Asthma

Asthma is a common disease of the respiratory system. It comes from the Greek word “aazein”, or “sharp breath Allergens, common cold or even other triggers like exercise or stress can cause the airways or the tubes that carry air to the lungs. These become narrow and inflamed, with the build up of excessive mucous and breathing becomes a problem. A distinct wheeze can be heard during the entire cycle of respiration.

The asthma patient will be coughing and panting during inhalation with an uncomfortable tightening of the chest. It strikes patients more at night and in the morning, so sleeplessness is often a factor that adds to the discomfort. Some chronic asthma patients become hypersensitive to stimulants like strong smells, pollens or even pollutants.
Some of the other triggers of asthma are dust mites, cockroaches, and even some pathogens. Sleep apnea is said to be one of the factors causing asthma.

In some cases a patient taking bronchoconstrictor medicines, like beta-blockers or some hypertension medication, which could trigger severe breathing problems. In these cases, asthma attacks can be sudden and even life threatening. Today across the world, asthma has become the most prevalent disease.

The clinical conditions of asthma make it an easy to diagnose disease; however, one must understand that there is no cure for it. Modern medicine has ensured that there are many ways to control it. These cures are often used in conjunction with the ancient science of Yoga, especially “pranayam” or its highly evolved breathing practices.

One of the most essential treatments of asthma is of course removing the triggers that cause asthma. Long-term infections would need to be cured, and the underlying causes of asthma clearly understood. Rigorous efforts of cleaning the home from dust mites, and other pest like cockroaches will have to be undertaken. Mattresses would have to be changed, it is best to use the newer types that do not collect dust mites. The house would have to be made insect and dust proofed.

Anyone who suffers from asthma would have to ensure that he or she is well guarded against triggers like pollens, strong smells, pollutants and more. Sleep apnea will have to cured, this may require surgery, and medicines will have to be examined to understand whether any of these are responsible for the sudden asthma attacks. Anyone smoking is advised to give up the habit, as it can increase the frequency of the attack.
There is a range of instant relief bronchodilators available in pocket-sized, metered-dose inhalers. This can be used with an “asthma spacer” to get a full dose; this is a plastic cylinder that is especially useful for children.
Some of the most common bronchodilators are beta2-adrenoceptor agonists, such as salbutamol, levalbuterol, terbutaline and bitolterol. These improve the lung capacity immensely. Though they may be side effects, thus a full medical history has to be understood before any of these medicines are prescribed.
In case the asthma attack is unmanageable and the patient is unable to breathe a nebulizer, providing a continuous dose is used. The medicine is an easy to inhale saline solution and administered through vapor.

In case of severe asthma, hospitalization is required, and the patient may need oxygen for a while, along with a wide range of relief medications and antibiotics to cure infections if any.

There is an increasing tendency to turn to alternative practices to manage asthma. Yoga offers the most effective solutions. Pranayam or the life breath, is a method to understand the importance of the breath and use it to optimum. These exercises help in the management asthma. The inhalation and exhalation practices help clear the air passages and bring in a fresh inflow of oxygen. This science has to be learnt from a well-regarded teacher.

Acupressure and Acupuncture also helps in better asthma management. These need to be administered by registered practitioners, as they are specific forms of treatment.

Though one has to live with asthma, there are many ways in ensuring it does come in the way of getting the most out of life.

Asthma Inhalers

Asthma medication comes in many different forms. One of these forms is the Asthma Inhaler. When someone suffers from asthma they could go into an asthma attack. This is caused when their bronchial tubes start to close, making it hard for the person to breath. Asthma Inhalers such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids can help reopen the tubes and help the person breath properly again.

First is the bronchodilators, this type of asthma inhaler includes metered-dosed brands such as albuterol, pirbuterol, and advair. A bronchodilator relaxes the bronchial muscles so they will open back up. An albuterol or pirbuterol inhaler is used for fast action relief. Doctors recommend using this before and during physical activity to prevent an attack, as well as before bed and when you wake up.

As a dry powder form the Corticosteroid can be inhaled more quickly then the Bronchodilator and will help with the bronchial tubes from constricting again. The corticosteroid is a longer acting asthma inhaler then the bronchodilator. Typically this asthma inhaler is used once in the morning and the evening along with the bronchodilator. The use of the corticosteroid will help you breath easier thoughout the day. It is always best to consult a doctor to see what asthma inhalers fits you needs.

It is very important to use an asthma inhaler properly also. The recommended technique for the meter dosed asthma inhaler (which is also known as Aerosol) is as follows:

1. Shake well. Be sure to shake the inhaler several times before each use

2. Do not lie down; stand with your head up straight

3. Exhale as much as possible until you feel you have no more air inside your lungs then insert the asthma inhalers mouthpiece into your mouth sealing it with your lips

4. After you have sealed the mouthpiece start to breathe in and simultaneously press down one time and only one time on the canister to release a single dose

5. Pull the device out of your mouth and continue to try and breathe through your open mouth for four to five seconds until your lungs are full of air

6. After your lungs are full of air hold your breath for at least ten seconds

7. Exhale

If after step seven you still are not breathing properly repeat steps one-seven.

