Nov 1
2007

When we hear of allergy and asthma studies, we often find them lumpted together. Is there really a connection between allergies and asthma? To get to the answer to this, we must first learn what allergies and asthma actually are.

Allergies are immune system reactions to things that others would find harmless. Certain foods, pollen, even dust are all considered allergens that can trigger an allergic reaction. The immune system produces antibodies that release chemicals

Asthma is a chronic lung condition, characterized by difficulty in breathing due to 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 air to and from the lungs. Common early warning signs of asthma include fatigue, coughing (especially at night), wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, runny nose, and itchy throat.

Allergies, on the other hand, are immune system reactions to things that most people would experience as harmless. Certain foods, dust, pollen … these are allergens that can trigger an allergy attack. When they’re encountered, the body’s immune system produces IgE antibodies to fight the allergen. These antibodies create the release of chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which (histamine) affects the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and skin, causing the allergy’s symptoms.

So now that we have a better picture of how these two health conditions work, the question becomes … is there a relationship between allergies and asthma?

It’s true that those with certain allergies (usually allergies that affect the nose and eyes, such as dust mites, animal dander, mold or pollen) are more likely to develop asthma than say … those without allergies or those with allergies in other classifications, such as food allergies. But it’s also true that many of those with allergies never develop asthma at all.

In addition, there are other factors that can contribute to a person’s asthma. Unmonitored exercise, for example. Or other illnesses, such as colds or the flu.

Scientists aren’t sure what lies at the root cause of asthma. Various studies are looking at a variety of factors, including air pollution, obesity, and as strange as it might sound, even the lack of exposure to viruses and bacteria in childhood (which may prevent he immune system from growing stronger).

What we do know is that exposure to indoor allergens, pollen, animal dander, grass … in other words, allergy-related factors, are often found in asthmatics. Often, but not always. And it also appears that asthma tends to run in families. If both parents have asthma, there’s actually a 40% probability their children will develop the disease as well.

Current research efforts have been exploring the influence of environmental factors, genetics (as mentioned above), and even stress on asthma. This creates the potential to dramatically reduce a person’s asthma severity levels by altering his or her exposure to the aggravating factors. This can be particularly successful when the culprit is something that’s relatively easy to control. Dust, for instance. Or something only encountered in a work environment. Or, though it’s certainly much more difficult because of the emotional component, a family pet.

Unfortunately, the most common allergy that appears to have a direct influence on asthma is an allergy to dust mites. Eliminating these mites to the extent that it might make a difference in the severity of your asthma requires a major change in lifestyle and can often be quite expensive. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, only that it’s not as easy as simply staying indoors during the pollen season or switching to a less stressful job.

Of course, new treatments are coming along all the time, and considerable research is currently dedicated to finding ways to modify, abolish or diminish the affect allergies have on the body. It’s believed that with the successful control of allergies can come the successful control of asthma, particularly in younger sufferers.

In the meantime, here’s what we know … asthma can be triggered by allergic reactions, but it can also be triggered by nonallergic reactions. Most asthma attacks result from exposure to allergens such as pollen, household dust, and mold. These attacks can be influenced by indoor or outdoor environments. Because a majority of asthma sufferers are affected by some form of allergies, it’s worth the effor to work closely with your doctor to try to identify and control all potential allergens within your influence.

About the author:

Amanda Baker writes for http://tobeinformed.com – a website for health, fitness and wellness information.

Written By: Amanda Baker

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Oct 14
2007

Go to any grade school or high school sporting event! ake a peek at the sideline bench and note how many inhalers you see. Did you know that the number one reason children miss school is asthma? Why the explosion of asthma and respiratory problems in children?

