Saturday, August 31, 2013

Asthma: Blocked Nose, Post Nasal Drip, Itchy Nose or Eyes


There is only one way to get asthma or a blocked nose and that is because you are breathing like an elephant. You are not an elephant, and your body will try to stop you from breathing so much.

Your nose may block up, and make your lungs get wheezy, and you may feel stuff in your lungs and want to cough.

If your child nose becomes completely blocked, then the Steps exercise should be done until it is clear enough to breathe through. Usually only one set is needed. The key is to ensure that breathing is only through the nose after the steps [like a mouse].

If the breathing is elephant-like ó the nose will just block up again. If it does, then repeat the steps. If it is only partially blocked, then ask the child to just breath like a mouse, and try to make it clear. With practice they will soon be able to unblock nose with just breathing.

If the symptoms of asthma occur, tightness, wheeze or cough occur ó remember the elephant and the mouse. Reinforce the statement with your child that the only way to get asthma is to first breathe like an........ [Elephant]. To make it go away you just breathe like a little mouse ..... [turn palm up] through your ........[point to nose!]

If your child begins to cough then you must teach them how to cough through their nose. Have a little practice with them. When they feel a tickle in their throat, instead of coughing with their mouth, they should firstly try to just ignore it, but if they have to then cough via nose. This is more like an 'AH-HRRM' or throat clearing before a speech.

At the same time reinforce again the mouse breathing. If you do not allow yourself to cough, then the urge to cough will simply go away. If you do allow the coughing cycle to start 'it will get worse and worse' as the deep breathing causes more and more CO2 to be lost will cause the production of more and more mucus.

To cough a lot you must breathe like a big..........Elephant. On occasions with smaller children, they may say to you that they cannot stop the cough. Here you must be firm if you want them to become free of the cycle. They are simply not allowed to cough. [Yell if you must, but it is usually better to do more closed mouth coughing practice.] Obviously also explain that they can cough if they are choking on something.

If you notice a post nasal drip, which is fluid running down the back of your throat, then the procedure is the same. Mouse breathing first, and if that does not stop it, then do steps until it has stopped.

Same applies to itchy nose and eyes. If you see your child doing the 'allergic salute', pushing on their nose because it is itchy, explains again that they have been breathing like a big ......elephant! Itchy eyes might be gently rinsed [eyes closed!] with cool clean water, followed by mouse breathing.

Finger Under the Nose

It is very useful to use your finger for feedback on the depth of your breathing. The more gentle and passive, the better. When you ask your child to check their breathing [even teenagers] ensure they use their finger under their noses. The other feedback is any noise created by breathing. If you or they can hear a 'wheeze' try and make it silent. If there is whistle because a nose is partially blocked, then they should breathe like a mouse so that it cannot be heard. In both of these cases if you reduce breathing depth you will soon stop the wheeze and unblock the nose. If it does not then a series of steps should be done.

What Are the Known Common Short Term Side Effects of Asthma Inhalers?


Ventolin or Salbutamol as it is also marketed worldwide commonly referred to, is a medicine to relieve or rescue the symptoms of an asthma attack.

All medicines can cause small short term side effects, the severity of these can vary significantly. Many people have no or minor common short term effects, whilst others may experience a rare or severe effect, some of which can be fatal!

Ventolin or salbutamol has a range of short term effects. The most common when using a Ventolin inhaler would be:


  • Coughing

  • Nervousness

  • Restlessness

  • Headache Sinus Inflammation

  • Throat Irritation or Dry and Sore Throats

  • Tremors or Shakes

  • Bad Taste in Mouth

You should discontinue use if you are experiencing any of these effects and seek medical consultation.

Other more severe reactions and allergic reactions have been noted. These more severe reactions and allergic reactions include:


  • Rash Itching Hives

  • Breathing Difficulty Wheezing Tightness in Chest

  • Irregular or Rapid Heartbeat

  • Swelling of the Lips, Face or Tongue

  • Constipation

  • Pains in the Chest

This isn't a full list of all of the known side effects which can occur when using Ventolin.

If you experience any of these severe side effects, discontinue use and immediately seek medical attention.

Other side effects noted in clinical trials include other serious cardiovascular effects. These include:


  • Palpitations

  • Blood Pressure Increase or Decrease

  • Aggravation of Angina.

Also noted were other Musculoskeletal effects such as muscle cramping.

Metabolic side effects include, transient lactic acidosis, a decrease in plasma potassium, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis and even Psychiatric effects are associated in higher doses.

It is important to that you should only use a Ventolin puffer in the situation of relieving an asthma attack. The long term effects of Ventolin are not mentioned here.

Asthma Natural Remedies - Take Care of the Tightness in Your Chest


At times your inhaler doesn't help you with this problem and other assistance is needed. Using the asthma natural remedies that I'm going to provide below should help you with the problems you are having, and give you relief.

Below I will provide some asthma natural remedies that I feel will help you.

Sea Salt Inhalation

Now this is definitely one of the ways to control asthma that no one really knows about. There may be a small amount of people that know about this as an asthma remedy, but it's probably a very small amount. This is some good stuff for asthmatics, and it gives the relief that they might be looking for. The main purpose of inhaling sea salt is because it clears the breathing passages, allowing you to breathe much easier.

