How to cure Asthma at home

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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).





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Allergic asthma symptoms

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

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

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

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

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

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

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