Sep 14
2007

Most asthma sufferers are familiar with the inhalers and oral remedies prescribed by their doctors for the treatment of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath that accompany an asthmatic episode. While these medicines are typically effective in the treatment of the condition, there are people who may prefer a more natural approach to asthma relief, for a variety of reasons. Some people want more natural remedies.

Any drug introduced to the body has the potential for unpleasant side effects; short term reactions such as nausea and long term concerns such as potential permanent damage from steroids used to decrease inflammation in the lung tissues. There has been ongoing controversy in the medical community regarding the safety and advisability of steroid use. While these can be life-saving, there is concern that the steroids may cause irreversible damage such as muscle weakness and bone loss. To minimize the frequency of use, the asthma sufferer can make some dietary and lifestyle changes to help reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack.

The best “natural” defense against an asthmatic episode is to avoid known triggers. People with sensitivity to tobacco smoke should obviously stay away from it; and if your trigger is cat dander, you’ll just have to avoid petting the kittens in the pet store – no matter how adorable. Stay indoors on “high pollen” days if that is your trigger and always try to keep stress levels down. Using common sense is the first step toward lowering frequency of asthmatic episodes.

Asthma sufferers can also make healthy changes to their diets which can minimize asthma symptoms. Beyond avoiding known dietary triggers such as food allergies, nutritional supplements in the form of necessary vitamins and minerals can go a long way toward minimizing asthma attacks. Nutritional deficiencies make for a weakened system that isn’t able to effectively fight unexpected environmental triggers. Asthmatics need to exercise care even when using natural supplements. Make sure supplements are hypo-allergenic so as not to react to those! The need for certain vitamins and minerals may be greater among asthma sufferers than the average person as the condition itself tends to contribute to certain deficiencies. A good multi-vitamin is recommended to compensate for these deficiencies and make for a healthier body, better equipped to ward off reactions. Asthmatics also tend to have very low magnesium levels – a mineral that helps relax bronchial tubes – so a supplemental dose may be advisable. Finally, Vitamin C is believed to improve bronchial functioning.

More and more people are turning to herbal remedies to find relief from asthma symptoms. While most herbal supplements are not evaluated or endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration, there have been reports of success among those who have used them. Tylophora indica, used in Auyervedic medicine in India, has been getting a lot of positive attention thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, some individuals treated with the herb, Boswellia, reported a reduced number of asthma attacks. Butterbur is another promising herb shown to be as effective as traditional antihistamines in initial studies. As conclusive studies have not been done on most herbal remedies, the asthma sufferer is advised to be cautious when experimenting with these.

While it is possible to relieve symptoms of asthma, and reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack by avoiding known triggers, making lifestyle and dietary changes, and using certain herbal remedies, it is imperative to listen to your healthcare provider. Discuss vitamin and herbal supplements with your physician, and keep him informed of any changes you make and improvements you notice in your condition. The journey to a healthier life begins with a healthy amount of care and old-fashioned common sense.

About the author:

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for AsthmaDocs.com. To learn more about natural asthma remedies and asthma treatments, please visit our site.

Written By: Gray Rollins

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


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

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Aug 12
2007

Asthma can strike at any age, half of all cases first occur in children under age 10; in this age group, asthma affects twice as many boys as girls. It is one of the leading causes of respiratory illness among children and young adults, however, this condition may progress a lifetime. It’s estimated 17-million Americans suffer from asthma.

Asthma is a reversible lung disease characterized by obstruction or narrowing of the airways. It may resolve spontaneously or with treatment. Its symptoms range from mild wheezing and shortness of breathe (dyspnea) to life-threatening respiratory failure. Symptoms may persist between acute episodes.

People with asthma do not have a problem inhaling, but rather, a problem exhaling. Airways open up during inhalation with the lowering of the diaphragm as the ribs move out making the lungs bigger allowing air to move around any obstruction. However, when the person exhales, as the rib cage relaxes, the diaphragm slides up preventing the air from getting around the obstruction.

TYPES AND CAUSES

Extrinsic asthma results from sensitivity to specific external allergens. In cases in which the allergen isn’t obvious, it’s referred to as intrinsic asthma.