4 Reasons Respiratory Problems are on the Rise!

1) Couch Potato Generation kids weigh more, exercise less and spend more time indoors.
2) Too much antibiotic use – Immune systems never get much opportunity to fight infections, and then react abnormally to airborne contaminants.
3) Air Pollution Pollution does not cause asthma but can be a trigger for an attack. Cars and factories now have stricter controls on emissions but the problem is still there.
4) Indoor Air Pollution 20 years ago no one ever heard of Indoor Pollution! Since the Energy Crisis in the 70s, buildings became more energy efficient. This meant all pollutants became trapped inside. Many of the items we furnish our home and school with are outgassing contaminants continually. Carpeting, curtains, cleaning products, particle board furniture and more! With people spending 90-% of their days indoors, this becomes a problem!

4 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Kids from Allergy & Asthma Reactions!

1) Watch for days when pollen counts are high and restrict vigorous exercise on hot days.
2) Avoid Wood Stoves and fireplaces in the home and NEVER allow smoking in the home of an asthmatic.
3) Keep pets out of the bedrooms.
4) Make sure kitchen, bathrooms, and basement are well ventilated to cut down on mold in humidity.
5) Put pillows and mattresses in allergen-impermeable covers to cut down exposure to dust mites.
6) Use non-toxic cleaning products and avoid perfumes and scented products.
7) A filter-less air purifier is highly recommended since a filter can only capture a small portion of allergens.

About the Author

To learn more about products for a healthier indoor environment, please visit my website at www.myhealthysolutions.com or register here for my bi-weekly issue of The Achoo Reviewan online newsletter to help you and your family with allergies and asthma.

Deborah Mumm has been an Indoor Environmental Consultant for 7 years. She has helped hundreds of people with her tips and healthy products. http://www.myhealthysolutions.com

Written By: Deborah Mumm

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Oct 8
2007

What is an allergy?

An allergy is a super-sensitivity to a substance that is not harmful to most other people. These substances are called allergens. The common allergens include pollen, mould, dust mites, cockroaches and pet dander. Some people also have food allergies. Some people have symptoms with strong chemical fumes, odours (including perfumes, fragrances in household cleaners and detergents), smoke and air pollution. These compounds are chemical irritants and not true allergens. The common symptoms of allergy include hay fever, asthma, eczema or food reactions.

How do I know if I have allergies?

Hay fever is the most common allergy problem in Canada. The typical symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, a dry cough and itching. Asthma is a lung condition which can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing. Eczema is a skin condition which often involves a dry itchy rash. True food allergy reactions can include hives, itchiness, shortness of breath, throat tightness, lightheadedness or stomach pain after eating the food allergen. Allergies can be a serious medical condition and you should consult your doctor if you suspect you have them. A doctor may recommend allergy scratch tests (a type of skin testing in which suspected allergens are applied to the skin, scratched and observed for a reaction in 15 minutes). Skin tests should always be done under the supervision of a qualified physician with an expertise in allergy.

How are allergies treated?

The first step in an effective allergy treatment plan is to make some simple lifestyle changes that will limit your exposure to allergens. I would suggest having allergy scratch tests done before any major lifestyle changes are made. After the allergy scratch tests you will know the likely causes of the allergy symptoms. One can avoid pollen by keeping windows closed and air conditioning on during the high-pollen seasons. Most of the mould that causes allergies is from the outdoors. Therefore, keeping the windows closed is helpful. If you notice mould in the house it should be cleaned with diluted bleach. The best ways of avoiding dust mites are to purchase proper dust mite proof pillows and mattress covers, remove carpet from the bedroom, wash the bedding in hot water and to keep the humidity around 40 percent. Vacuuming and duct cleaning are actually not very effective at removing dust mites. The only way to remove pet allergens completely from the home is to keep the pet outdoors or to give the pet away. By keeping pets out of the bedroom, washing pets weekly and removing carpets from the bedroom, you can decrease your total pet allergen exposure. If you have a true food allergy, that food should be completely avoided.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which medications would help you manage your allergy symptoms. Antihistamines are the most common medications used to treat hay fever. Antihistamines block the action of histamine released by the immune system and are effective at reducing sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. They are particularly effective at relieving the symptoms of seasonal hay fever and should be taken as soon as an allergy attack develops. You may also need a decongestant to reduce nasal congestion. Some antihistamines can cause side effects such as drowsiness and they should be avoided if you have to drive, work or perform tasks that require you to be alert. There are several websites offering good information on allergies, for example, visit www.claritin.ca.

