One week my wife had severe asthma and it would not go away. In fact, we had visited our doctor numerous times for adrenalin shots. These helped in the short term (for a day or so) but the asthma just returned again later. Both of us wanted to resolve this condition on a more permanent basis, as it was becoming very difficult to deal with.

We talked to our doctor, a wonderful man named Dr. Frischer, and he directed us to a specialist. Someone who was familiar with the disease and could help us come up with a permanent handling.

I must admit that my wife did not want to go to this specialist. She didn’t say why, she just was not comfortable with him. However, I convinced her, and before long we had pulled up to the doctors office, which was in a little hospital in Paramount, California.

The specialist took one look at Claudia and knew that her asthma was terrible. He had Claudia breath into a tube, then tisked to himself when he saw the result. It appeared that Claudia was not getting anywhere near the amount of oxygen that a normal person received. In fact, her lungs were drawing in about a forth of the normal amount of air - it was pretty bad that day. Which meant, of course, it was the perfect day to see the specialist.

The guy did some more tests, then recommended an allergy panel to determine exactly which substance was causing Claudia’s condition. He explained that asthma is usually triggered by something, some particle in the air. It could be dust, pollen, cockroach droppings, cat dandruff or any other small particle.

We agreed and the panel was done. The doctor swabbed her arm with about twenty different substances, explaining that they would swell up into little bumps if anything registered. One substance registered strongly - simple dust. It seemed that Claudia’s asthma was caused by dust.

While we were there, the specialist increased her Prednisone dosage to 60 milligrams. This is an incredibly high dosage of this drug, but based upon Claudia’s poor breathing, the doctor felt it was necessary. If you remember from the previous article (part 1), prednisone has the side effect of making Claudia extremely hostile to our poor cat Baby. Well, during the next few weeks that cat had to be guarded night and day by Al and myself to keep Claudia from killing it.

The result of this trip? We finally realized the link between the environment and Claudia’s asthma. We decided to be a little more proactive, and purchased some air filters for the living room and bedroom. These helped control the asthma to a certain extent. The other result? Now Claudia was feeling the other major short term side effect of Prednisone - it’s very difficult to stop taking..

About The Author

Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge. Web Site Address: http://www.internet-tips.net Weekly newsletter: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm

Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com

Written By: Richard Lowe, Jr.

Posted: March 30th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

My wife has asthma. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for anyone else to understand what that means and implies. If you have not had to care for someone with asthma, you cannot even begin to comprehend what it is like to deal with this condition. When I mention it to someone and they start telling me what they think, I have to control my feelings … they do not and cannot understand. I restrain myself because they think they are being helpful. It’s the same kind of thing when a single person gives a married couple advice on their union, or someone without kids thinks he knows how to raise them.

So what does it mean when I say my wife has asthma? It means her life is in constant danger. Every single day that she’s breathing is a good day - because she survived the night. A week without gasping is a luxury, and a full month without an asthma attack is almost unheard of. What today really means is another day of breathing - it may be a difficult day or a good day, but there is always the knowledge that breathing is the most important thing.

You see, breathing is something that most of us take for granted. We never think about it, never need to be concerned about taking that next breath. Personally, the worst trouble I have had with my own breathing is a bad cold - my nose was stuffed and I had to use my mouth.

My wife, on the other hand, has to think about breathing all of the time. Some days she breaths fine, others are difficult. Breathing problems are in a special class all of their own - it’s not like, say, having problems going to the bathroom, a cold or throwing up. These things all are minor compared to not breathing. You see, with breathing problems there is no time to think. You’ve got just minutes or even seconds to make a decision and get into action.

I discovered my wife had asthma soon after we were married. It was news to her also - she had never had asthma before, although her child had attacks when he was younger. So one day, out of the blue, Claudia came home because she had difficulty breathing … and I didn’t have a clue what to do.