Extrinsic asthma usually begins in childhood and is accompanied by other manifestations of atopy — A hereditary disorder marked by the tendency to develop immediate allergic reactions to substances such as pollen, food, dander, insect venoms, house dust or mold, kapok or feather pillows, food additives containing sulfites, or similar allergic conditions. In intrinsic asthma, no external allergen can be identified. Most cases are preceded by a severe respiratory infection. Irritants, emotional stress, fatigue, exposure to noxious fumes, changes in temperature, and changes in humidity, may aggravate intrinsic asthma attacks. In many asthmatics, intrinsic and extrinsic asthma coexist.

Several drugs and chemicals may provoke an asthma attack. Examples of these substances include aspirin, various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and yellow food dye (tartrazine). Exercise may also provoke an asthma attack. In exercise-induced asthma, bronchospasm may follow heat and moisture loss in the upper airways.

An asthma attack may begin dramatically, with simultaneous onset of many severe symptoms, or insidiously, with gradually increasing respiratory distress. It typically includes the following signs or symptoms or some conbination of them:

- progressively worsening shortness of breath – cough – wheezing – chest tightness.

During an acute attack, the cough sounds tight and dry. As the attack subsides, thick mucus is produced (except in young children, who don’t expectorate). Between acute attacks, breath sounds may be normal.

The intensity of breath sounds in symptomatic asthma is typically reduced. A prolonged phase of forced expiration is typical of airflow obstruction. Evidence of lung hyperinflation (use of accessory muscles, for example) is particularly common in children. Acute attacks may be accompanied by tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. In severe attacks, the patient may be unable to speak more than a few words without pausing for breath. Cyanosis (a bluish or purplish tinge to the skin and mucous membranes), confusion, and lethargy indicate the onset of respiratory failure.

TREATMENT

Treatment of acute asthma aims to decrease inflammation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, bronchial airway swelling, and increase pulmonary ventilation. After an acute episode, treatment focuses on avoiding or removing precipitating factors, such as environmental allergens or irritants.

If asthma is caused by a particular virus, bacterium, toxin, or other foreign substance, it may be treated by desensitizing the patient through a series of injections of limited amounts of the antigen causing the attack. The aim is to curb the patient’s immune response to the antigen.

About the author:

Copyright 2006 — HealthClamour.com Larry Champlin Health Clamour Senior Editor http://www.healthclamour.com
Larry Champlin is the Senior Editor at Health Clamour.com http://www.healthclamour.com

Written By: Larry Champlin

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Aug 6
2007

Childhood breathing problems can be stressful and frightening for parents. After all, you want your child to be able to play just like every other child. You don’t want him or her to have to live in a bubble or struggle to breathe.

Unfortunately, breathing problems–usually related to asthma and allergies–are becoming more and more common in Western countries. Experts are still exploring why this is so. But the bottom line is, if you’re a parent of a young child, there’s a good chance you’ll have to deal with asthma at some point in time.

So what is a parent to do? Just give up and accept that your child will never be “normal”? Of course not! The good news is, there are quite a few positive actions you can take that will go a long way towards helping your child live a happy, active life.

Here are three main steps you can take to help keep your child with asthma healthy…

Step 1: First, you need to understand asthma.

Knowledge is power, and knowing what actions to take start with understanding what’s going on in your child’s body. Asthma is a chronic breathing problem that interferes with your child’s ability to get air in and out of his or her lungs.

When your child has asthma, the airways often become red, swollen and irritated. This means the passages become narrower, which makes it harder for the air to flow in and out. Also, the airways overreact by producing large amounts of mucus, which can clog the airways further. This causes symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

There is no cure for asthma, but there are many medicines and treatments that can keep it under control. Some children do grow out of asthma over time as well.

Step 2: Get a handle on your child’s asthma triggers.

It’s a well-known fact that asthma symptoms are set off–or triggered–by certain environmental substances. For unknown reasons, your child’s body “sees” these triggers as threats, even though most people are not bothered by them. The lungs then overreact by triggering an asthma attack.

The most common asthma triggers in children are pollen, dust, molds, food allergies, pet dander, and even colds. Scents and cigarette smoke can also set off an asthma attack.

As a parent, you will be able to notice the things that trigger your child’s asthma symptoms. Make note of the patterns, and then do your best to help your child avoid those triggers as much as possible.

Step 3: Play an active role in your child’s health care.

Children who have asthma do need medical care. It’s important to consult with your pediatrician or an asthma specialist and get your child on a treatment program that will help control or prevent his or her symptoms.