About The Author

Dr. Harold Kim is an allergy specialist based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Written By: News Canada

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Sep 26
2007

Did you know that the indoor air is at least six times more contaminated than the outdoor air? Unfortunately, you cannot clean the outdoor air but what you can do is to improve the quality of the indoor air. The only device that could help you do this is an air purifier. It eliminates the indoor air from various contaminants, such as simple dust, volatile gases, pollen, pet dander and dust mites. More sophisticated air cleaning devices can even rid of dangerous bacteria and viruses leaving your house a healthy place to live at.

You might be asking yourself why you should waste your money on an air purifier. And you would be surprised what indoor air contaminants do to your health. They irritate your respiratory system and with time may cause a lot of disorders. So, buying an air purifier that would clean the indoor air of your house is not a waste of money. On the contrary, preventing serious health disorders from occurring can actually save your money and time.

Those, who suffer from allergies or asthma and other respiratory diseases, know how poor indoor air quality affects their health. Indoor air pollutants may aggravate the symptoms of these diseases. It is not true that closing all the windows and doors helps the indoor air keeping clean and healthy. All the contaminants from the outdoor are brought to your home by heating and cooling systems. All of these contaminants accumulate in your living environment putting you and your family in danger. The only way to change that is to buy a residential air purifier.

A lot of trials have been made in order to find out whether air purifiers can reduce health effects or not. The trials have showed that the use of air purifiers definitely reduces certain health effects. These include minor effects, such as eye and lung irritation. In addition, air cleaning devices may reduce the risk for some serious disorders, such as cancer and decreased lung function. Those who cannot bear the tobacco smoke in their living environment should also consider buying an air purifier. Most air purifiers eliminate cigarette smoke from the indoor air, reducing not only disgusting smell but also serious health effects.

Children are extremely sensitive to airborne pollutants therefore those, who care about their children’s health, should seriously consider using an air purifier in their environment. Pet danders, pollen, volatile organic compounds, cigarette smoke are only few mentioned contaminants that may affect children’s health and cause serious illnesses. Since children are exposed to dangerous airborne compounds from the early childhood, they may get serious diseases, such as asthma, various allergies, lung irritation and even lung cancer in the end.

Anyone who cares to breathe the air that is clean, healthy, and free of various pollutants and allergens should buy an air purifier for their homes. It may be either portable or non-portable, depending on the area coverage. Especially those, who are extremely sensitive to the indoor air pollution, should consider having an air purification system. Such are asthma sufferers, people who have allergies, children, youth and the elderly people. Poor quality of the indoor air affects these people the most. In the end, it is of course your individual decision you have to make on the use of air purifiers. Most health organizations recommend people to use air purification systems to improve their indoor air quality. There are various factors one should consider before making one’s decision on an air purifier. But what really matters the most is what you cannot see or feel – the indoor air quality. You shouldn’t take it for granted.

Use of this article is permitted as long as there are clickable links back to us at: The best air purifiers and all credits are given to the author.

About the author:

Written By: Diana Valo

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Sep 23
2007

Asthma is an inflammatory condition where your bronchiales constrict causing breathing difficulties. Your bronchioles become inflamed for a variety of physical, emotional and environmental reasons. It is not contagious so, you cannot catch it from another person.

But what is the real cause asthma? Why do some people develop asthma and why is asthma more common in the western world?

Inheriting Asthma

However, you can inherit the asthma tendency from your parents, although people with asthma should not worry about their future children on this score.

