For asthma patients the day-to-day management of the disease becomes an important part of everyday life. Controlling asthma means paying careful attention to the causes and triggers of the asthma.

The ” trigger factors “, or ” triggers “, of asthma are used to describe the things that can cause an attack in someone who already has asthma.

It is something that sets off an attack, but which does not make a patient asthmatic in the first place.

A ” cause” is something without which an effect (such as asthma) will not happen.

That is, a cause is something without which the patient would not be asthmatic. There may be more than one cause for an asthma attack.

However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding these terms.

If a patient has an allergy to cats, dogs, pollen, mould in wallpaper or house dust mites that cause asthma many describe them as “triggering an attack”.

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

For example, if you don’t have asthma, or your asthma is well controlled, then a cold will not give you any of the symptoms of asthma.

So in this sense, it is fair o call the cold a ” trigger factor ” for asthmatics.

But if an asthmatic has an attack whenever they go near dogs, when dogs have been the cause of asthma (for instance; the reason they have asthma is because of dogs) , going near a dog can trigger an attack.

In other words, a dog can be a cause of asthma ‘and’ also a trigger of an attack.

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

Asthma sufferers will want to avoid both causes and triggers of asthma, but the causes are more serious nature. If there was no cause and the asthma didn’t exist, the triggers would do absolutely no harm.

Asthma - triggers vs causes …

*When talking about diseases, it is important to distinguish between causes and triggers.

*A trigger for asthma is something which sets off an attack, but which does not make you asthmatic in the first place.

*A cause is something without which an effect (such as asthma) would not be happening. That is, a cause is something without which you would not be asthmatic.

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Learn More About Symptoms and How You Can Treat and Live with Asthma at As thma-Explained.com/asthma-symptoms.html

Written By: Mike Herman

Posted: December 30th, 2006 under Asthma.
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Lung cancer kills more women every year than breast cancer. In fact, lung Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women with statistics showing it is an increasing problem for women especially as they have a proven susceptibility to developing lung cancer.

However, lung cancer poses additional risks and issues for women, and these can be generalised in one major way, and that is to do with smoking.

About 90% of all lung cancer deaths among women are as a direct result of smoking or breathing in someone else’s second-hand smoke. (This is known as Passive smoking).

Even though research has proven that smoking cause a wide range of very serious health effects, 1 out of every 5 women in the U.S. and other western countries still smoke with this number rising with a disturbing regularity every year despite widespread advertising to show how dangerous it is.

Various research studies which have been completed indicate that women who are former smokers may still have a significantly elevated risk of developing lung cancer even 20 years after they have quit smoking. However it is only fair to say that once they do stop smoking, the overall risk of developing lung cancer does drop.

According to an article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2005:

Female smokers are more likely than male smokers to develop lung cancer,

Women who have never smoked are more likely to develop lung cancer than men who have never smoked.

These differences are due to hormonal, hereditary, and metabolic differences between the sexes.

Female smokers are 13 times more likely to die of lung cancer than women who have never smoked, and female former smokers are 5 times as likely to die of lung cancer as women who have never smoked.

Women, even if they have never smoked, should be aware of their higher risks. Because of the elevated risks that smoking causes for lung cancer and a range of other serious diseases, female smokers in particular should think very carefully about quitting smoking as soon as possible, as even though their past history of smoking does make them more liable to developing lung cancer, at least the overall risk decreases once they quit.

About the author:

Isabelle Boulay writes for www.Medopedia.com, where you can read about exercise induced asthma , anti-snori ng devices and other health topics.

Written By: Isabelle Boulay

Posted: December 27th, 2006 under Asthma.
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Ozone air purifiers or “ozone generators” are known for their effectiveness at reducing and masking the smells of new carpet and acrolein, a chemical partly responsible for the noxious odor of second-hand tobacco smoke. There are two types of ozone generators. Direct ozone generators work by intentionally producing ozone that goes out to cancel out some chemicals in the air of your home. For bars, fire restoration jobs, and other major odor issues, nothing beats a direct ozone generator. When possible, vacate the premises, including pets, plants, art, and important items that are made of rubber. Seal the building and run the generator for a few days. Thoroughly ventilate the interior before reentering.

Indirect ozone generators are part and parcel with ionic air purification systems. Ionic air purifiers produce and send out negatively charged ions into the air, causing chemicals and particles to drop to the floor and surfaces. You clean off the surfaces as part of your regular chores. Ozone is one byproduct of this process.