The doctor may prescribe the treatment, but it will be up to you to carry it out. It is essential to follow the plan laid out for your child to the letter. Skipping doses of medicine or nebulizer treatments–even on good days–will lead to health problems sooner or later… probably sooner.

So, talk with your health care professional. Ask questions until you are sure you understand exactly what is going on and what to do for your child. Ask your child’s doctor to help you fill out an “Asthma Action Plan” that guides you when to take emergency action during asthma attacks or when an attack is building.

Lastly, keep your child’s doctor informed about what is working or not working. Report when your child’s symptoms change. The doctor will not know when to update the plan of treatment unless you keep him or her informed.

So, in summary, parents are in the best position to help their children with asthma stay healthy and live active lives like other kids. All it takes is a healthy dose of knowledge, good observation skills, active communication with the care team, and a generous helping of love.

About the author:

This article may be reprinted on a website, blog or for personal use IF all content remains unchanged and this resource box is included. Visit http://www.healthybodysupplements.com for FREE HEALTH NEWSLETTER. Get your health questions answered.

Written By: ElmerFizz

Tags: , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Jul 31
2007

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that effects over 30 million Americans alone and researchers estimate that 10 – 15% of the world population suffers from asthma. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. The airways become irritated and narrow and constrict during an asthma attack, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air to and from the lungs. Most often asthma must be treated with prescription medicine. There are two main types of medicines for the treatment of asthma. Quick relief medicines, also called relievers, give rapid, short-term relief and are taken when asthma symptoms worsen potentially leading to an asthma attacks. The effects of these medicines are felt within minutes. Long-term control medicines, also called preventers, are taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to prevent asthma attacks. The full effects of these medicines are felt after taking them for a few weeks. People with persistent asthma need long-term control medicines.

Some asthma drugs treat asthma by resembling two of our hormones. These two hormones are adrenaline (epinephrine in the USA) and hydrocortisone (a steroid).

Adrenaline (epinephrine) is pumped into our bloodstream when we have a sudden fright or emergency. It is the quick-acting hormone from the middle of the adrenal glands near our kidneys. It makes your pulse race, your heart thump, and readies your body for emergency action. In asthma, the medicines which resemble adrenaline quickly relieve asthma for a short time.

Hydrocortisone comes from the outer part of our adrenal glands, called the ‘cortex’. It is also partly an “emergency hormone” but it works much more slowly, for much longer, and in a completely different way to adrenaline. Medicines which resemble hydrocortisone slowly allow the lining of air tubes in an asthma sufferer to become normal. As a result, your asthma becomes less severe and you are less likely to get asthma attacks. So these steroid medicines are called preventers. There are other asthma ‘preventers’, but the steroids are the most powerful.

Quick relief medicines are used only when needed. A ype of quick relief medicine is a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Bronchodilators work by relaxing the muscles that have tightened around the airways. They help open up airways quickly and ease breathing. They are sometimes called “rescue” or “relief” medicines because they can stop an asthma attack very quickly. These medicines act quickly but their effects only last for a short period of time. People with asthma should take quick relief medicines when they first begin to feel asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Anyone who has asthma should always have one of these inhalers nearby in case of an attack. For severe attacks, your doctor may use steroids to treat the inflammation.

The most effective, long-term control medication for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid. This medicine reduces the swelling of airways that makes asthma attacks more likely. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred treatment for controlling mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. They are safe when taken as directed by your doctor. Inhaled medicines go directly into your lungs where they are needed. There are many kinds of inhalers that require different techniques, and it is important to know how to use your inhaler correctly. In some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used for short times to bring asthma under control. The tablet or liquid form may also be used to control severe asthma.

Many people with asthma need both a short-acting bronchodilator to use when asthma symptoms worsen rapidly and long-term daily asthma control medication to treat the ongoing inflammation. Over time, your doctor may need to make changes in your asthma medication. You may need to increase your dose, lower your dose, or try a combination of medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to find the best treatment for your asthma. The goal is to use the least amount of medicine necessary to control your asthma and to find the right medicine for you.

About the Author

Learn more about asthma and asthma medication at http://www.asthmaexplained.com

Written By: Daniel Lanicek

Tags: , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Jul 19
2007

In his book, Essential Allergy, Niels Mygind defines asthma as,

“A lung disease characterised by: 1, variable and reversible airway obstruction; 2, airway inflammation; and 3, bronchial hyper-responsiveness.”