Studies show that children whose parents smoke are twice as likely to develop asthma as children of non-smoking parents. Also, children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy tend to be born with smaller airways, which greatly increases their chances of developing the disease.

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

Many people believe air pollution has something to do with asthma, although the evidence, at this stage, is surprisingly very weak.

Allergies

Causes of asthma include allergies to house dust mites, cats, dogs, and moulds.

Childhood infections and exposure to substances from bacteria in a dirty environment seem to protect against allergies, and this seems to be the main reason why richer populations have more allergic disease.

So the causes of asthma are complicated. They include genetics, exposure to chemical irritants and pollution, a low immune system, emotional or mental problems, allergies to certain foods.

Almost all asthma in young people is cause by allergies. This means that if you have asthma you probably have inherited genes which make it possible for you to get asthma. Add to this, allergy-producing things in your environment, such as house dust mites, cats, or dog and your asthma get worse.. The allergies and the genes are the causes for developing asthma, because if either of them were not present you would not developed asthma.

But, what about colds, exercise, laughter, or tobacco smoke, which are asthma triggers?

You can’t cure your asthma by not doing exercise, or by not laughing. Quite simply, these are not causes of asthma, though they can be causes of an attack.

The type of interior house paint can apparently make asthma worse. Glossy oil paints used for home decorating can bring on asthma attacks. The good news is that emulsion paints don’t seem to do this.

Polyurethane paints, usually recognisable because they come in two packs which need to be mixed together before use, can cause occupational asthma in people who use them regularly. However, they probably cause no great risk in people with asthma who use them infrequently. As always, when using chemicals and paints, it is surely a good idea to ventilate the area well during and after use.

Emotional issues

Now, deep seated emotionally issue can be the cause of asthma. When emotion is embedded into the body, it has to express itself in a way that its electrical charge can be released. This release happens over and over as outside situations trigger the memory.

The way an embedded emotion issue choses to express itself is by the path of least resistance. If your heart is weak, the emotional issue will pound your heart. If your joints are weak, it will pound your joints. If your bronchia or lungs are weak, it will pound them and eventually weaken those more, leading you to asthma or other respiratory diseases.

Early on everyone should be aware of their family illness history. This is something that is seldom considered. If it were, you could take preventative measures if you knew you were prone to asthma. Choosing the right foods and keeping specific body organs or systems strong, with the right nutrients early on, would definitely prevent you from having to suffer with asthma as you became older.

About the author:

Rudy Silva is a Natural Nutritionist. To discover more about using natural remedies for asthma go to: http://www.asthmatreatments.info

Written By: Rudy Silva

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Sep 20
2007

Air Purifiers are all the rage now, everybody has them and everybody sells them. There are Ionic Air Purifiers, regular filter Purifiers and HEPA filter purifiers.

the Journal of the American Medical Association now suggests that the air pollution existing today in the US raises the risk of lung disease to a point where more than half of the US population is breathing unhealthy amounts of air pollution.

More than 50 million Americans seem to be suffering from allergies and more than 20 million battle asthma.

There is such a thing as Sick Building Syndrome, a worldwide phenomenon, when chemical substances used in office construction such as glue, insulating materials, cardboard, and fiberglass are steadily released into the atmosphere from electronic equipment, carpeting, furniture and fittings.

That is why the air inside buildings or residential structures may be many times more polluted than the air outside, according to the EPA.

Because of all these reasons Air Purifiers have become very important. The different types of air purifiers include mechanical purifiers, electronic air purifying systems, hybrid purifiers and gas phase purifiers. Most of these systems remove particles and harmful toxins from the indoor air.

The HEPA Filter is a High Efficiency Particulate Arrested Filter designed to remove 99.97% of all airborne pollutants 0.3 microns or larger from the air that passes through the filter ( including tobacco smoke, household dust and pollen).

There are also filtering technologies that operate by using ozonation. The most popular air purifier on the market today uses ozone. These purifiers actually produce ozone which is an irritant that can worsen asthma and decrease lung function.