Ozone, which is composed of three oxygen molecules, changes the air by interacting with certain chemicals, transforming them into carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, a variety of aldehydes, and formic acid. In high enough amounts, ozone is bad for your health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ozone can decrease lung function, aggravate asthma, irritate your throat, make you cough, give you chest pain, cause shortness of breath, inflame the lung tissue, and increase your susceptibility to respiratory infection. That’s why human health advocacy organizations worldwide have recommended a maximum outdoor ozone exposure of 50 to 80 ppb (parts per billion.)

As a result, many manufacturers of ozone air purifiers have voluntarily limited their indoor units to outputs of 50 ppb. Note that the further you are away from the unit, the less concentrated the ozone is. So place the unit at least two to ten feet away from you.

For regular use, look for an indirect ozone generator with a low tested emission rate. Consumer Reports recommends the Friedrich C-90A. The fan is a little noisy, but the Friedrich C-90A scores high marks for low ozone emission rates and effectiveness at reducing smoke, dust, and pollen.

About the Author

Air Purifiers Info provides detailed information on home, ionic, ozone, and HEPA air purifiers, as well as reviews of the best air purifiers on the market today. Air Purifiers Info is the sister site of Air Filters Web.

Written By: Marcus Peterson

Posted: December 24th, 2006 under Asthma.
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During an asthma attack, the patient’s airways become irritated, narrowing and constricting, causing difficulty in breathing by restricting airflow.

Why do some people have asthma while others don’t? Why is asthma more common in the Western world?

The causes of asthma are complicated.

It is include our genes, the things that we are exposed that may develop into allergies and contributing factors in the environment such as pollution that can determine whether these genes and allergies will cause asthma at some time during our lives.

Although asthma is not contagious and you cannot catch it through contact with another person, you can inherit the asthma tendency from your parents.

If a parent is a smoker then a child is twice as likely to develop asthma than children of non-smoking parents.

Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are often born with smaller airways, which can greatly increase the chances of the disease developing.

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

These factors include pollution, allergies to house dust mites, cats, dogs, and moulds.

Ironically, it seems that childhood infections and exposure to substances from bacteria in a dirty environment, assuming such an environment doesn’t kill you, seems to build up a protection against allergies and resistance to asthma that is why richer populations have more allergic disease.

Allergies are the cause of almost all asthma in young people, meaning that the patient has both inherited genes that have a tendency towards asthma and have been exposed to allergy - producing things in their environment. Both the allergies and the genes are the causes for developing asthma, because if either of them were not present then no asthma would develop.

At a Glance … Asthma - Causes

*When talking about diseases such as asthma, it is important to distinguish between causes and triggers.

*A cause is something without which the effect of having asthma will not happen. Without a cause a patient would not be asthmatic.

*Common causes of asthma include a family history of asthma, allergies and exposure to certain infections when young.

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Learn More About Symptoms and How You Can Treat and Live with Asthma at As thma-Explained.com/asthma-symptoms.html

Written By: Mike Herman

Posted: December 21st, 2006 under Asthma.
Comments: none

Cold & Flu Colds make the upper respiratory system less resistant to bacterial infection. Secondary bacterial infection may lead to middle ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infection, or strep throat. People with chronic lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or a weakened immune system are more likely to develop these complications. The symptoms of a cold and an allergy are similar and can be confused. Ordinarily, the common cold will cause red, inflamed nasal membranes, with thick, yellow nasal secretions. If there’s a cough, it will be loose and eventually productive. With an allergy, the nasal membranes will be pale and boggy with thin, watery, colorless secretions. If there’s a cough with an allergy, it will be dry and unproductive. There will not be any fever with an allergy, but with a cold there may, of course, be fever. Children who are allergic sometimes exhibit a distinctive appearance. They frequently have dark, puffy half-moons under their eyes and may also have the “allergic salute” from wiping the nose diagonally across the face. Colds may also be passed through direct contact. If a person with a cold touches his runny nose or watery eyes, then shakes hands with another person some of the virus is transferred to the uninfected person. If that person then touches his mouth, nose, or eyes, the virus is transferred to an environment where it can reproduce and cause a cold. There are no medicines hat will cure the common cold. Given time, the body’s immune system will make antibodies to fight the infection, and the cold will be resolved without any intervention. Antibiotics are useless against a cold. However, a great deal of money is spent by pharmaceutical companies in the United States promoting products designed to relieve cold symptoms. These products usually contain antihistamines, decongestants, and/or pain relievers. Herbs won’t replace pharmaceuticals, but the research shows that–for many conditions–herbs work well, are cheaper than drugs and cause fewer side effects, Herbs aren’t quite mainstream, but they’re moving in that direction. Patients are interested in them, and doctors are increasingly familiar with herb research. research has shown that the active ingredients in some natural remedies may actually boost the immune system, which may help stave off future infections. These ingredients can be found in medicinal teas, sprays, syrups, extracts, tablets and supplements.