Asthma is a disease where bronchial tubes are sensitive to irritants, which cause them to inflame and produce difficult breathing. The inflammation can cause,

* contraction of muscles around the air passages, * swelling of the airway lining due to airway inflammation, and, * excessive mucus in the airways.

Asthma occurs in most western countries and is the leading chronic illness of children.

Asthma, in some cases, cannot be cured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life.

If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking medicines or natural remedies as directed by your doctor.

When a person experiences a worsening of their asthma symptoms, it is called an asthma episode or, in severe cases, an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes contract, making the airway openings narrower so less air can flow through. Inflammation increases and the airways become more swollen and narrow. Cells in the airways also make more mucus than usual, which narrows the airways further. The changes to the airways cause the symptoms of asthma.

Asthma attacks are not all the same-some are worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks. A person suffering from an asthma attack has a sensation similar to drowning.

Learning the warning signs or asthma symptoms can often alert a sufferer in ime to take preventive action, such as medication or natural remedies.

Asthma attacks can occur over a long period of time. Although there are times when acute episodes strike asthmatics, most asthma sufferers say that there are long periods during which they suffer few, if any, asthma symptoms.

Here are some asthma symptoms:

* Coughing. Coughing in people with asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard for them to sleep. This may be the only symptom a child with asthma has. * Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe. * A tight feeling in the chest. This can feel like someone is squeezing or sitting on your chest. * Shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers often say they can’t catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath. * Narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and hence increased resistance to airflow. * Significant reversibility with steroid drugs * Symptom-free periods * Frequent occurrence of allergy * Inflammation of the air passages * Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to non-specific stimuli such as cold air, air pollution, pollen, dust, or other irritants * Asthma symptoms brought on by exercises * Coughing or wheezing brought on by prolonged crying or laughing

Not all people have these symptoms, and symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Some symptoms are mild and some are life threatening.

Symptoms also differ in how often they occur. Some people with asthma only have symptoms once every few months, others have symptoms every week, and still other people have symptoms every day.

Learn how to use natural remedies to reduce asthma attacks and to eliminate many of the asthma symptoms

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

Tags: , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Jul 13
2007

It has been calculated that approximately 60% of all asthma cases are caused by allergies. No cure yet exists for asthma but with treatment asthma attacks can be greatly reduced in both frequency and severity and the asthma sufferers general health can be much like that of a normal person.

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. When exposed to the allergen, allergic asthma sufferers experience an attack. During an asthma attack, the airways become blocked or narrowed, causing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.

Sypmtomatically allergic asthma is the same as normal asthma, it is the cause of the attacks that differ. So it is important to correctly diagnose the allergen which is causing the attacks. Once this has been done the patient can organise their life in such a way as to avoid contact with the allergen.

Oftentimes allergic asthma can be caused by multiple allergens, this can complicate diagnosing the allergens causing attacks. Some of these allergens will only be present in the atmosphere occasionally or seasonally (such as pollen from plants).

If allergic asthma and the allergen are not identified correctly, medical treatment might not help much, if at all, in neutralizing the influence of the allergen. What is more, about 50 percent of adults and over 80 percent of children are allergic to something in their environment, i.e. to something they are exposed all the time.

There are many possible allergens which can afflict asthma sufferers, however there is a relatively small set of common allergens which can be identified by skin or blood tests such as pollen, dust, mold, chemicals, trees and other plant life, insects, etc. There are some other possible causes for asthma attacks such as cold air, exercise, viral infections and tobacco smoke.

Certain allergens are impossible to avoid without severely changing your day to day life (such as air pollution), in this case all that can be done is to limit your exposure to the allergen.

If you are encountering the allergen at home there is more you can do to eliminate exposure to it. Dust is a very common allergen, it can be eliminated from the home by cleaning (carpets especially) using a deep dust extraction vacuum cleaner or a standard cleaner with special dust filters. Of course to avoid contact with the dust it is best if someone who is not allergic does the cleaning.

Even if you love pets, their presence may be a trigger for an asthma attack. It may be necessary to keep them away from the house, as the only alternative to finding them another home. Also, keep doors and windows shut, because for asthma sufferers fresh air is not good ~ if it is cold outside, the cold air could trigger an attack; if it is spring ~ the smell of trees and grass also might lead to asthma attacks.