Hot Shower Steam

Tightness in the chest is a difficult thing to go through, but there are some ways to deal with it. One of the well known asthma natural remedies for this is, the hot shower therapy. This is very effective for someone who is having trouble with tightness of the chest. If you let your hot shower run for about 10-15 minutes with the bathroom door closed, the steam from the hot shower will soon build up.

The next thing you would want to do is, stick your head inside the hot shower door/curtain, without your head touching the water. Slowly start breathing in and out taking deep breaths, and you will soon start to feel your chest loosening up, and your breathing will quickly start to improve. This is a very good natural asthma remedy that has been effective for a long time.

Psychological Causes of Asthma


To be honest, the asthma attack isn't over, and it's been going on for two months. It's better, but not under control. At first, it was blamed on a severe sinus infection, but that's been cleared up for weeks. No, the answer isn't just my lungs. It's also my emotions.

About five months ago, our eldest daughter, aged 26, disappeared. As she's an adult, very little can be done to find her, as most officials state that she's of an age to do what she wants. That's true. It's also painful. I was warned of the possibility of my asthma going out of control, and it sure did. Hopefully, what I've gone through can help you.

1) Know of the possibility. That has probably saved my life. If you know that an event or emotional problem is likely to create physical problems, prepare. Make sure all your needed prescriptions are up to date...and know where they are. After four years with zero attacks, I couldn't even find my old inhaler. That's probably good, as these things do expire.

2) Know the symptoms: I have never had an attack like this one. The cough seemed to be coming from my toes. Mostly, I just get chest tightness and a strangling sensation. Ask your doctor if the symptoms are likely to change or intensify, and what to look out for. The sooner you realize what's wrong, the faster you can get it under control. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.

3) Know When to Get Help: Your doctor can help you with this. A peak flow meter can be a good guide, but there are also symptoms to watch for. If your skin, lips or nails start to turn blue, you need immediate help. If you are coughing so much it's hard to breathe, you need immediate help. These are emergencies. Any time you find it difficult to breathe, it's time to be concerned.

4) Understand your Inhalers: You have to follow the instructions on your inhalers exactly. Your rescue inhaler cannot be used more than a certain number of times per day, usually limited to two puffs twice a day. If you need to use it more than twice a week (let alone twice a day), your asthma is not under control.

Your maintenance inhaler has to be used exactly as prescribed. It won't help you during an active attack, its job is to keep you from developing one. If you don't use it properly, it won't do you much good.

Asthma is a serious disease that can have deadly consequences. If you've been diagnosed with it, you need to learn as many facts as you can about it. Talk to your doctor, especially if you have questions. He or she can help you avoid further problems.

Factors That Influence Asthma - Keys to Effective Asthma Treatment


Asthma is a kind of respiratory disorder in which the air passage of an individual's lungs periodically narrows, causing cough, and shortness of breath. The narrowing of the air passage is usually temporary and is reversible, but in sever asthma attacks, and incorrect asthma treatment, this disorder can be very fatal, and can cause death.

Asthma which is commonly referred as bronchial asthma is caused by an inflammation of the airways. More than 17.5 million Americans suffer from asthma nowadays, 5 million of which are children below 18 years old, and 5,500 of these asthma patients die in America each year. Truly these numbers is quite alarming

There are various reasons why people seem to acquire this respiratory order, and it is very important to understand the cause of each asthma case to know the right asthma treatment for it. Below are the two most popular factors causes asthma.

Genetics play a big role in human's lives, not just in looks, body frame and intellect, but also in the disorders that each genes caries to its offspring. Asthma's heredity factors can come from mother or father and rate of occurrence doubles of both parents have history of asthma. If the family's history repeatedly shows asthma cases, it is more likely that their generation will acquire this respiratory disorder. Some people develop asthma through exposure to various allergens, it can be contagious or non-contagious.

Asthma can also be acquired from certain infections. Respiratory and bronchial infections like bad cold, whooping cough, chest congestion and pneumonia can sometimes leads to similar symptoms of asthma. Children who have weak immune systems than adults are very susceptible to other related respiratory disorders too. A person that is highly sensitive to allergens, like those who have allergic rhinitis or repeated sneezing, are prone to develop bronchial infections and can develop asthma fast on their system as the nose and lungs became breeding grounds conducive for micro organisms to live and multiply. The asthma treatment for this kind of asthma should be both for the infection and allergy to guarantee full recovery.

Critical Information On Surviving Asthma Attacks


Asthma is such a horrifying disease because the "attacks" that accompany it are so devastating and frightening to the sufferer. Naturally, everything that can be done medically to stop these is of primary importance, but when you're gasping desperately for oxygen, the #1 priority is to relieve the temporary medical stress and breathe freely once again.

So, what is the best way to shorten the attack and lessen its severity?

1. Nothing makes symptoms worst than panic! So, as best he can, the asthma patient needs to remain peaceful and not get overly upset about his situation. Education, of course, is key to this because knowing that the attack isn't life-threatening makes it easier to bear. Planning a medical response for when this does occur is not only physically wise, but mentally reassuring, so talk with your health practitioner and keep your medication handy.

2. Most asthmatics rely on "preventers" to avoid or lessen the number and severity of attacks. However, once one begins the patient must rely on a "reliever" like Hydrocortisone, Medocromil or Cromolyn. These are fast-acting relievers and the patient should begin to feel relief from his symptoms in 10-20 minutes. These episodes can be brought on my such triggers as vigorous exercise or cold weather, and in those instances, in might be best to use the preventer before involvement in these situations. Naturally, this decision should depend upon a collaboration between the patient and his doctor or healer.