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Written By: Herb Mark

Posted: December 18th, 2006 under Asthma.
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Living Air purifiers are manufactured, along with other brands, such as Fresh Air, by Ecoquest, a company that strive to improve the quality of the living environment of families all over the world. And while this is undoubtedly a noble quest, many experts and consumers question the ability of Living Air purifiers to meet this task adequately. Living Air purifiers take their place at the higher end of the indoor air cleaner market, costing as much as $700 for a single room clean air purifier. And while many consumer reviews rate Living Air purifiers highly, there is no escaping the fact that these indoor air cleaners contain a substance that an increasing number of experts claim is damaging to our health - ozone.

While many consumers report improved air quality in their homes with the use of a Living Air purifier, even those who suffer with such debilitating conditions as asthma, an increasing number of experts are citing evidence that suggests that ozone can cause long-term damage to an individual’s lungs. So while a Living Air purifier might bring instant relief to allergy and asthma sufferers, there might well be a more far-reaching price to be paid with the use of these indoor air cleaners.

The more immediate effects that consumers have reported with the use of a Living Air purifier include a strong odor of ozone in the home, and persistent headaches. Some users find that these effects can be reduced by operating Living Air purifiers at a lower setting, and while this might eliminate the typical symptoms that an indoor air cleaner is introduced to combat, there remains the threat posed by ozone.

Though expensive, Living Air purifiers are generally reported as being effective in removing particles and dust from the air. But, by using ozone in their design, it is likely that these clean air purifiers are emitting something far more dangerous than the particles they eliminate.

Living Air purifiers are expensive and emit ozone. Maybe they aren’t the best indoor air cleaners.

About the Author

For a website totally devoted to Air Purifiers visit Peter’s Website Air Purifiers Explained at http://www.air-purifiers-explained.com/ and find out about Air Purifiers as well as The Best Air Purifiers at http://www.air-purifiers-explained.com/best-air-purifiers.html and more, including Electronic Air Purifiers, Hepa Air Purifiers, Ozone Air Purifiers, Room Air Purifiers and Whole House Air Purifiers.

Written By: Peter Crump

Posted: December 15th, 2006 under Asthma.
Comments: none

Studies conducted over the past two decades demonstrate that the exposure of the passengers inside a car to the dangerous air pollutants including respiratory irritants, neurological agents, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide and carcinogens is significantly higher than that of bicyclists, pedestrians and public transfer riders. Increased exposure to these pollutants can produce serious health problems. Benzene is a known carcinogen and VOCs are also likely cancer agents. Almost all the pollutants can irritate the eyes, nose, and respiratory systems of people exposed to them.

They also may hinder the development of foetuses and infants. Studies indicate that the elevated levels of auto exhausts can also suppress the immune system, making human beings more vulnerable to colds, influenza, and other respiratory conditions like asthma. Car air filters purify the air inside a car, allowing the passengers to have healthy and clean air to breathe.

Car air filters come in two main types: the panel style, as used on most fuel-injected cars, and the radial style, which are usually used on carburetted vehicles. A car air filter is enclosed in a black plastic casing near the center-top of the engine.

The air filter traps dirt particles, which can cause damage to engine cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings. Changing car’s filters on a regular basis can have a significant impact on engine life and performance. A good rule of thumb is to change filters once or twice a year, or roughly once every 15,000 miles. Replacing a clogged air filter has two-fold impact on the engine: a fuel economy benefit: up to 10%, which makes for equivalent gasoline savings up to 15 per gallon. Dirty and dusty driving conditions will require more frequent filter replacements. It is important to avoid using the wrong size filter in a car.