This is a very unusual circumstance for me … not knowing what to do. I am very intelligent by any measure and I make a strong point at knowing how to handle just about anything in my life. Before this time, no matter what the emergency was, I could and did handle it. Yet here I was with my wife having difficulty breathing. Over the next few days I learned a little bit. One thing I learned real fast is not al doctors are created equal. You see, even though our doctor visits were covered under insurance, our doctor would not accept any insurance. She ran a strictly cash operation. So on top of having a medical crisis we had a financial one - we had to pay the doctor then wait for the insurance company to pay us back. This severely limited our options at a time when we really needed options.

So when Claudia had breathing troubles we rushed over to the doctors office and asked for help. The doctor gave her a shot of adrenalin to correct her breathing. I watched in awe as my wife trembled from an injection of the same stuff they use to start a person’s heart if it has stopped. I wondered for a moment if the “cure” was worse than the disease. The wonder soon stopped as Claudia’s breathing settled down and she could take a breath without gasping. Her color returned to her normal pink - she had been slightly purple in hue., and the doctor prescribed something called Prednisone.

The next few weeks were not good weeks. You see, I didn’t know it at the time, but Prednisone has some side effects. The most important one being that large doses tend to make a person a little bit psychotic. What I’m saying is my normally calm and collected wife became the “She Devil From Hell” … but not so much to me or my son. No, her frustration was taken out on the cat (Baby).

That poor cat went through hell for those weeks. I had to protect him several times from the wrath of my wife for some new offense … it appeared to her that the cat was trying to annoy her and make her miserable. I do believe that Baby used up at least two lives during those weeks … and he only survived because my son and I protected him.

There were several trips to our local doctor during this first year with asthma. We noticed that the disease was not getting better, and our doctors did not really appear to know what they were doing. Their answer was more Prednisone and more adrenaline … so we decided to see a specialist.

About The Author

Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge. Web Site Address: http://www.internet-tips.net Weekly newsletter: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm

Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com

Written By: Richard Lowe, Jr.

Posted: March 27th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: 1

5 Ways Green Lipped Mussels can benefit your Health

Green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a New Zealand shellfish most commonly found growing in the clean water sea off the coast of New Zealand.

GLM (Green lipped mussel) contains many vitamins, especially the B complex group and a broad range of minerals and trace elements. It is rich in protein, provides essential amino acids and is an excellent well balanced nutritious dietary supplement.

New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel use can help with: 1. Arthritis 2. Asthma 3. Menstrual pain 4. Multiple sclerosis 5. Skin problems

GLM contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids which are known for reducing inflammation. It also contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate which are important building blocks for joint cartilage, and may assist in the repair of joint structures. Green Lipped Mussel is thought to work by affecting the inflammatory pathway of prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolism, inhibiting inflammatory responses.

Common reasons for using Green Lipped Mussel: Can be used to relieve the pain of arthritis Can be used to reduce joint inflammation associated with arthritis Can be used to reduce swelling associated with arthritis Can be used to Assist in the management of arthritis

Green lipped mussel may even help in the treatment of joint inflammation and osteoarthritis in animals.

How much Green Lipped Mussel? The daily dosage of Green Lipped Mussel will vary greatly depending on the age of the person and the severity of symptoms. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist or health professional about how much Green lipped mussel you should take. The amount depends on the strength of the medicine and the reason you are taking Green lipped mussel. Do not take more Green lipped mussel or take it more often than what is written on the directions.

Known Side Effects of Green Lipped Mussel? Before Using: Tell your doctor if you… are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement) are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine are breast feeding have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease

Side Effects: Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing, or rash. Upset stomach and gas Asthma Skin rash You may retain fluid while taking Green lipped mussel

About the author:

Healthy 1020 was established in New Zealand during 1994. Their aim is to supply the public with the highest quality, chemical free, natural health products. These are sourced from reliable & responsible producers world wide, supported by competent, knowledgeable staff, with professional backup from qualified practitioners. Find out more information on Green Lipped Mussel at www.newzealandgreenlippedmussel.co.nz.

Written By: Healthy 1020

Posted: March 24th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

During the year many people are stricken by illness and/or allergies. One great way to help you alleviate, or even avoid, these problems is by using a room humidifier. Humidifier health aspects are great and definitely worth trying.

