma attack by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle.

Most of the asthma medication is administered orally or by inhalation, of which latter is mostly preferred, because inhaled medications works directly on the airway surface and airway muscles where the asthma problems initiate, and it also leaves fewer chances of side effects.

Apart from these, measures like cleaning house in regular basis, avoiding pets with fur and feather, washing the bedding regularly in hot water and staying away from allergens will certainly help in restricting the frequent episode of asthma. Theophylline improves breathing by opening air passages in the lungs. It is used in the treatment of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.

By: D Cathniz

Tuberculosis Bacillus Hides From The Immune System In Its Host's Fat Cells

2008-05-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

A team from the Institut Pasteur has recently shown that the tuberculosis bacillus hides from the immune system in its host's fat cells. This formidable pathogen is protected against even the most powerful antibiotics in these cells, in which it may remain dormant for years. This discovery, published in PLoS ONE, sheds new light on possible strategies for fighting tuberculosis. Attempts to eradicate the bacillus entirely from infected individuals should take these newly identified reservoir cells into account.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis can hide, in a dormant state, in adipose cells throughout the body. The bacterium is protected in this cellular environment, to which the natural immune defences have little access, and is inaccessible to isoniazid, one of the main antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis worldwide. These results were obtained by Olivier Neyrolles* and his colleagues from the Mycobacterial Genetics Unit directed by Brigitte Gicquel at the Institut Pasteur, in collaboration with Paul Forn~A¨s, a pathologist from H~A'pital Europ~A(c)en Georges Pompidou. They raise questions of considerable importance in the fight against tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis kills almost two million people worldwide every year and is considered by the World Health Organisation to represent a global health emergency. However, the bacillus is much more prevalent in the world's population than the statistics would lead us to believe, because only 5 to 10% of those infected actually develop tuberculosis. The bacillus may be present in a significant proportion of the population, remaining in a "dormant" state in the body, sometimes for years, and may be "reactivated" at any time. The risk of rea ctivation is particularly high in immunocompromised individuals, such as those infected with AIDS: the HIV virus and the tuberculosis bacillus make a formidable team, with each infectious agent facilitating the progression of the other.

Neyrolles' team first demonstrated, in cell and tissue cultures, that adipose cells served as a reservoir for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and that this protected the bacillus against isoniazid. They then investigated whether the pathogen was present in adipose cells in humans. They did this by testing for traces of the genetic structure of the bacillus in samples from people considered not to be infected. Analyses were carried out on samples from deceased subjects from Mexico, where tuberculosis is endemic, and from Parisian districts reporting very few cases of tuberculosis.

The bacterium was detected in the adipose tissue of about a quarter of these people, all of whom were unaware they were infected, in both Mexico and France. These results suggest that the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis can remain protected in the adipose tissue of the body in the absence of any sign of disease.

This work has important implications for the prevention of this disease. It helps to explain how, many years after first testing positive for tuberculosis, people with no trace of the microbe in the lungs may develop some form of tuberculosis attacking the lungs, bones or genitals. It also suggests that isoniazid treatment, prescribed to the close friends and family of patients as a preventative measure, may in some cases not provide sufficient protection against the disease. This is particularly important for immunocompromised patients and for people with AIDS, for whom a secondary infection with tuberculosis bacillus may have very serious consequences.

This work highlights the importance of the search for new targeted therapeutic weapons, such as new antibiotics, which must be able to reach the dormant bacillus that has been hiding in adipose cells without our knowing it.

###

Disclaimer

The following press releases refer to a selection of the upcoming articles in PLoS ONE. They are contributed by the article authors and/or their institutions. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or the editors of PLoS ONE.

* Olivier Neyrolles belongs to URA 2172, CNRS,

Citation: Neyrolles O, Hern~A!ndez-Pando R, Pietri-Rouxel F, Forn~A¨s P, Tailleux L, et al. (2006) Is Adipose Tissue a Place for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Persistence? PLoS ONE 1(1): e43. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000043

PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000043

Contact: Bruno Baron
Public Library of Science

Faropenem Phase III Clinical Trial Stopped To Consider Exclusion Of Ketek Comparator

2008-05-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

Replidyne, Inc. (Nasdaq: RDYN), reported today that the current phase III clinical trial comparing faropenem medoxomil (faropenem) to placebo and Ketek (telithromycin) in patients being treated for acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) is being temporarily stopped to consider the exclusion of the Ketek arm in the study. This decision has been made in response to the findings from the December 14 and 15, 2006 joint Advisory Committee meeting of the FDA's Anti-Infective Drug and Drug Safety and Risk Management committees that considered the benefit risk of Ketek for the indication of AECB. The Advisory Committee recommended to the FDA that the risks of Ketek outweigh the benefits of using the drug for the treatment of patients with AECB in a 17 to 2 vote.