The removal of particles from the air is what is measured when the efficiency rate is trying to be achieved.

The fraction of particles that is removed from the indoor air being measured is what determines the amount of efficiency an air purifier possesses.

Air cleaners using mechanical filters or electronic technology can perform particle removal. Mechanical home air purifiers are units that can draw the indoor air through a metal or fibrous filter that is designed to trap the particles.

Because filters have different size pores they are able to catch these particles. is able to catch these particles with its different sized pores. Different types of filters may be pleated , square, round, with different levels of efficiency.

Mechanical filters in general are very efficient in eliminating contaminants from the air as long as they are cleaned regularly. There are 3 diferent types of electronic purifiers:

Electrostatic purifiers pull air into a chamber and charge the particles electrically. The air is then let through wafers which are negative ion generators, give particles a charge and cause them to stick to the nearest solid object.

These purifiers are not as effective as the other electronic or mechanical purifiers because they do not eliminate particles but move them to another location.

Ionizers do the same thing but create ozone which in itself may be bad for your health. Ozone is a lung irritant produced by ion generators and some other electronic air cleaners and ozone generators.

While indirect ozone production is of concern, there is even greater concern with the direct, and purposeful introduction of a lung irritant into indoor air. There is no difference, despite some marketers’ claims, between ozone in smog outdoors and ozone produced by these devices. Repeated exposure to ozone pollution may cause permanent damage to the lungs.

Hybrid air cleaners use both mechanical filters and electronic technology in order to clean the air of particles. Ozone emissions may be present from the use of electrostatic air purifiers and negative ion generators. High levels of ozone may be harmful but cleaning the units as specified by the manufacturer may mitigate the possible bad effects of ozone to some extent.

Efficient Air Purifiers can cost anywhere from $500 to $1500 for a single room and a System to clean a whole house can easily run into the thousands of dollars.

About the author:

Frank Hague is very interested in air purifiers as you can see at: http://www.air-purifiers-now.info and http://www.youwillquit.com

Written By: Frank Hague

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Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Sep 2
2007

More than 17 million people in the US alone suffer from asthma, a serious lung ailment, resulting in 5,000 asthma deaths a year. Asthma is an allergic inflammation of the lungs, which is generally triggered by pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, air pollution, chemicals, exercise, temperature changes or ingestion of certain foods. Asthma drugs, which are traditionally used to control asthma symptoms can have very serious side effects, plus they are also quite expensive. For a detailed list of asthma drugs and their known side effects see:

http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com/asthma-drug-side-effects.htm

Fortunately there are alternative asthma treatments which are quite effective, relatively inexpensive compared to drugs and best of all they are without negative side effects. However, it is best to prevent the development of asthma in the first place.

Asthma Prevention – Measures You Can Take to Prevent the Devlopment of Asthma

Doctors and researchers agree that the single most important thing that parents can do to prevent their child from developing asthma in the first place is to eliminate or significantly reduce dust mite allergens or asthma triggers in the home.

“Clinical studies have revealed that avoidance of dust mite allergens in early childhood can prevent the onset of asthma…” Michael LeNoir Md

Dust mite allergens are known to play a major role in it’s development. Researchers have determined that other important allergens (after dust mites) that also need to be eliminated from the home are cats, certain types of mold, dogs, cockroaches and tobacco smoke. It is a popular misconception that children will “outgrow” asthma. It is a severe and potentially life-threatening illness that should be taken seriously. Long term use of steroid drugs is not recommended by doctors and has serious side effects. Making these preventative environmental changes is a much more viable, healthy and preferable alternative. If you or your child are already suffering from asthma or allergies these measures will certainly help.

What are Dust Mites?
Dust mites are microscopic insects and live in bedding, pillows, mattresses, blankets, upholstery, carpets etc. They thrive particularly in humid climates. They live off of dead skin cells and produce an allergen from their excrement, which is inhaled.