Using a room humidifier allows a person to create a healthy home environment for those who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other sinus problems.

There are two kinds of humidifiers, warm and cool mist. Their health aspects include helping with problems that are associated with dry air such as dry skin, swollen nasal passages, sinus headaches, and asthma.

The use of a tabletop room humidifier can help to soothe a person’s nasal and respiratory passages when he/she has the flu or a sore throat. Portable units can also be used to provide relief to those who have asthma, dry skin, and/or dry eyes.

Adults are not the only ones to benefit from the use of room humidifiers. The health aspects of room humidifiers also greatly benefit children.

It is common for young children to suffer from 6 to 8 upper respiratory tract infections every year. By increasing air moisture in your home, and/or your child’s room, you can not only alleviate his/her symptoms, but can also help to prevent them all together.

When choosing a room humidifier for a child, be aware that a cool mist unit is recommended. Warm mist units can run a risk to accidental burns.

In order to keep your room humidifier in optimum working conditions, there are several things you must do to keep it free from mold, fungi, and bacteria that can be harmful to your health. By following the manufacturer’s instructions for care and cleaning you can make sure you keep your room humidifier safe.

Room humidifiers are most often used during the winter. In order to prevent the growth of mold, spores, and dust mites the level of humidity should be kept under 50%. The tank should be emptied, surfaces should be dried, and it should be refilled with clean water on a daily basis.

Instead of using tap water, which can contain minerals that my promote a germ-friendly film as well as scale build up, try using distilled or demineralised water.

Room humidifiers can be found in various stores and even on the internet. It is wise to do research before purchasing a unit to find which brand and type fit your needs.

One important thing to remember is that bringing your home’s humidity to the proper level can not only benefit you health-wise, but can also save you money each year. You will pay less for your heating bills when you feel warmer at a lower temperature. That means that everything in your home, from you plants to your pets to your furniture to your loved ones to you, can benefit from its results.

A room humidifier is a wonderful item to have for your home. Having your home properly humidified shouldn’t just be considered a luxury, but also a necessity.

About the author:

More about humidifiers at: Humidifier Resources and useful Information

Written By: Claire Quaty

Posted: March 21st, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

We all know how an asthma attack looks like. But there are only a few people who know what causes it. There are many different things that can cause an asthma attack. Dogs, cats, and even pet birds can sometimes cause the attacks. Well known aggravators include cigarette smoke, dust, cold air, physical exercises - even laughing. Some asthma attacks are worse when people become very emotional (positive and negative alike). Virus infections of breathing passageways are also enemies of those suffering from asthma.

Now, who would expect this? Sometimes asthma is triggered because of treatments used to cure infections. That includes something as ordinary as aspirin and other acetylosalicil acid-based medications.

On the other hand, infections during the childhood years can be beneficial - the child’s body organism is better fitted to fight the allergies and, since most causes of asthma are connected with some form of allergy, the infection can also have its protective effect.

Asthma attack - what causes it: the causes and the triggers

As mentioned above, an asthma attack is usually the result of some form of allergy. It doesn’t matter what causes it - the result is the same. Without allergy reactions or airways’ inflammation there can be no asthma attack.

After learning about allergies you may ask: “What about laughter, physical exercises or tobacco smoke? They all can induce an asthma attack”.

Yes, the problem is to see the difference between what “induces” an asthma attack and what “causes” it (usually it’s an allergy). The “causes” are very general and you can’t do a thing about them. But fortunately you can try to avoid anything that might trigger an asthma attack. It doesn’t matter what causes it in general - if you can avoid triggers, you can avoid most of the attacks.

Asthma attack - what causes it: know your enemy

The triggers can vary greatly depending upon your general health. As we said, most allergens can trigger an asthma attack: cats’ or dogs’ fur, cold infections, air (this includes temperature, smoke and other similar things). Your doctor should carefully examine the triggers to prepare the proper treatment. For you it is important to remember what your asthma attack triggers are and avoid instant exposure to them if possible. The old saying: “Know your enemy” is extremely useful here. You have to know what causes your asthma. It is necessary if you want to live an active and happy life.

