Monday, September 29, 2008

Looking For Signs Of Childhood Asthma

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!

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?

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.

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

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Asthma and its causes

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.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Asthma Triggers and Asthma Control Techniques

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

Friday, September 19, 2008

Is There a Link between Allergies and Asthma?

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

Monday, September 15, 2008

Suffering From Asthma Allergy At Night

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

Friday, September 12, 2008

Asthma Types and Its Symptoms

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

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

6 Vital Topics to Know About Asthma by james ellison

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.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Asthma

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?

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

Monday, September 8, 2008

The Effects Of Asthma In Pregnancy

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.


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Asthma Treatment Ways

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

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Asthma Management and Treatment Guidelines For Asthma

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.

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Friday, September 5, 2008

Asthma Treatment - What Medication You Need

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

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

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Treatment for Asthma - Know Your Asthma Treatment

· 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

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Michael Rad - EzineArticles Expert Author

Treatment for Asthma - The Genetics Of Asthma

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.

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Treatment for Asthma - Dealing With An Asthma Allergy

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

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.