3. Since fear only exacerbates symptoms, it's important to know when or if the patient needs more medical assistance than provided by the reliever. A generally valid guideline is this:

* Use your reliever and wait for 30 minutes
* If necessary, use it for a second time and wait a similar length of time
* If your symptoms are still extreme, get help from a medical professional

Naturally, your situation might be more severe and need more prompt attention. Be sure to work out a plan before an attack, rather than trying to second guess yourself when you can't breathe.

4. Asthmatics sometimes suffer from "second wave" attacks. The symptoms ease or even disappear - and then hours or even a couple of days later they reappear, often in a more intense form. These are usually more serious than the initial attacks and when we consider the symptoms of an asthma attack, we can understand why this is so:

* The muscles in your throat can become extremely tight and rigid - and this is made even worse by panic or stress

* Your air tubes will enlarge and inflame, meaning that the passageways through which the air must pass become even smaller

* The body's normal mucus becomes much more 'sticky' and thick, thereby clogging the breathing tubes

In a second wave attack, these symptoms can be decidedly more severe, critically narrowing the passages through which our life-giving oxygen must pass. When this occurs, often the only viable treatment is quick admission to a hospital or treatment center. In a really severe case, the only answer may be a tracheotomy, where doctors make an incisive in the trachea so the patient can bypass the constricted areas and receive necessary oxygen directly.

Possessing the correct information about asthma can't always stop an attack once it's begun, but knowing that the distress absolutely will pass helps to reassure any panicked patient.

Friday, August 30, 2013

The Stigma Of Asthma


In 2011, 5.4 million people in the UK are receiving treatment for asthma of which 1.1 million are children and 4.3 million are adults. This equates to one child in eleven and one adult in twelve. I don't know about you, but personally I find this figure quite staggering and this makes asthma the most common long-term medical condition. The UK has the highest rate of asthma symptoms amongst children in the world which is not a statistic of which we can be proud.

In school classrooms in the UK, on average you will find there are two "asthmatic" children, i.e. children who suffer from asthma. However,my 6 year old son has asthma and there are at least 3 other children in his class at primary school who are fellow sufferers. As an asthma sufferer myself and a parent to an asthmatic child, I completely understand how distressing it can be to watch your child wheezing, coughing and even struggling to breathe. I am also eternally grateful for the existence and widespread availability of inhalers and preventers which make normal life possible 99% of the time.

Many people today would not think of asthma as a killer, but you would be wrong as even with modern day medical and social advances, asthma can kill. In the UK in 2009 over 1,100 people died from asthma of which 12 were children aged 14 or under. The good news is that asthma is treatable though and for the most part, deadly asthma attacks are preventable.

If one or more parent has asthma, the child's chances of developing asthma are approximately double that of a child whose parents do not suffer from the condition. Unfortunately children living in homes where damp and mould are present are 1.5 to 3 times more likely to experience the coughing and wheezing associated with asthma. This would suggest that the poorer members of the population living in sub-standard accommodation are possibly more susceptible to developing asthma.

In some children, albeit a minority, a child's asthma is severe enough to prevent them from attending school resulting in days, weeks, even months of absence which of course brings a whole new set of problems with children falling behind with school work and being excluded from activities because of their wheezing and breathlessness. A survey suggests that about a third of children under 8 years old feel that they are often excluded from sports activities at school because of their asthma and a considerable number of parents do not feel confident enough that sports and PE teachers know how to deal with an asthma attack. However, the availability of modern asthma inhalers and preventers has made a huge impact on the ability of children and adults alike to live normal lives and not miss out on sporting and social activities.

Modern day inhaler devices are completely portable, readily available from doctors and highly effective for the majority of asthma sufferers. In recent times there have been highly publicised "confessions" by high profile, famous sports personalities such as the footballer David Beckham, who admitted being an asthma sufferer and using an inhaler thus helping to remove the "stigma" of asthma, particularly for children.

What Is The Theory Behind The Buteyko Method and Helping Your Asthma?


According to the Buteyko Method, the key to Asthma and other diseases lies in the gas - carbon dioxide. Consider the following facts:

The basic reaction that produces the energy inside each of our body cells involves two main gases. Most energy comes from the breakdown [or burning] of sugars [carbohydrates] in the presence of oxygen [O2]. This produces a nice amount of energy that we use to run our bodies. It also produces water and very importantly carbon dioxide. So we have:

Carbohydrate + Oxygen

Are reacted in the cells to produce

ENERGY + Water + Carbon Dioxide

The amount of carbohydrate and oxygen used up and the amount of water and carbon dioxide produced depends on the energy need of the cell. For example running up a flight of stairs will use up more oxygen and produce more carbon dioxide than sitting quietly in front of your computer.

To keep the levels of both oxygen and carbon dioxide within safe levels our body adjusts your level of breathing. You will breathe more deeply when you are more active and produce more carbon dioxide, and less deeply when you are quiet and produce less carbon dioxide. You will note that it is the levels of carbon dioxide that regulates your breathing, not oxygen. [The exception is when you are being strangled.]

So our breathing is how we release the carbon dioxide that we have produced [and also replenish our oxygen.]

A Little More About Carbon Dioxide

There is only 0.03% carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today. This is almost none at all.

If you are perfectly healthy you will have about 6.5% carbon dioxide in the alveoli of your lungs. This is more than 200 times more than is present in the air around us.