Preventative drugs can reduce the probability of an asthma attack, but, to be honest, it will never disappear. However, if you know what causes it, you can find your own methods of avoiding contact with the triggers. That includes exposure to cold air, the control emotions, how to properly air condition in your home, car or work. Most triggers can be neutralized if you have prepared for them properly.

As always… If you have any doubts, ask your doctor.

About the author:

Mark Walters leads the fight against asthma from http://www.AsthmaRoom.com

Written By: Mark Walters

Posted: March 18th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

Did you know that the household and beauty products that you purchase at your local store are unhealthy for your family? You probably don’t know this because the chemical and manufacturing industries don’t have to provide us with this information. Of course, many of these chemicals were originally intended to enhance our lifestyles. However, you really need to know that these “life-enhancing” products are actually polluting our health and environment. Your continued good health depends upon knowing this truth. This way you can limit your exposure to these toxic chemicals.

One of the largest indoor pollutants that is found in our homes is formaldehyde which is found in antiperspirants, mouthwash, toothpaste, floor waxes, and furniture polishes and causes allergies, cancer, immune system failings, and asthma.

Another major indoor pollutant are phenols. This pollutant can be absorbed by both your lungs and your skin and result in caustic burns, kidney and liver damage and hyperactivity. Phenols are found in acne medications amd mouthwash.

Some other items that you need to be cautious of include Dawn Dishwashing Detergent which is the #1 cause of accidental poisoning in the USA, Tide which contains lye is the #1 polluter of our homes, and Off bug spray contains DEET which causes seizures. Other products to beware of include Lysol, Fantastik, Formula 409, Pine-Sol, Pledge, Spic & Span, Tilex, Ajax, Speed Stick, Secret, Johnson’s, Joy, Windex, Palmolive, Shout, Spray & Wash, Palmolive, Lever, Irish Spring, Jergens, Crest, Listerine, Arm & Hammer, Colgate, Scope, Old English and Dove. As you can see, these are a lot of major brand cleaners and beauty products.

What exactly do these products do? They can cause a list of symptoms including: a delay in the onset of puberty, cancer, excessive fatigue, heart palpitations, insomnia, night sweats, hormonal imbalances, unusual skin rashes, swollen glands, digestive problems, nausea, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, heart disease, irritability, aggression, impaired memory and concentration, auditory and visual perception, the onset of allergies, asthma, birth defects, and noise intolerance. They can also adversely affect the nervous system reducing emotional well being, mental alertness, coordination and other functions associated with intelligence. Toxic chemicals also increase the symptoms of any existing conditions.

Your home is a toxic waste dump! The average home contains 62 toxic chemicals. Less than 2% of these chemicals have actually been tested for long-term effects. Now that you know the truth, I encourage you to start doing something about it!

About the Author

Brenda Hoffman is a home-based professional from Pennsylvania. She began her adventures in home-based business over 7 years ago after receiving a degree in psychology. Now the mother of 1, she operates a homeopathic health and wellness network (http://your-healthy-family.blogspot.com)providing information for those who are interested in improving their life.
Copyright (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved

Written By: Brenda Hoffman

Posted: March 12th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

Today, asthma and sinusitis are increasing in frequency and morbidity. When a person has asthma, the patients and his family’s cooperation are very important. Parents must keep an eye on the complex treatment that includes pills, inhalers and exercises. If there is poor medical service, asthma and sinusitis are likely to get worse.

Asthmatic children have higher risk of getting sinusitis from exposure to second hand smoke. On the other hand, people with chronic sinusitis are sometimes at higher risk of developing asthma.

When asthma comes with sinus infection, simple treatment will not do. Since the nose is blocked, the individual is forced to breath through their mouth which can likely hasten an asthma attack. Likewise, air breathed through the mouth is colder than the air breathed through the nose. And cold air is known to trigger asthma attacks. Overuse of antibiotics, environmental factors, bacteria and fungi among others often increases the occurrence of asthma and sinusitis despite the advances made in treating these conditions.