All Homes Contain Dust Mites No Matter How Clean They Are.
Studies have shown that dust mite allergens in the home must be reduced to at least 2mcg/g dust or mite populations decreased to 100/g dust to have any significant benefit. There are several things that can be done to accomplish this.

What Can Be Done To Eliminate or Reduce Dust Mites?
Researchers have found through numerous studies that these are the most effective measures:
Changing the relative humidity and temperature of the home:

-Keeping relative humidity less than 50% is proven to greatly reduce the dust mite population. (Portable dehumidifiers were not shown to significantly reduce humidity).

-Mechanical ventilation with a heat recovery unit has proved to be the most effective to reduce humidity in the home.

-Using air cleaners that have HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which will also eliminate other allergens such as pollen and animal dander.

-Cleaning using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and steam cleaning rugs and upholstery regularly.

-Washing all bedding in hot water (60 degrees C, 130 degrees F) on a weekly basis is known to kill dust mites. Drying bedding in a hot dryer.

-Dry cleaning quilts and blankets weekly will also kill dust mites.

-Placing plastic casings specifically made for dust mite control on pillows and mattresses.

-Chemicals used on carpets and upholstery which are known to kill dust mites include benzyl benzoate, permethrin, pirimiphos methyl, phenyl salicylate, tannic acid, common household disinfectants, combinations of these, and insect growth regulators. (please note: some chemicals can also trigger asthma and allergy reactions, therefore research them carefully before using).

About the Author:

Susan Millar is a researcher and ex-asthma and allergy sufferer, providing people suffering from asthma with free asthma prevention resources. To download your free Asthma Prevention Report in pdf format,visit http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com/asthma-prevention.htm

Written By: Susan Millar

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Aug 30
2007

Because you will stumble upon the facts and no longer be confused.

Theres a lot of confusion out there about Ephedra andEphedrine and exactly what they are.

I wrote about this a couple years ago and its time to write about it again. Theres a lot of information so pay attention, here we go.

Ephedra is back in the news again.

This time because of a decision last week by a federal court in Utah that struck down the fda ban of Ephedra. First of all, herbal Ephedra was never banned. Ephedrine alkaloidswere banned. Ephedrine is the active ingredient in Ephedra.And Ephedrine alkaloids are the synthetic super concentrated version of Ephedra.

The fda has stated that the ban is still in effect for higher doses(above 10mg) of ephedrine products. And that the agency is considering its options with respect to their next steps.

There is a whole lot of controversy surrounding Ephedra. Because it has been confused and misrepresented by those who are confused about what it is and is not.

Ephedra is an herb which is perfectly safe when used in quantities that meet U.S. mega-dosing laws. Just like its been used in Asian cultures for thousands of years for its health benefits.

And because it is a broncho-dilator the actual herb Ephedra is one of the most widely used and effective treatments for asthma.

Do you really think Asian cultures would use something for thousands of years if it was dangerous? Lets give credit where credit is due.

Because to the misuse of the word Ephedra all of the negative associations of Ephedrine alkaloids have been transferred to the natural herb Ephedra. Including a number of deaths caused by the synthetic Ephedrine alkaloids.

And this is how Ephedra has become demonized.

Pseudo Ephedrine HCL is found in nearly every over the counter cold and decongestant sinus medication.

Pseudo Ephedrine, like Ephedrine alkaloids is a chemically altered form of Ephedra. Most of these over the counter medications have many times the content of concentrated ephedrine alkaloids as compared to weight loss and other nutritional supplements – most of which contain the natural form of Ephedra.

In fact, most medications contain far more Pseudo ephedrine in 2 Pills, because of its concentrated form, than an entire weeks worth of nutritional supplements which contain the natural ephedra.