Therefore your lungs act to trap in some of the carbon dioxide produced by your body.

This carbon dioxide is critical for keeping the pH [A chemical measure of how much acid is in our body fluids] at a safe level. Our pH is the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonic acid, which are both forms of carbon dioxide. The level of your carbonic acid depends on the amount of carbon dioxide that is in the alveoli of your lungs. If the carbon dioxide level drops [or rises] too much it can make fatally large changes to your pH.

More simply, the amount of carbon dioxide you keep in your lungs is very important. It affects the chemistry all of fluids of your body.

If you adopt a breathing pattern which causes you to release more carbon dioxide than you produce, the level in your lungs will drop. If it drops too far, the level of carbonic acid will be altered, and so the pH will also change. Even a slight change in your pH is usually fatal.

Now stay with me, this is the interesting part!

To help prevent the loss of carbon dioxide to a fatally low level, the body has developed certain defensive mechanisms. These include spasms of the air pipes and blood pipes, and the increased production of mucus.

ASTHMA Is A Defense - Your Body Works Perfectly!

To use asthma as a simple example, let's think like a plumber in talk in terms of pipes.

Let's say that your breathing is too great. As you are breathing out air that is rich in carbon dioxide, and breathing in air that has almost no carbon dioxide, the more you breathe - the less you trap in. If the level of carbon dioxide in your lungs gets too low - you really will have a serious problem. As you continue to release more carbon dioxide than you produce, your level gets lower and lower. Now your body does not want you to die, so if it is [genetically] able it will act to restrict the airflow to trap in some carbon dioxide.

It will do this by either reducing the size of the opening in your air pipes, or by increasing the production of mucus in the pipes, clogging them up. The first defense will make you feel tight or wheezy the second will give you a cough. Both will cause more carbon dioxide to be trapped in - as you physically cannot get as much out of your body through a smaller or blocked air pipe. The harder you try to breathe deeply during an asthma attack, the more your air pipe will constrict.

If you can learn to reduce your breathing depth more than your asthma is making you, the attack will subside. That is what the Buteyko method gently and carefully teaches you to do.

Even more than that, the Buteyko method shows you how to gently condition the section of your brain that is sensitive to carbon dioxide to get used to higher levels of carbon dioxide in your lungs! This means that as you have started with a normal higher level in your lungs, you will have a "safety" or "buffer" zone between you and any asthma at all. You will then have fewer and less severe attacks.

This is how the extraordinary results of Buteyko and Asthma are achieved. I recently spent time with a Certified Buteyko Practitioner James Hooper and he showed me evidence that, people who have personal classes with him had maintained a full guarantee of significant improvement in just one week.

James went onto say, "The average decrease in symptoms and relief medication use in my clinic in 7 days is 92.5%."

My article written in conjunction with James has given you a very basic part of the theory of what causes asthma, and how the Buteyko Breathing Method training stops it. I should also note that the Buteyko Method is not one of those techniques that people have created to simply make money off people with Asthma. The Buteyko Breathing Method underwent clinical trials at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane in 1994 and Respirtory Physicians Prof C Mitchell and Dr S Bowler who ran the trials found that the trial patients had a 90% decrease in the their reliance on Asthmatic Reliever Medicine.

What Causes Mold Allergy and Asthma Symptoms?


Among the most common types of allergies is mold allergy, because mold can develop just about anywhere and can happen at any time of the year. We more popularly know and identify mold as that yellowish or greenish substance that results from our failure to throw out organic materials and clean out dark and damp spaces.

There are two plant groups in the family of fungi: molds and yeast, each of which has around a thousand permutations and versions to its name. While yeasts are characterized by single cells, molds are comprised of multiple cells that branch out when they grow. Both fungi subfamilies are allergic offenders, but only about a few mold species trigger allergic reactions in people.

Molds, when they multiply, also produce millions of spores. These spores are what cause allergies. When inhaled, these microscopic spores give birth to allergic rhinitis. And because they are so tiny and microscopic, escaping exposure to mold spores and susceptibility to mold allergy may be difficult to accomplish. Mold spores can easily bypass our bodies protective functions and lodge themselves into our respiratory organs.

Some people experience a more severe mold allergy attack when they take in food that has been processed with fungi, like cheese. There are also instances when dried food and some mushrooms, as well as yeast-related foods, like vinegar and soy sauce, help worsen the attack. We cannot say exactly the same for penicillin, however, though it is made from the mold Penicillium, because studies have not shown any blatant relationship between it and mold allergy.

Mold allergy or asthma symptoms related to molds can also come with the season, usually from spring to just before fall ends. Mold season is usually at its highest during the summer, because of the moisture and heat. Some molds thrive in cold temperatures, but most of them simply remain dormant until they are unfrozen and given the chance to grow again. Molds are particularly present just after the spring thaw because they feed on dead vegetation that that have been hit by the winter season.

Wherever there is moisture, you can be sure that molds will be there to grow. The best places they can thrive are damp closets and basements, unmonitored refrigerators, bathrooms, air conditioners, mattresses, house plants and uncleaned garbage pails, among others.

Given this information, households should make sure that all spaces are ventilated well and mold-attractive objects aired out regularly to avoid the development of molds.

The most common molds found in the United States are Cladosporium and Alternaria. Actually, there are many other mold species that they usually outnumber the pollen that spreads in the air. Worse than pollen, they can thrive both indoors and outdoors, and can be very tricky to detect at their early development stages. Most people recognize the presence of mold only after they have grown to annoying and smelly levels.