"We believe that stopping enrollment in this trial to consider the inclusion of Ketek in the study is the appropriate and responsible action at this time to consider the new scientific evidence presented at the recent FDA Advisory Committee meeting," said Kenneth J. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Replidyne. "While this action will cause a delay in obtaining the results from this AECB study we do not expect that it will impact the total time to complete the clinical program required to support the overall submission for the adult respiratory indications of Acute Bacterial Sinusitis (ABS), Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) and AECB. This action today will not impact the development of our pediatric clinical program for faropenem."

The phase III clinical trial for AECB is designed to compare faropenem to placebo and Ketek, an approved ketolide antibiotic. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate superiority of faropenem to placebo. The additional comparison to Ketek represented a secondary analysis and was initially included primarily for commercial competitive reasons.

About Faropenem Medoxomil

Replidyne's lead product candidate, faropenem medoxomil (faropenem), is a novel oral community antibiotic under development for the treatment of respiratory and other community infections. Faropenem is a member of the penem sub-class within the beta-lactam class of antibiotics. Beta-lactams are generally characterized by their favorable safety and tolerability profiles, as well as their broad spectrum of activity, and as a result are typically first-line therapy in many respiratory and skin infections in adult and pediatric patients.

About Replidyne, Inc.

Replidyne is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, in-licensing and commercializing innovative anti-infective products. In February 2006, Replidyne entered into a partnership agreement with Forest Laboratories to develop and commercialize faropenem medoxomil in the US. An IND for Replidyne's second drug candidate, REP8839, was submitted to the FDA in May 2006. REP8839 is a topical anti-infective product under development for the treatment of skin and wound infections, and the prevention of S. aureus infections, including multiple antibiotic-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections, in hospital settings. Replidyne is also pursuing the development of other novel anti-infective products based on its in-house discovery research.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains plans, intentions, objectives, estimates and expectations that constitute forward-looking statements about Replidyne, Inc. that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed due to a number of factors including, the success and timing of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates and the labeling under any approval that may be obtained; plans to develop and commercialize product candidates; the loss of key scientific or management personnel; the size and growth of the potential markets for the Company's product candidates and the Company's ability to serve those markets; regulatory developments in the U.S. and foreign countries; the rate and degree of market acceptance of any future products; the accuracy of Company estimates regarding expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates; the successful development of the Company's sales and marketing capabilities; the success of competing drugs that are or become available; and the performance of third party manufacturers. These and additional risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the Company's Form S-1 and most recent periodic report filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC's electronic data gather analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements made in the press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements in the document.

Replidyne, Inc.
http://www.replidyne.com

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics Seeks Approval For New Prescription Cough Suppressant

2008-05-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARxT) today announced that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 600 mg and 1200 mg oral solid extended-release guaifenesin combination products for the treatment of cough. This new drug represents the first prescription product in Adams' current portfolio of respiratory products.

"This NDA filing is an important milestone for Adams," said president and CEO Michael J. Valentino. "Upon FDA approval of the NDA, this new drug will be our first prescription product offering and will move us closer to our vision of becoming a pre-eminent specialty pharmaceutical company, with leading products in both the over-the-counter and prescription respiratory drug markets. Secondly, it exemplifies our core strategy to build upon our successful guaifenesin business, utilizing our patented extended-release technology platform. Finally, it demonstrates our internal capabilities and technical know-how as a company to develop our own brand name prescription products." Adams has two other guaifenesin-based combination products currently under development in addition to the ongoing clinical program for erdosteine, a mucoregulator product, currently in Phase IIb.

At this time, Adams is not disclosing the name of the second active ingredient in the combination product for competitive reasons. However, the prescription market for products that treat cough is significant. Approximately 24 million prescriptions are written by physicians in the United States every year for the treatment of cough caused by the common cold, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disorders, according to IMS Health. In addition, cough is among the most common reasons for a doctor visit, as reported by Dr. Peter Dicpinigaitis, a leading physician in the field of cough, and Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians.

About Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc.

Adams is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the late-stage development, commercialization and marketing of over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals for the treatment of respiratory disorders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements, including the Company's belief and anticipation that the FDA will approve the NDA. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, the FDA's denial of the NDA and other risk factors set forth Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, Adams is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. All statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date of this presentation.

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc.
http://www.adamsrt.com