Dr. Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., Dr. Page has been a Classical Herbalist for almost 30 years and has formulated over 250 effective whole herb combinations, many of them containing ephedra. Dr. Page writes:

“I am continually distressed about ephedra’s misuse and abuse, most importantly the isolated component of ephedra, ephedrine. If herbalists and formulators lose the ability to use ephedra, we are losing one of the best broncho-dilators from the plant kingdom that is extremely valuable when used for asthma and allergies. What then would people have to choose from to alleviate their symptoms? Drugs of course.

So what’s the difference between ephedra and ephedrine? Dr. Page explains that in a whole herb formulation containing ephedra, there may be up to 50 mg of ephedra, containing only HALF a milligram of ephedrine. But the products that isolate ephedrine may deliver up to 20 mg of ephedrine – a full 40 times as much as ephedra!.

Yet, You can walk into any drug store or grocery store to find a few dozen cold, sinus and CHILDRENS products which contain pseudo ephedrine hcl. Yes, thats right 15mg of pseudo ephedrine hcl in a childrens decongestant.

So you are asking yourself “wait a minute, what about all the over the counter medications which contain synthetic ephedrine?, Why aren’t those banned?”

Thats a great question, you’ll have to ask the fda.

Sources:

Jenny Thompson, HSI e-alert Get it right, 4/21/2005

Jenny Thompson, HSI e-alert Circle the Wagons, 1/8/2004

About the Author

Lee Cummings has been helping real people solve real problems and feel better with expert proven nutrition for over 5 years.
For a No cost Report mailto:report@lc-nutrition.com Discover proven nutrition information visit: http://www.LC-Nutrition.com

Written By: Lee Cummings

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Aug 24
2007

Diagnosis is the important first step in taking control of asthma.

The earlier it is diagnosed the earlier the condition can be controlled, and the more successful the treatment can be.

Anyone regularly exhibiting any of the symptoms below should see a doctor or allergist as soon as possible.

Fatigue

Coughing, even when the person does not have a cold

Wheezing

Difficulty breathing

Tightness in the chest

Runny nose

Itchy throat

A doctor will ask you the following questions:

Do you have episodes of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, seeming to follow allergies during certain seasons, or weather changes?

Do you get colds that seem to “go to the chest” or take longer than a week to get over?

Are there over-the-counter medications that you are taking that help your symptoms?

Do have parents, siblings, or any other family members that have asthma or similar allergies?

What is it that seems to trigger or cause these symptoms or make them worse?

The doctor will then investigate the possible causes through a number of tests, i.e. listening to your breathing, to diagnose not only whether the patient has asthma but also its severity.

An instrument called a spirometer will likely be used to check your airways, by measuring how much air you can exhale after taking a deep breath.

If the airways are narrowed and inflamed the results will indicate that, showing that asthma is likely the reason. Your doctor may give you some medication and then continue the testing to see if the medication improves your breathing.

Additional test either done by or prescribed by your doctor are:

Allergy testing – what allergens you are allergic to

Sinus disease tests

How exercise affects your lungs

Testing you for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which can affect asthma

Testing via a peak flow meter

A a chest x-ray may be needed to find out if a foreign object, or other lung diseases or heart disease could be causing asthma-like symptoms

Depending on the results of your doctors finding form the tests and your medical history your doctor is able to determine the severity of the asthma. The severity of the asthma will tell your doctor(s) which treatments are best.

The levels of asthma severity are:

Mild Intermittent: Asthma symptoms occurring less than twice each week during the day, and is less than twice a month at night.

Mild Persistent Asthma: Asthmatic episodes occurring three or more times each week, yet not occurring on a daily basis, and night time attacks are occurring three or more times each month. Asthma attacks may be interfering with daily activities, exercise, etc.

Moderate Persistent Asthma: Asthmatic episodes occurring daily, as well as night-time symptoms more than once a week. Asthma attacks may be interfering with daily activities, exercise, etc.

Severe Persistent Asthma: Asthmatic episodes throughout the day, as well as night-time symptoms often. Physical activity is likely to be limited.