Continuous exposure to mold will not just bring about mold allergy but also lead to lung disease or asthma. If you have started to feel weird coughing symptoms and some wheezing, better have yourself checked immediately to nip the problem at the bud. Your physician will likely have you undergo a series of tests, including X-rays and blood sampling, to determine the cause. Needless to say, mold allergy, while seemingly temporary, is still not something that you should take for granted.

Where to Get Cheap Allergy Asthma Relief


One type of asthma is allergy asthma. This type is triggered by allergies. For example, if you are allergic to dust, you will experience asthma symptoms when you are exposed to dust. Other triggers of allergy asthma are cockroach, molds, animal dander, cigarette smoke, perfume, food, and others.

In all types of asthma, the best way to get relief is to avoid the triggers. This is the cheapest way how you can get allergy asthma relief. How can you identify the trigger? You can identify the trigger of your allergy asthma by taking note of the pattern and time when asthma symptoms start appearing. Once you feel the symptoms, start asking yourself what you did before that and where you were. Did you hold your new pet before the asthma symptoms began happening? Did you go to the storage room before you started wheezing? Were you smoking or exposed to second-hand smoke before you started coughing and catching your breath? These are the patterns and time that you must look out for.

Once you know your trigger, it will be easier for you to prevent exposure to it. If you want to get cheap asthma relief, you simply have to avoid exposure to your trigger. If you avoid exposure, there will be less incidence of an attack. Therefore, you will be using your anti-asthma medications less.

Another way with which you can get cheap asthma relief is through herbs. Certain herbs are known to relieve the symptoms of asthma like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and others. But before you use herbs for allergy asthma relief, you have to consult your doctor first. There can be untoward interactions between the herbs and the anti-asthma medications that you are taking. This is the reason why you must consult your doctor first.

Doctors do not usually prescribe herbs in place of the anti-asthma medications for allergy asthma relief. This is because there is still insufficient scientific data that can support the effectiveness and safety of these herbs. Yes, our ancestors have been using these herbs for a very long time. But still, only a few scientific studies have been made on these herbs.

One example of an herbal mixture that is used for asthma relief has its roots from Japan. This is the Saiboku-To which is a mixture of ginger, Korean ginseng, licorice, magnolia, and Baikal skullcap. This mixture is taken with honey. In Japan, this is widely used for asthma relief. One study these showed taking this herbal mixture significantly reduced steroid use in people with allergy asthma.

These are two ways on how to get cheap allergy asthma relief. Anti-asthma medications are not cheap. Therefore, reducing the use of these medications through asthma prevention and control can reduce your expenses on anti-asthma medications.

How to Get Relief From Viral Induced Asthma


Asthma is a condition that can be triggered by just about anything. Exercise and allergies have always been well known common triggers, but did you also know about viral induced asthma? Yes, viruses are not just for causing colds, flu, and a couple of other diseases anymore, but it can also set off an asthma attack.

However, what you should know is that this type of asthma is not caused by a specific kind of virus. Viral induced asthma is mostly characterized of asthma that has been brought upon by simple cold or flu virus. This means that asthma attacks in this condition are consequences of having hit by the cold or flu bugs.

However, before you get any treatment or relief method for viral induced asthma, it would be best if you know some basic things about it. For example, the fact that there are two kinds of this condition: the one that manifests on people who have no asthma history, and the other that affects people who already got asthma and the virus is only making matters worse.

Once you already know which of the two types of this condition it is that you're suffering from, you can now try some of the possible treatment listed below:

1. Use of bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Since asthma is still asthma, it would be a great help to know that the wheezing and coughing you're experiencing with your flu is due to another condition that can be easily handled with the help of these two drugs.

2. Asthma action plan. Since you'll mostly need to monitor your situation in order to better handle it, what better way to do that than by having an actual plan, right?

3. Take preventer drugs like beta agonists, cromolyns, controlled release theophylline, and leukotriene receptor antagonists.

4. Stop cigarette smoking.

5. Oral corticosteroids to deal with moderate to severe conditions.

6. Meds to deal with the cold or flu virus.

Seeking your doctor's help is also very helpful if you really want to deal with viral induced asthma. This way, you'll be sure that you can take the right means to deal with your condition without putting yourself at any risk. Keep in mind that this condition is a very tricky one and it can lead to further complications when not properly managed, so make sure to take the right actions to help yourself fully handle this disorder before it overwhelms you.

Alternative Herbal Remedies For Alleviating Asthma


A lot of individuals today often turn to alternative or complementary remedies and treatments whenever they feel sick, or have a chronic illness. Most traditional, natural and alternative medications and mixtures are different from the standard medical treatments individuals generally get at the doctors' offices.

Among the natural and herbal remedies include herbs, dietary supplements, acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic and massage therapy, botanicals, homeopathy and nutrition.

How Asthma Affects An Individual

When an 18-year-old student, for example, suddenly develops wheezing and shortness of breath upon visiting his or her uncle who happens to have a cat, or a 30-year-old woman has colds that "always go into her chest," which causes coughing and heavy breathing.

The symptoms are all reflective of an asthma attack, and these are but some of the many faces of asthma. Asthma is a medical condition wherein there is chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes or airways, which causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. The result is difficulty breathing. The bronchial narrowing could either be total, or at least partially reversible with medications.