Nowadays, car owners are using ‘Nanotechnology’ based filters to improve cabin air quality. Such filters contain charcoal layers, which remove odours. These filters allow ‘mechanical filtration’, in which the fiber material of the filter with pores of a specific size will trap particles larger than the size of the pores. Almost 80% of the cars sold in U.S. include a built-in nanotechnology-based filter.

About the Author

Air Filters Info provides detailed information on home, car, electronic, and HEPA air filters, as well as air conditioner filters and air filter manufacturers. Air Filters Info is the sister site of Air Purifiers Web.

Written By: Marcus Peterson

Posted: December 12th, 2006 under Asthma.
Comments: none

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 info on asthma here: Asthmaxpert

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Written By: Michael Rad

Posted: December 9th, 2006 under Asthma.
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Breath is Life–Fight Asthma! (Posted in getmedix.com) Asthma- has become a significantly common disease that everybody must have heard of somewhere, sometime! The highest ratio rests with Australia, who has in fact, around two million Australians have asthma; that is about 10% of the population. It’s so common! Yet, unless one knows some facts and have studied it or had it explained by a doctor, one wonder what asthma actually is. Have you ever been felt breathless while, gasping for breath? It’s difficult for anyone to understand what an asthma attack feels like, but truly, it is too much scary! For anyone who has never had an asthma attack, it is very hard to understand what it feels like. The small air sacs and airways of the lungs become irritated. Thus, they swell and can fill with mucous. This leaves less space in the airways for air to move through and it becomes hard to get enough air into the lungs. This results in chest pain and an overwhelming desire to breathe rapidly which actually worsens the situation. Asthma is a life threatening disease and should be taken seriously. Even a mild asthma attack can be very serious. A mild asthma attack can develop into a more serious attack or it might exhaust the patient so much such that a mild attack can become fatal. In general, asthma is caused by an irritation of the airways. Some common irritants of Asthma are:
Dust
Pollen
Tobacco
Allergens
Hay fever
Viral infections
Animal hair
Temperature changes
Heavy Exercise

However there is no cure for the asthma disease, but clearly the disease is manageable. Medication is available to prevent attacks and relieve the symptoms. There is no single cause and no single answer. Attacks can be minimised by avoiding known triggers as much as possible and by leading a generally healthy lifestyle, including fresh foods and exercise.

About the author:

Cathrine is an associated editor to the website www.getmedix.com. Getmedix is committed to providing visitors with complete information on Health Care, men’s health, sexual health, online prescription drugs, latest news, diet pills, personal views, and articles on related topics. Your feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at email Cathniz@gmail.com

Written By: Cathrine

Posted: December 6th, 2006 under Asthma.
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In today’s time, indoor pollution has reached unmitigated levels. Experts say that indoor pollution in fact is two to five times as much as outdoor air pollution. This assumes significant importance for the kind of lifestyles we lead. Did you know that we spend more than 90% of our time indoors?

Indoor contaminants include dirt and dust mites, pet hair, mold mildew, household odors, common household and industrial cleaning agents, pollen and other allergens. Now imagine a person who has a tendency towards asthma and allergies living with all these contaminants freely floating in the air that she breathes. Bet you didn’t know that even fumes from pressed wood and old carpets can cause foul smells and kick off an asthma or allergy attack!

So, how can we regain the quality of the air that we breathe and control the impurities present in it that make the air quality unsanitary and injurious to our health? Modern technology has provided us with solution to this problem. Air purifiers.

We may not have control over the pollution found outside our homes, offices and schools, but we can exercise control over our environment and thereby our health, when we are indoors. There are several types of air cleaning products in the market today, which can help you control the air quality of your home and other indoor spaces.

Finding the perfect air purifier can be an irksome task. With literally hundreds of choices available to a consumer, choosing the right air-purifier, that satisfies all the requirements, can be time consuming and challenging. The only way to know if the one you’ve bought is perfect for you is to try it out. So try and purchase one that gives you a free trial period for assessment.

There are some more aspects to keep in mind when purchasing an air purifier. These include the type of pollutants you want to do away with, the size of the room you want to decontaminate, the level of noise you’re willing to live with, the cost of maintenance (some purifiers need their filters to be replaced on a periodic basis), and of course how much you’re willing to pay for it.

Visit: http://www.inforesearcher.com/ For more information.

About the author:

Logan writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, the bio remains, all hyper links remain intacked and the rel=”nofollow” tag isn’t added to any links. Thank-You

Written By: Logan Rokwild

Posted: December 3rd, 2006 under Asthma.
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