It is important to note that anyone with asthma can have a severe attack – even those who have intermittent or mild persistent asthma.

The doctors will instruct you on:

Taking your long-term daily medicines

The triggers that make your asthma conditions worse and how you could avoid them

What to watch for that indicates that your asthma is starting to worsen such as the weather conditions, allergens, your peak flow meter, etc.

How and use your peak flow meter

The medications need to manage your asthma

How often you should be seeing or calling your doctor

Together with a knowledgeable doctor, or even a “team” of doctors, you’ll be able to successfully manage your asthma.

About the author:

Do you, a spouse or a child, have asthma? Learn more, including the treatments available at Asthma-Explained.com

Written By: Mike Herman

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Aug 21
2007

BREATHE EASY SALTPIPE SALT INHALER. The natural respiratory aid to easier breathing! Clinically proven to relieve suffering from asthma.

BREATHE EASY SALTPIPE SALT INHALER.The natural respiratory aid to easier breathing! For centuries salts have been used as folk remedies by many different cultures in regions around the world. Today people suffering from respiratory disorders travel to curative mines such as Wieliczka in Poland, Hallen in Austria or Praid in Romania. Now you can achieve the benefits of salt therapy easily simply and in the comfort of your own home. The BREATHE EASY SALTPIPE SALT INHALER. The modern way to experience salt therapy.

BREATHE EASY SALT THERAPY PIPE Clinically proven to relieve suffering from asthma. Studies reveal that salt therapy shows an improvement in 85% of cases of mild, moderate asthma, 75% of cases of severe asthma and 97% of cases of chronic bronchitis!

Off to the salt mines? Whatever for!

Hundreds of thousands of people suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory system disorders have found that visits to the salt mines of Wieliczka in Poland, Hallen in Austria or Praid in Romania or the Dead Sea to inhale the salt brine vapour have brought amazing natural respiratory relief and treatment of asthma, nasal catarrh, sinusitis, breathlessness, bronchitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, night coughing, rhinitis, irritation and coughing caused by pollution and smoking, hay fever and other allergies. Breathe easy! Now you can achieve the benefits of rock salt vapours easily and simply and in the comfort of your own home with the COMPACT BREATHE EASY SALT PIPE SALT INHALER. – the modern way to experience salt therapy.

Salt of the Earth

The benefits of salt therapy or speleotherapy are well documented. In the mid 18th Century a Polish health official Felix Botchkowski noticed that the workers of salt mines did not get ill with lung diseases. He wrote a book about the effects of salt dust in 1843. His successor Mstislav Poljakowski founded a Salt Spa in Velicko near Krakow, which is still in operation.

During the Second World War salt mines were often used as bombproof shelters. After spending time there many people who suffered from asthma felt that their health had improved!

The BREATHE EASY SALT PIPE SALT INHALER is a patented porcelain pipe inhaler filled with Miocene Mineral Halite Salt Crystals from the Transylvanian Praid Salt mine placed in the pipe chamber between ceramic filters so air is drawn through the salt. Its salty therapeutic microclimate calms and cleanses the cells of the respiratory system. When using the pipe the moisture of the passing air absorbs the micron sized particles of the salt that penetrates into the respiratory system to induce natural self cleansing mechanisms that flush away the impurities from the surface of the cells, mechanically cleanse the passage ways, help clear out the nasal cavities and help calm, heal and repair inflamed lungs and airways. Acting as a muco kinetic it helps restore the normal transport of mucus and unclog blockages in the bronchi and bronchioles.

Just a few minutes or regular daily use can be of major benefit not only to asthma, hay fever and allergy sufferers, smokers and snorers but can also help overcome stuffiness, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and wheeziness during colds, flu and other infections and neutralise the daily damaging effects of air pollution, dust, smog, fog and secondary cigarette smoke.

About the Author

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Written By: Tzaf

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