Alternative Treatments For Asthma

Most alternative or herbal remedies are often used alone, while the complementary treatments are used in tandem with the standard medications and treatments your doctor usually would prescribe. At present, there are lots of asthma herbal remedies and products available for use in treating the symptoms that are associated with asthma.

However, further research still need to be undertaken before anything clear can be established. Asthma patients seeking an alternative herbal treatment method should first discuss this with their doctor, before commencing on any kind of herbal treatment program. Here are some herbs and natural ingredients that have been studied to alleviate the conditions of asthma

- Vitamins and Oriental Herbs. It is widely believed that some Chinese herbs, like ding-chan tang, can decrease inflammation and relieve bronchospasm. Lab research has also shown that vitamin C helps alleviate the symptoms.

- Butterbur. This shrub grows perennially and can be found almost everywhere. This shrub has been noted a can be quite effective. This contains ingredients called petasin and isopetasin which are believed to help reduce muscle spasms and has potent anti inflammatory properties. .However, this particular herb should not be used by women who are either pregnant, or by those who suffer from either liver or kidney disease.

- Boswellia. More commonly referred to as Salai Guggal in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, this herb has been analyzed to aid in restricting the production of leukotrienes in the body. Leukotrienes are the compounds, when released in to the lungs, will cause the airways to become narrowed.

Asthma is a worrisome health condition that affects people in different ways. Each individual is unique in their degree of reactivity to environmental triggers. This naturally influences the type and dose of medication prescribed, which may vary from one individual to another.

Other alternative treatment modes also include Yoga. The breathing exercises utilized in yoga have been noted to help some asthmatics control breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger, although no scientific evidence has yet been given to supports this.

Acupuncture has also been reported to aid in the treatment of asthma, however further studies are ongoing. In addition, learning to increase the amount of air inhaled, has effectively reduced fear and anxiety during an asthma attack for some.

http://primeherbal.com - Prime Herbal

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Relieve Asthma With Homeopathy!


Lot has been talked about effectiveness of homeopathy in asthma. More than just being an alternative treatment option, homeopathy can relieve asthma in totality in acute as well as chronic phases. It is something worth noticing that in asthma one needs to be precise about the dosage and frequency of administration of drugs. It is certainly true that homeopathic remedies do not lead to side effects. However, it does not mean that one should take medicines anyhow without consulting homeopathic physician. There are many factors in asthma those only a homeopathic practitioner with apt clinical and therapeutic knowledge can comprehend.

Also in childhood asthma, homeopathic remedies give miraculous results. In many cases it is seen that after administration of initial doses, the child or an adult starts feeling better and the asthmatic spells reduce. Real challenge in treating asthma is the timely aggravation of asthma patients in winters and rainy seasons. It is always said that he is the good homeopath who can handle these acute exacerbations of disease well. Moreover he should be able to judge the apt constitution of the patient and miasmatic background of the disease. Certainly this is true for any disease while treating homeopathically and not just asthma.

In case of children, responsibility of homeopathic physicians is certainly more. Firstly they need to convince the parents how important it is not to go for hefty medicinal dosages and steroid inhalers at this tender age and how homeopathic medicines while acting mildly can cure his asthma permanently. This is a task in itself unless the patient is motivated and knows about this wonderful mode of therapy. But it is true that with the first dose of medicine the parents are convinced about this miraculous system of medicine. Further, the medicines given by homeopathic physicians must be understood in terms of dosages and frequency of administration. Unless these things are made clear, one should not give these medicines. The reason behind is that though homeopathic medicines are milder and with minute doses, they have capacity to alter health statistics of the individual opting for it. Therefore, one must be precise about the dosages.

Homeopathic remedies, like Calcarea carb, Lycopodium, Silica, Arsenicum album, Medorrhinum, Blatta orientalis etc have wonderful action on the respiratory system of the person. These powerful medicines act favorably first to reduce the acute symptoms of asthma like cough, breathlessness, chest discomfort etc and later reduce the frequency of such spells. Within short frame of time, one can seek permanent relief from asthma and enjoy good health on all planes, as homeopathic medicines act not on asthma but on the patient suffering from asthma!

Why the Homeopathic Treatment of Asthma Could Be Your Definitive Answer


The homeopathic treatment of asthma is gentle, effective and completely safe. There are no side effects with any homeopathic treatment. Side effects are a result of an overdose of the material dose of any substance.

As homeopathy uses energetic medicines, rather than material ones, no side effects are possible.

Energetic medicines simply mean that they capture the energy of a substance, leaving any physical properties behind. This means that poisonous substances, such as arsenic and strychnine can be used with impunity.

Oddly enough, it is these very poisonous substances which make some of the best and most versatile medicines.

Asthma is a respiratory disease characterised by spasms in the lungs or in the respiratory tracts, making it difficult to breathe. It can be a result of an allergic reaction.

Dr Buteyko, a Russian doctor, discovered after extensive research, that asthma is a reaction of the body when it has insufficient carbon dioxide. This explains the spasms. They are an attempt by your body to stop breathing momentarily, until the level rises back to normal and safe levels. Scary as this seems, it is in your best interests. Another way is to breathe into a paper bag for a few minutes. This is a little less traumatic.

The Buteyko method of treating asthma is to teach you how to safely hold your breath for increasingly longer stretches of time, so you can always deal with your asthma, whether you are in the back of beyond with no help at hand, or safely at home. There's nothing quite like being prepared for any and every situation.