Sometimes the sufferer might need “desensitization” or immunotherapy, which is a treatment involving injections of increasing doses of the allergen, until the body does not react to the allergen anymore. This is usually done in cases where the allergen cannot be avoided.

Sacha Rigson is the webmaster and owner of Asthma Co Her site has a widespread collection of information on asthma, including a free newsletter, resources and articles about asthma. For lots of information about asthma, go to: http://www.asthmaco.com

Copyright Sacha Rigson – www.asthmaco.com

Written By: Sacha Rigson

Tags: , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Jul 4
2007

Asthma is a chronic condition which is now become very infamous due to its occurrence from a young to old. There are many of factors which come into picture such as genetic as well as environmental.

Causes

It causes breathlessness which occurs often due to some allergies which is defined by sudden chest congestion, attacks of wheezing and constant battle with the lung and air. You get a feeling of loss of breath due to narrowing down of the tubes from our lungs. As this tube becomes narrower it becomes very hard to breathe. Other reasons for this attack can be due to throat contract and the tubes are swollen. Non-allergic asthma occurs due to exercise, weather change or some viral infection. It is also classified as either allergens or irritants.

There are triggering agents which cause asthma which can be such a silly thing for many, but can be deadly too. Some of them can be pets, pillows, pollution, perfumes, dust, plants and many more. Once you identify the triggering agent you should be ready to prevent it before the attack happens. The sad part of asthma is that it is not age related from a 2 year-old to an 80 year-old can have asthma.

Avoid

The first victory would to know what has triggered that attack in you. Once you know that, you should take precautions to avoid that. Keeping your house clean, wiping it with a damp cloth to avoid the dust, stay away from people who smoke and from pets if you are allergic to that. A change in lifestyle happens when such a disease has its presence in your life.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of asthma may differ from person to person. The feeling is someone trying to drown you, where in you face shortage of air due to the inflammation in your lungs. Signs of asthma are mostly wheezing which happens due to the mucus present in the airway which causes the breathlessness. Sometimes it can be so severe that you may lose your consciousness and complaining of a chest pain.

Remedies

Modern Medicines

Inhalers are a constant friend of an asthma patient. It soothes the pathway of the airways to breathe freely. There are long-term medications which are being prescribed by the doctors are used to control the occurrence of the attack. These medications help the patient in several ways to get back to its normal life.

Water therapy

There are theories that intake of water can prevent asthma attacks. Asthma occurs when the air passage is blocked so as to hinder the passage of water in vapor form from the body.

Hypnosis

It has help create lot of myths people carry with allergies which are sometimes 30% of the times, the reason for asthma attack. Allergies some say is a mistake which the brain makes in presence of some substances. Brain seems to overreact with the opinion of that the substance is life threatening. These mistakes can be corrected with hypnosis.

Breathing exercises

Buteyko method of exercise has helped many asthma patients. People who used to take two puffs a day of bronchodilators have seen a major change. This method of breathing helps in reducing the intake of inhalers, medicines, and other steroids.

Other theory is that asthma is a defense mechanism which our body uses to keep the gases intact in our lungs. With the modern medicine and increased used of technology new solutions and remedies have come into picture to help the suffering people.

About the author:

Visit http://home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Asthma.html

Written By: Kala S

Tags: , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


Jun 13
2007

Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by frequent wheezing, labored breathing, sense of chest congestion and frequent attacks of coughing and gasping. It is a disease of the respiratory system in which the airways narrow down often in response to a trigger meaning exposure to cold air, exercise, allergen or emotional stress. These symptoms of asthma can range from mild to life threatening and can be controlled by drugs and separate lifestyle changes.

This disorder is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the airways develop increased responsiveness to various stimuli and are characterized typically by bronchial hyper-responsiveness, increased mucus production, intermittent airway obstruction and frequent inflammation.

Diagnosis of asthma

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms you should visit the physician for proper diagnosis. Asthma is strongly suspected if a patient suffers from eczema or several other allergic conditions and already has a family history of asthma.

However diagnosis of asthma involves the following factors:

In children it begins with developed breathing problems, history of nasal stiffness [rhinitis], itchy eyes [allergic conjunctivitis] and eczema.
For adults it involves listening to the lungs with stethoscope and examination of nasal passages.
Blood tests and sputum studies are also great ways to diagnosis for asthma.
Spirometry is breathing test, which measures the amount, and rate at which air can pass through airways.
Exercise challenge tests and metacholine inhalation tests are also great procedures to evaluate airway responsiveness.