If both asthma and sinusitis are considered as inflammatory diseases, then their treatment is likely similar. Patients should drink enough fluids and bacterial infection should be reduced by means of breathing and coughing exercise, various enzymes, exercise, iodides, guaifenesin and irrigation. However, if the sinus infection does not improve with antibiotics, a CT scan may be necessary. Asthma and sinusitis are often treated at the same time as what affects the sinus affects the entire upper respiratory system.

You are likely to identify asthma if you are aware of its causes and symptoms. Symptoms can generally range from mild shortness of breath to chest pain, coughing and tightness in the chest. Common asthma triggers include indoor and outdoor allergens, infections, tobacco smoke, wood smoke, air pollution, certain medication, weather and even strong emotions. Some episodes of asthma attacks can be very severe and even life threatening. For this reason, education of patients is very important. Also, prompt diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis is important in the long-term management of asthma. And in order to effectively control the symptoms, it is important to know what triggered the attack and then avoid those causes.

Understand that sinusitis can worsen asthma. However, many patients who have successful treatment of their sinus infection find that their asthma also improves. Controlling the inflammatory process in the nose can help to control asthma symptoms. And along with prevention and treatment, maintaining a healthy well-balanced lifestyle and diet is also very important. After all, a healthy body is likely to get sick.

For comments and suggestions kindly visit Sinus Infection Relief

About the author:

Viojieley Gurrobat loves readings books in her spare time. She writes stories and poems about anything under the sun.

Written By: Viojieley Gurrobat

Posted: March 9th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

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.

About the Author

Asthmaxpert

Written By: Mihai Rad

Posted: March 6th, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none

Some professions can actually cause asthma or, trigger it to make it worse, this is called occupational asthma.

Most jobs locations, especially office and factory professions, have some kind of dust, smells and other fumes, with which you have direct contact or, indirectly, as it may be going through the ventilation or air systems (from one office to another), producing occupational asthma.

Usually the levels that you breathe in are so minute (small) that you aren’t troubled by it.

This means that if the job location , or your work environment, is the cause of your occupational asthma, your asthmatic conditions will improve if you leave that job, or that at least change your work environment, assuming that you and your doctor have caught and treated it early enough.

However the longer you continue working in the same conditions which are causing the asthma, the more likely you are to continue having asthmatic conditions even after you leave those working conditions and stay away from the dust, smells or fumes.

Unfortunately, most continue with a job in a damaging environment as they have not realized that there is a relationship between their environment and their health, or because it is seemingly very difficult to leave or change jobs. The cost of either is very high, occupational asthma, or other health issues.

When a job or workplace is causing the asthma, co-workers, are also affected.

However if it is just you it could be another cause such as job-related stress rather than any fumes or pollutants.

Wrongly blaming your job for your asthma can have very bad effects.

Why lose your job if it is harmless and didn’t cause your asthma at all?

Also, if people think that the workplace caused asthma, the expense of improving working conditions may mean there will be fewer jobs or in some cases no jobs at all.

In addition, a diagnosis of occupational asthma may reduce your chances of future employment.

However, if your gets better during the weekends, on an extended break, or when you are on vacation, it likely that something at work is the cause of it.

The dust, fumes or allergens in various trades such as bakeries (flour), working with animals, working with pharmaceuticals, craftsmen (especially wood), electronics (soldering), textile dyes (reactive dyes), polyurethane paints and plastic moulding, etc., can be direct causes of occupational asthma.

Oddly enough, many substances with a nasty smell don’t seem to cause asthma, even though they can cause allergic reactions in the nose.

If you believe you may have asthma, occupational or not, do not hesitate to speak with your doctor immediately.

About the author:

Learn More About How You Can Treat and Live with Asthma at Asthma-Explained.com

Written By: Mike Herman

Posted: March 3rd, 2007 under Asthma.
Comments: none