There's always seemed to be a suspicion of a link between asthma and allergies. Asthma, is a chronic illness characterized by inflammation of respiratory tubes that result in wheezing, a choking sensation and shortness of breath. A better understanding of asthma will result in an appreciation of the importance to address allergies quickly. Simply stated, continued research is suggesting that allergies are a main cause of the development of asthma.
The case concerning the connection between allergies and asthma is so strong that it has led Dr. James T. Li, an allergy specialist at the www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergies-and-asthma/ to suggest that it's many as 60% of the people with asthma have a form of allergy induced asthma. If correct, this makes allergies one of the leading causes of asthma. Given the high number and type of asthmatic triggers that have been identified, it shouldn't come as a surprise that allergies may play a large role in the development of asthma
A trigger is simply an event that can cause someone with asthma to have an attack. While many people with allergies have cold and flu like symptoms, an allergy attack can seriously affect one's ability to breathe. Asthma triggers include dust, dust mites, molds and mildew, pet dander, smoke odors and almost anything that can be taken into the body by breathing. So it stands to reason that many of the causes of allergy would be closely related to asthma.
Allergen immunotherapy, which is allergy shots that desensitize, have been shown to significantly improve asthma. If you or someone you know has allergic asthma, the best treatment continues to be reducing your exposure to the things that may trigger an asthma attack. Understand however, that having allergies does not automatically mean that you will develop asthma, only that it increases your risk significantly. According to Dr. Li, up to 78% of the people who have asthma also have hay fever.
The key then is to understand that at a minimum, there is a casual link between allergies in the development of asthma. For this reason alone, it makes sense to try and limit your exposure to potential asthma triggers that may be in your home.
Although allergies seem to play a key role in the development of asthma, it's not the only cause to consider. There are many other forms of asthma that can develop over the course of time. With the prevalence of allergies playing a large role in the number of asthma cases, it just makes sense to protect yourself as much as possible.
About the Author
Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects . For more information on asthma and asthma treatment visit the site at http://www.asthma-treatment-resources.com/treatment-asthma/treatment-asthma-index.html and the main asthma page at http://www.asthma-treatment-resources.com
Showing posts with label Asthma Patients. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asthma Patients. Show all posts
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Asthma and Altitude
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways.
During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air passages to and from the lungs.
It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.
However, fit, healthy people with well-controlled asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes provided that they ascend slowly and recognise and accept their limitations, adjusting their medicine if need be.
In freezing conditions, pressurised inhalers may not work properly. They should be warmed (e.g. in the hands) before use.
In addition, the conditions are high altitudes are often dry and cold, and these conditions tend to exacerbate and trigger asthma. People whose asthma is triggered by cold conditions might find that high altitudes are a problem, as the air temperature usually decreases at higher altitudes.
Also, climbing can be a very strenuous exercise and this may trigger exercise-induced asthma in some people.
However, people whose asthma is triggered by house-dust mites may find that their asthma improves, as the house-dust mite cannot survive at altitudes higher than 'the snow line'.
People with asthma who fly directly into a place that is at high altitude will not have time to acclimatise and may experience problems. This should be discussed with a doctor so that the altitude reached by aircraft should not pose problems for people with asthma.
The best thing to do is to discuss your trip with your doctor several weeks in advance of your departure. This will allow time to work out a personal asthma action plan for the trip. This might involve increasing your preventer treatment for several weeks before the trip to give the airways extra protection, or measuring peak flow while away to determine how altitude is affecting your lung function, or even simple things like ensuring that you have enough medication and backup medication.
Asthma and Altitude: Conclusion
It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.
It is also possible that asthma can become worse with altitude, especially if people ascend too quickly or ignore their limitations.
Visit Bjorn Gutter's Asthma Treatment and Asthma Cure websites.
During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air passages to and from the lungs.
It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.
However, fit, healthy people with well-controlled asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes provided that they ascend slowly and recognise and accept their limitations, adjusting their medicine if need be.
In freezing conditions, pressurised inhalers may not work properly. They should be warmed (e.g. in the hands) before use.
In addition, the conditions are high altitudes are often dry and cold, and these conditions tend to exacerbate and trigger asthma. People whose asthma is triggered by cold conditions might find that high altitudes are a problem, as the air temperature usually decreases at higher altitudes.
Also, climbing can be a very strenuous exercise and this may trigger exercise-induced asthma in some people.
However, people whose asthma is triggered by house-dust mites may find that their asthma improves, as the house-dust mite cannot survive at altitudes higher than 'the snow line'.
People with asthma who fly directly into a place that is at high altitude will not have time to acclimatise and may experience problems. This should be discussed with a doctor so that the altitude reached by aircraft should not pose problems for people with asthma.
The best thing to do is to discuss your trip with your doctor several weeks in advance of your departure. This will allow time to work out a personal asthma action plan for the trip. This might involve increasing your preventer treatment for several weeks before the trip to give the airways extra protection, or measuring peak flow while away to determine how altitude is affecting your lung function, or even simple things like ensuring that you have enough medication and backup medication.
Asthma and Altitude: Conclusion
It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.
It is also possible that asthma can become worse with altitude, especially if people ascend too quickly or ignore their limitations.