Incorrect asthma inhalers technique can cause poor delivery of your medication to the lungs. This most likely will occur if your delivery is late when inhaling and pressing once on the canister, a released puff half way through the process will be lost. It is important that you know how to use the asthma inhaler before leaving the doctor office to help with asthma control when an asthma attack comes on.

Asthma is a serious condition especially if not properly cared for. But with the help of good ashtma control, asthma medicine, and asthma inhalers a person can lead a normal, full, happy long life.

By: Sarah De Young

Does Diet Causes Asthma?

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system, where the airways get obstructed due to muscle spasm and swelling within the airways which may be with or without secretions. Ayurvedic texts have it that wrong and unsuitable diet and subsequent digestive impurities are a potent cause for respiratory allergy leading to asthma. A combination of other allergic or non-allergic factors, including air pollution, vagaries of the weather, emotional stress and heredity predispositions, can also be responsible for the genesis of asthma in susceptible persons.

In recent years a number of scientific studies have come to the conclusion that certain foods and nutrients exacerbate asthmatic inflammation and bronchial hyperactivity while others reduce such pathology and promote easier breathing. Due to the advanced and effective emergency management of asthma available these days its reasons are often overlooked. But it is a fact that an asthmatic attack in the case of young patients is mostly precipitated by wrong food.

According to ayurveda, asthmatic reactions to food can vary widely as both the whole and the processed foods are known to precipitate such attack. Diet, the chemicals added to food items these days and individual susceptibility supported by seasonal discrepancies and other environmental factors are found to set off allergic reactions in the body. It is widely documented that several commonly used food items like milk, yoghurt, ice-cream and other dairy products cause coughing and wheezing in many asthmatics.

Any unsuitable food can lead to a respiratory spasm, or cause irritation or inflammation that will then overreact with environmental triggers like virus, pollens, smoke and dust. Apart from any ordinary fruit and vegetable, this may include even common foods like cereals such as wheat, rice and maize, poultry products and bakery items or eatables made of yeast.

Many modern foods consumed occasionally or as part of our daily diet have preservatives, flavors and colors which are considered as potential prompters of respiratory or other allergies.

It is seen that in some patients even an attack of hyperacidity sets into motion an episode of asthma. This factor highlights the ayurvedic dictum of maintenance of post- digestive purity also. Asthmatics are advised to choose a food that suits their digestion in perfect order. It is better to scan one’s diet and evolve a food plan carefully as many times the reactions occur hours after a particular food has been eaten.

By: Lucy Nicholas

Effects Of Asthma Medicine On Pregnancy!

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Taking asthma medicine during pregnancy:

o Follow the directions according to your doctor about when to take asthma medicine and how much dosage to take.
o Talk to your doctor before taking any new asthma medicine.
o Don’t stop taking asthma medicine unless and until your doctor tells you to.
Controlling your asthma in pregnancy:

o You have to take the asthma medicine as prescribed during pregnancy.
o Monitor your asthma using a peak flow meter and observe your breathing symptoms.
o Call your doctor if your asthma medicine is not working well.
o Avoid things that trigger your asthma attack.
o You can take a flu shot if you are pregnant during flu season.




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

Asthma Diagnosis

The asthma diagnosis comes from a series of tests. In many cases, a doctor will be able to determine if a patient has asthma and diagnose them right on the spot. In these cases, the diagnosis will be determined by the patient’s pre history. The doctor will look at the patient’s history of illness as well as his family history to determine if the symptoms and signs there are likely to be that of asthma. In addition, most doctors will use a simple examination to confirm their diagnosis of the asthma condition.

When an adult is to be diagnosed with asthma, the doctor may take some measurements of his airways. In asthma, the airways will constrict tightly, not allowing enough air to pass through them. This is a test that offers diagnosis of the condition, but can not be done on children. The doctor will use what is called a peak flow meter to help test and then diagnosis the adult asthma patient. In addition to it using an inhaler to test the benefits it offers to the potential asthma patient. For children to be diagnosed with asthma, the doctor will look at his medical history. Then, to insure that the patient does have asthma, he or she will monitor the child’s response to various inhalers using bronchodilator medications.

In many cases, a doctor will diagnosis asthma within a matter of minutes due simple to the conditions that the patient is facing. Those that are facing asthma symptoms will usually be able to be diagnosed based on the conditions in which they face asthma like reactions. Doctors often can diagnosis a patient within a matter of minutes just by knowing the various factors that cause the body to react. In these cases, the final test comes from testing medications on the potential asthma sufferer to see if they do in fact relieve the condition.

By: Roger Thompson

Allergic Asthma: What have viruses got to do with it?

