Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Learn About the Symptoms and Treatment of Asthma


Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs in which the airways are blocked or narrowed, obstructing the flow of air. It is a common condition that has affected people from all around the globe. Be it infants or the elderly, it affects people of all age groups. In asthma, lumens (passageways in the lungs that allow air to flow) of the airways decrease, which is the body's reaction to allergens and other irritants.

Asthma is closely linked to allergies. Though not all,it has been found that most of the people with asthma also have allergies. Many people suffering from asthma have an individual or family history of allergies, such as hay fever or eczema, for example. Common asthma triggers include pet hair or dander, dust, mold, pollen, change in weather and many more.

Asthma patients suffer from attacks that make breathing difficult.Treatment requires decreasing the symptoms of asthma:that can be done through proper control of exposure to the irritant. Some of the common symptoms that trigger visits to the emergency room include shortness of breath, coughing (with or without phlegm), wheezing, face and lips turning blue, rapid pulse rate, tightness in the chest,to list just a few.

People with persistent asthma should undergo allergy testing in order to identify the offending allergen; other test scan include chest x-ray, lung function test, peak flow measurements and blood tests to measure eosinophil (white blood cells, important in the immune system) counts and Immunoglobulin E (IgE).

In order to avoid the onset of an attack to the maximum extent possible, it is extremely essential to take all proper precautions, starting with a regular exercise regimen. Daily morning walks and exercise are extremely good for your system, as fresh air in the morning can do wonders for asthmatic lungs and your respiratory tract. An asthmatic patient should eat simple and nutritious food. You should eat small and frequent meals and avoid heavy meals as much as possible.

People suffering from asthma should completely avoid smoking, including exposure to second hand smoke. Smoking fills the respiratory system with toxins that produce major irritants to the respiratory tract and put unnecessary pressure on the system that an asthmatic patient may find difficult to handle.

In order to conduct an effective treatment for asthma, it is necessary to identify triggers, such as pets, dust mites and others; and minimizing exposure to them. The main portion of treatment is to keep away from the substances that activate your symptoms and control inflammation of the airways.

Asthma treatment requires two basic kinds of medication: first, asthma-control drugs to prevent attacks and the second, quick-relief drugs for use during attacks. Asthma control drugs control your symptoms if you have do not have mild asthma. You must take them on a daily basis for them to show effect. However, quick-relief drugs work speedily to control asthma symptoms.

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