As asthma attacks can be fatal, this is a handy trick to have up your sleeve.

The homeopathic approach is rather different. Homeopaths don't speculate on what may or may not be the reason your body does what it does. Not that there is anything necessarily wrong with this. It's just not how homeopathy works. Homeopaths simply take into consideration all your characteristic symptoms, both of your asthma (or any other illness) as well as you as an individual and unique person.

The most suitable medicine is selected based on all this information.

The results can be dramatic.

Expect every other ailment to resolve itself under your homeopathic treatment of asthma, including the allergy that may have been the trigger. This is because homeopathy doesn't treat your asthma. It treats you, who happens to have asthma. There is a big, if subtle, difference.

For more information on homeopathy, click on the link below.

The Truth About Asthma And Beta Blockers


Read through the search results on asthma and beta blockers, and the news seems to be all doom and gloom. If you don't dig deeper, you'd be forgiven for thinking that asthma sufferers should not take this cardiac medication. Yet with further research, the picture becomes a little less clear cut. You see, fortunately for those with conditions that are classified as 'Reactive Airway Diseases', advances in medical technology and drug research have benefited heart health too. Not only that, but new studies have questioned whether any cardiac patients - asthma sufferers or not - really benefit from beta blockers anyway. This article will look at these points, as well as what alternatives are available.

Beta blockers (also called Beta-adrenergic blocking agents) are used for:

* high blood pressure

* migraine prevention

* angina (pain originating from the heart muscle)

* irregular and fast heartbeats (treatment and prevention)

* the symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland

* congestive heart failure

* preventing performance anxiety in musicians and others

* a number of other conditions.

They work by blocking the effect of the hormone adrenaline, as well as chemicals related to it that are also associated with this 'fight or flight' mechanism. These drugs actually come in two classes. Old style medications are called non-selective beta blockers. Newer ones are known as cardio selective beta blockers. The difference between them relates to the fact that the older class of drugs block two of the three types of beta receptors in the body (1 and 2, located in the heart, as well as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, uterus and other areas). The newer drugs are more precise. They can block either beta receptor 1 or 2 - hence the name.

This is good news for asthma sufferers, as evidence exists that cardio selective beta blockers are actually safe for asthmatics and those with certain other serious respiratory problems. The problem with the older style of drug was that it had the potential to cause severe asthma attacks. The risks were just not worth it, so people were rarely put on them.

The new drugs don't pose such a threat, however, at least for those with mild to moderate asthma. This change of medical opinion came about after an analysis of a number of published studies, after they had been qualified as eligible to be considered. It is important to note, however, that long term use is still not suggested for asthma patients. And in the case of severe asthma, beta blockers are still contraindicated.

One very interesting report in Science Daily threatens to throw the whole issue out the window. They cite a Cochrane Review of 13 randomized trials that altogether had more than 91, 000 people in them. The Review analyzed whether the studies involved found beta blockers effective in controlling the progression of heart disease, or preventing death from it. And they found that it was not significantly better than a placebo at either. The beta blocker used was called atenolol, which is a cardioselective beta blocker that has an affinity for beta receptor 1.

Whilst the Science Daily article points out that more work needs to be done before this information is extrapolated across the board to all beta blockers, they also note that the chief cardiac alternatives fared better. These include calcium channel blockers, thiazides, and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors.

This is all good news for asthma sufferers with cardiac problems. It means that there are classes of drugs available to them that are safer for their airways, and more likely to actually protect them from the problems associated with heart disease. As always, discuss your options with your doctor, and if you're not happy with the results, get a second opinion.

References:

1. Medscape

2. MayoClinic

3. American Academy Of Family Physicians

4. Cochrane Reviews

5. Wikipedia

6. Science Daily

The Causes and Symptoms of Asthma


What is Asthma? Asthma is a very common condition. In the UK, it affects 5.4 million people, 1.1 million of whom are children.

Asthma is a condition that affects the Bronchi and bronchioles tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. They are only millimetres wide and made up of ring-shaped muscles that can contract or relax. When a person with asthma is exposed to something that irritates their airways the lining becomes inflamed and starts to swell. This also gives rise to the characteristic wheezy noise. Sometimes sticky mucus or phlegm builds up, causing further narrowing.

What are the causes? It is difficult to say for sure what causes asthma however there are known contributary factors that trigger it:


  • Family history of asthma, eczema or allergies

  • Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of the child developing asthma

  • Children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma

  • Environmental pollution can make symptoms worse and may play a part in causing some asthma cases

  • Adult onset asthma may develop after a viral infection

  • Irritants found in the workplace may lead to a person developing asthma

Asthma is caused by external agents, such as irritants in the air that are breathed in, such as pollen, dust, mold and animal fur, or by internal reactions in the body that have been caused by external influences such as exertion, cold, smoke, scents and pollution.

To acquire asthma people seem to need to have been born with a disposition to it. However, the condition may not reveal itself until they have been exposed to an irritant. Lack of exposure to infection in early life, certain drugs, low birth-weight and well-insulated houses leading to a higher concentration of dust mites may also be part of the problem.

What are the signs and symptoms? The usual symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Not everyone will get all of these symptoms. Some people may experience them from time to time and a few may experience them all the time.