Epidemiological evidence suggests that certain viral infections not only trigger asthma-related symptoms but also contribute to allergic sensitisation and the development of asthma.

Read about the role of viruses in the development of allergic sensitisation and asthma……

Brief Statistics

1. Asthma costs 1-2% of the total health budgets in direct costs, with large indirect costs for time lost from work and reduced productivity.1
2. Survey data demonstrates that 95% of asthmatics have the dust mite allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) within their mattress, to levels in excess of WHO guidelines.1
3. Survey data demonstrates that approximately 17% of homes are contaminated with mould. This is significant as there is strong evidence linking asthma exacerbations to contamination of the indoor environment with moulds.1
4. Since most people spend 90% of their time indoors, exposure to major allergens is significant.1
5. Up to 35% of the population demonstrate evidence of reactivity to allergens.1
6. 5-10% of the population show clinical features of one or more allergic disorders such as asthma, hay fever or eczema.1
7. The Health Survey for England (2002) reported rates of doctor-diagnosed asthma of 20.5% in 0-15 year olds and 14.5% for all ages.1
8. Repeated surveys have proven that incidence of asthma is steadily on the increase.1
9. Epidemiological evidence suggests that certain viral infections may not only trigger asthma-related symptoms but also contribute to allergic sensitisation and the development of asthma.2
10. Clinical and epidemiological observations strongly link viral infection with acute worsening of asthma in as many as 80% of cases in children and 60% in adults.3

Introduction
Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterised by airway inflammation (resulting in airway swelling), mucus hypersecretion and airway hyperreactivity in response to inhaled allergens, such as pollens, dust mite, moulds, fungal spores, etc., causing narrowing of the airways.4 Over the last few decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in more economically developed and rapidly developing countries. As a result, they have become major public health problems and an enormous burden on health care resources. Severe asthma and systemic allergic reactions are potentially life-threatening conditions, which adversely affect the quality of life of millions of adults and children.5



Role of viruses
There is substantial evidence that respiratory viral infections are associated with the development of allergic sensitisation, asthma and other allergy-related illnesses. Several factors including age, type of virus, severity, location and timing of infection as well as the interactions with allergens and/or pollutants have been implicated in the development of allergic diseases related to viral infections, particularly asthma.2 Recent studies have shown that allergens and viruses may act together to exacerbate asthma. This indicates that domestic exposure to allergens acts in collaboration with viruses in sensitised patients (that is allergic individuals), thereby increasing the risk of hospital admission.1 Although their exact role in viral respiratory tract infections remains controversial, influenza virus (INF), respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) and Rhinovirus (RV) have been implicated in causing allergic sensitisation and the development of asthma.4 Traditionally, RSV has been considered as the most frequent cause of respiratory symptoms in preschool children, whilst in older children and adults, RV accounts for more than 50% of viral-triggered exacerbations.2, 3 What is peculiar about RSV is that unlike many other viral infections, it regularly re-infects children and adults. As with exposure to allergens, the age at first infection may play an important role in the subsequent response to re-infection at a later age; this fact is especially important in children of preschool age. Exposure to both allergens and viruses can occur anywhere: at home, in offices, factories, schools, etc.

Current preventative measures for viral allergic asthma exacerbation
Current preventative measures include,
1. Vaccination: This is often given in early childhood and some evidence suggests that some vaccines might influence the development of allergy. However, no clinical trials have been done to assess the immune modulatory effect of vaccination in the primary prevention of allergy. There is also no feasible vaccination against viruses such as rhinovirus.5
2. Antiviral Agents: There is currently no specific agent active against the human rhinovirus, which is the main cause for viral-triggered asthma exacerbations in adults and children. Several potential antiviral compounds are being evaluated, and some have reached clinical trial testing.3
3. In the absence of the effective strategies to control viruses, a reduced exposure to allergens is also a preventative measure; however, how feasible is this? 1
4. Air quality solutions such as air purifiers and air sterilisers, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Recommended products include,
1. The 5000 Exec-UV
2. The Airfree Air Sterilizer
3. The LightAir Air Ionizer


Useful link
http://www.airpurifierstop.com/alerts/57/how-do-air-purifiers-help-asthma-symptoms/


References
1. Green, R. M. et al. (2002) Synergism betweens allergens and viruses and risk of hospital admission with asthma: case-control study, British Medical Journal; 324: 1-5.
2. Xepapadaki, P. et al. (2007) Viral infections and allergies, Immunobiology; 212 (6): 453-9.
3. Tan, W. C. (2005) Viruses in Asthma Exacerbation, Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine; 11(1): 21-26.
4. van Rajit, L. S. et al (2005) Respiratory viral infections and asthma pathogenesis: A critical role for dendritic cells?, Journal of Clinical Virology; 34: 161-169.
5. Arshad, S. H., Primary prevention of asthma and allergy, Current Reviews of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; 116: 3-14.



Disclaimer
This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

Asthma and Altitude

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.