Visit Bjorn Gutter's Asthma Treatment and Asthma Cure websites.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Asthma Treatment -- How To Help Someone Having An Attack
Our existence depends on breath -- and an acute asthma attack can make it almost impossible to breathe. No wonder these attacks are so scary for both the affected person and for onlookers.
Knowing the basics of asthma treatment is essential when trying to help someone experiencing an attack.
Maybe you are having dinner with a friend and all of a sudden, she looks panic stricken and gasps for breath. Or perhaps your children’s friends have come over to your house and your daughter screams that her best friend can’t breathe.
Do you know how to deal with these situations? If you are able to provide the right asthma treatment, it might possibly save someone’s life.
Here are key facts you should know.
* During a bout of asthma, patients find it easier to breathe while sitting up than lying down. So help them get into a comfortable sitting position.
* Most asthma patients know what they need to do to deal with an attack. So it is best to ask them. Ask if they have an inhaler and where it is. If they don’t have one, ask them if you should call for help.
Many asthma patients carry not only an inhaler, but a written instruction card as well. An asthma attack can temporarily rob the patient of his ability to speak.
In such situations, an instruction card explaining what needs to be done can be invaluable. If there is such a card, just do as it says.
* Help them use the inhaler. An inhaler is designed to deliver a specific dose of asthma medication. The medication relaxes the patient’s airways and helps restore normal breathing.
Medication is so important that in case the patient doesn’t have his or her inhaler available, most doctors say that it is ok to use someone else’s. Nothing else you can do has nearly the same effect as taking the right medication.
In general, you should give two to four puffs of the inhaler and then wait for about five minutes for the next dose.
Position the mouthpiece of the inhaler between the patient’s lips. Let him know when you are about to give a puff so that he can breathe in at the same time.
Wait for several seconds before you deliver another puff. Or until he lets you know he is ready for the next one.
You can use a spacer to help the person inhale the medicine over the course of several breaths, instead of one breath. This device sits between the inhaler and the person’s mouth and can hold the medicine in place between breaths.
If a spacer is not available, you can make one by rolling up some paper to create a tube.
* Once you’ve given medication, observe the patient for several minutes. Is it getting easier for him to breathe?
* If it appears that they are not responding to the medication within ten minutes, call an ambulance. And continue to deliver about four puffs of medication every five minutes while waiting for the ambulance.
The medication will help prevent the asthma attack from getting worse even if it doesn’t seem to provide immediate relief.
* Stay calm throughout the episode. This will help the patient remain calm as well. If he panics, it will worsen the asthma attack and make it far more difficult for him to breathe.
So talk to him calmly, to reinforce the feeling that everything is under control. This is vitally important.
Being aware of these asthma treatment basics will help you deal effectively with many emergency situations.
Jane Peters is a lecturer and has written on a variety of topics. For useful information on asthma types, high blood pressure and more, see the foregoing links.
Knowing the basics of asthma treatment is essential when trying to help someone experiencing an attack.
Maybe you are having dinner with a friend and all of a sudden, she looks panic stricken and gasps for breath. Or perhaps your children’s friends have come over to your house and your daughter screams that her best friend can’t breathe.
Do you know how to deal with these situations? If you are able to provide the right asthma treatment, it might possibly save someone’s life.
Here are key facts you should know.
* During a bout of asthma, patients find it easier to breathe while sitting up than lying down. So help them get into a comfortable sitting position.
* Most asthma patients know what they need to do to deal with an attack. So it is best to ask them. Ask if they have an inhaler and where it is. If they don’t have one, ask them if you should call for help.
Many asthma patients carry not only an inhaler, but a written instruction card as well. An asthma attack can temporarily rob the patient of his ability to speak.
In such situations, an instruction card explaining what needs to be done can be invaluable. If there is such a card, just do as it says.
* Help them use the inhaler. An inhaler is designed to deliver a specific dose of asthma medication. The medication relaxes the patient’s airways and helps restore normal breathing.
Medication is so important that in case the patient doesn’t have his or her inhaler available, most doctors say that it is ok to use someone else’s. Nothing else you can do has nearly the same effect as taking the right medication.
In general, you should give two to four puffs of the inhaler and then wait for about five minutes for the next dose.
Position the mouthpiece of the inhaler between the patient’s lips. Let him know when you are about to give a puff so that he can breathe in at the same time.
Wait for several seconds before you deliver another puff. Or until he lets you know he is ready for the next one.
You can use a spacer to help the person inhale the medicine over the course of several breaths, instead of one breath. This device sits between the inhaler and the person’s mouth and can hold the medicine in place between breaths.
If a spacer is not available, you can make one by rolling up some paper to create a tube.
* Once you’ve given medication, observe the patient for several minutes. Is it getting easier for him to breathe?
* If it appears that they are not responding to the medication within ten minutes, call an ambulance. And continue to deliver about four puffs of medication every five minutes while waiting for the ambulance.
The medication will help prevent the asthma attack from getting worse even if it doesn’t seem to provide immediate relief.
* Stay calm throughout the episode. This will help the patient remain calm as well. If he panics, it will worsen the asthma attack and make it far more difficult for him to breathe.
So talk to him calmly, to reinforce the feeling that everything is under control. This is vitally important.
Being aware of these asthma treatment basics will help you deal effectively with many emergency situations.
Jane Peters is a lecturer and has written on a variety of topics. For useful information on asthma types, high blood pressure and more, see the foregoing links.
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