Asthma and pregnancy

Asthmatic women can face serious problem during pregnancy. If they do not take proper care, asthma can attack both the mother as well as the fetus inside the mother. Therefore uncontrolled asthma in pregnant women often lead o complications like premature birth, low birth weight and maternal blood pressure changes.

Following are brief ways pregnant women can take care of their asthma:

The expectant mother should remain active and sleeping throughout the night.
Pregnant women with asthma should do some regular exercises under the supervision of their physicians.
The pregnant mother should avoid medications like iodides, aspirin or ASA products, tetracycline, sulfonamides and antihistamines.

Treatments for asthma

Asthma can be treated with two types of medicines that include quick-relief medicines and long-term control medicines. While quick relief medicines should be taken during the first signs of asthma, the long-term medicines are taken every day usually over long periods of time to prevent symptoms and asthma attacks.

Following are the various treatments for asthma:

Children with moderate or severe asthma should know to use a peak flow meter to help keep asthma under control.
Medicines are the best treatments along with inhalers. However, medicines like beta-blockers used for treating high blood pressure and glaucoma, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin should be avoided.
Regular physical activity is important to reduce asthma.

You should manage your asthma to remain fit and healthy in life.

About the Author:

Barney Garcia writes about many different allergy and asthma topics. For more info on allergies and asthma visit allergies and allergy relief and asthma

Written By: Barney Garcia

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


May 29
2007

Not everyone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suffers from chronic asthma, but many individuals who experience emphysema or chronic bronchitis have asthma-like symptoms. Medical experts continue to debate whether chronic asthma should be classified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, since asthma can be reversed.

Chronic asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways; the term asthma is derived from an ancient Greek word which means panting. With chronic asthma, the inflammation leads to the narrowing of the airways, which can cause wheezing, breathlessness, and gasping for air.

Studies indicate that chronic asthma involves two stages: the hyper-reactive response and the inflammatory response. The hyper-reactive response in chronic asthma refers to the constriction of the airways in response to inhaled irritants, while the inflammatory stage involves the production of white blood cells in the airways.

During a chronic asthma attack, the muscle tissue in the walls of the bronchi experiences spasms, causing labored breathing. With chronic asthma, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing occur almost everyday. In order to combat chronic asthma, several medications may be needed.

Some medical experts speculate that the persistent symptoms of chronic asthma indicate a food allergy. As a result, some doctors encourage those suffering from chronic asthma to revise their diets in order to reduce the incidence of flare-ups.

There are some other simple strategies one can follow in order to alleviate symptoms of chronic asthma. These include removing the cause of chronic asthma, treating the symptoms, or altering the host to be more tolerant of the causes.

If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic asthma, medical experts suggest stopping all smoking and banning cigarette smoke from the house. Chronic asthma patients should also stop the use of volatile chemicals, which may exacerbate one’s symptoms. Ending contact with pets can also alleviate chronic asthma.

The aims of any treatment program for chronic asthma should include: avoiding the trigger factors for chronic asthma, eliminating symptoms, restoring normal lung function, reducing the incidence of severe attacks, and minimizing the side-effects of drugs.

Drug therapy for chronic asthma can fall into three categories. Chronic asthma can be attacked with preventors or anti-inflammatories; relievers, which provide acute relief of symptoms; and controllers, which provide a sustained bronchodilator action with a mild anti-inflammatory action.

It should be noted that there are some misconceptions about the treatment of chronic asthma. For instance, antihistamines do not appear to be an effective chronic asthma treatment strategy. Immunosuppressives such as methotrexate are rarely beneficial for chronic asthma, and acupuncture has a negligible effect.

The basic goals of educating those with chronic asthma include an ability to understand the nature of asthma, an understanding of different types of asthma medication, an understanding of prevention strategies, knowing the correct use of inhalers, and recognizing signs of worsening asthma.

Interestingly enough, chronic asthma is often misdiagnosed in the elderly. Also, older people are more susceptible to the side-effects of drugs used to treat chronic asthma. As a result, senior citizens need special prevention strategies for chronic asthma.

About The Author

If you are interested in your health and well being then you will find some great reading at: http://www.findhealtharticles.com.

Written By: Allan Wilson

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Asthma  


« Older Entries

Newer Entries »