How can it be prevented? It is possible to prevent asthma by avoiding recognizable precipitants, such as dusts, smoke, infections and taking care with exercise. It can usually be well treated so that the symptoms give little trouble. Half of all children who develop asthma will grow out of it and for many adults asthma is variable with some good spells and some that aren't so good. Some people are worse in the winter months and others in the summer hay fever season. Smoking can cause long term lung damage which will reduce lung function still further so it is vital to stop smoking.

Instant Relief For Asthma Symptoms - Naturally


Out of every 15 students, one will suffer from asthma symptoms. It has an effect on physical activity, sports involvement, school, friends, and every aspect of their life. A number of individuals prefer fast, natural relief to deal with their asthma attacks, and avoid the use of chemicals. Keep in mind, though, that asthma treatment using natural remedies hinges on the specific trigger at the root of the attack.

There are a variety of triggers and processes that can lead to an asthma attack. Among the many triggers are mold, pets, chemicals, smoke, perfume, cleaning agents, food allergies, emotional stress, environmental allergens, changes in barometric pressure, cold temperatures, and pests like rats and cockroaches.

The range of treatments for asthma attacks encompasses steroids, drugs and ongoing medical intervention. One immediate natural relief for asthma is to avoid the triggers such as avoiding pets, chemicals, environmental allergens and emotional stress. Some triggers are unavoidable such as barometric pressure changes and cold weather or pest droppings in buildings that require your presence.

Natural remedies, including stress reducers, can be used to manage other triggers like emotional stress. Other people turn to herbs and organic foods that have potential positive effects on the prevention of an attack.

Another treatment that provides immediate natural relief for asthma is to work toward prevention by improving the immune system and decreasing the constrictions of the bronchioles and alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs. Aerosolized hydrogen peroxide used in a humidifier improves the availability of oxygen that can be metabolized by the asthma patient.

It's been shown that using hydrogen peroxide in the humidifier raises the level of oxygen available for use. Hydrogen peroxide will help the vaporization process, but can unfortunately bleach the walls and curtains around the vaporizer. With careful use, and if your doctor permits it, hydrogen peroxide can be added to the equipment that delivers your bronchodilator.

This is a method that helps to eliminate some of the attacks and improve the immune system but it doesn't address the underlying cause of the asthma. You should investigate various means of managing your emotional stress for fast and natural treatment of stress induced asthma attacks. Try using Reiki, which is a technique used to reduce stress, help you relax, and provide healing not only to your body but to your spirit.

The name Reiki is taken from two Japanese characters that describe energy itself: "rei", meaning "unseen" or "spiritual", and "ki", meaning "energy" or "life force". When your life flow is reduced, your chances of getting sick and experiencing stress are higher. If the Reiki is high we are more capable, happy and healthy. Reiki can provide immediate natural relief for asthma that treats the whole person - body, emotions, mind and spirit.

Natural relief for asthma symptoms such as stress reduction and other preventative practices will go a long way to reducing your dependence on medications.

Does Omega 3 Fish Oil Help Treat Asthma Symptoms?


Asthma is a condition that can affect your lifestyle if not well controlled.

But does natural nutrients such as fish oil or omega 3 fatty acids help treat the symptoms of asthma?

Some studies have shown a benefit, while others have shown no benefit.

More studies in this area will certainly help.

Let's look at a randomized, double-blind study published in medical journals in 2006 looking at exercise induced asthma and whether fish oil supplementation helps.

Exercise induced asthma is a condition that can exist on its own, or can be a part of the symptoms experienced by asthmatics who's asthma is triggered by other conditions such as allergens, respiratory infections, cold weather or other triggers.

This study used fish oil capsules which contained 3.2 grams of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 2.0 grams of DHA (docohexaenoic acid) in the treatment group.

The study found the following:

a) There was an improvement in lung function tests to the level below which 'exercise induced asthma' would be diagnosed.

b) The need for bronchodilator medication was reduced. These are the reliever medicatiosn used to relieve acute episodes of asthma.

c) Testing of the amounts of markers of inflammation in sputum was also decrease.

This was a small study, but hold some promise.

More research into asthma and exercise induced asthma would be very interesting to se.

Omega 3 fatty acids have certainly made it into the medical news headlines for many reasons.

One of which is the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

It is it's anti inflammatory effect that is presumed to be the cause of the beenfit in treating asthma.

Other effects of fish oils include a benefit on heart health (less heart attacks), mental health (less depression, bipolar, ADHD, dementia and aggression, and higher IQ), among others.

So to learn more about the benefits of omega 3, see the website in the resource box below.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Define Asthma


For those who don't have it, asthma can seem like a disease that should be able to be conquered. After all, it is just breathing. And for those diagnosed with it later in life, you may also not understand the potential severity of asthma. Perhaps you feel a little tightness in the chest when you strain yourself, or you cough a little too much, a little too often. The actual diagnosis of asthma is something much greater than just a little coughing and should be taken very seriously.

There are many types of asthma but the medical definition is "a disease of the windpipe (bronchial tubes) which carry air to and from the lungs." Asthma has no set diagnosis; the journey from first warning sign symptoms to a full blown diagnosis of asthma is long and complicated. Symptoms usually:

1) Vary from person to person.

2) Vary from episode to episode.

3) Flare up and get very severe, then disappear for long periods.

4) Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe for extended periods of time.

The cause of asthma is not actually known; sometimes it appears genetic, but then identical symptoms pop up in a vacant gene pool of non-asthma sufferers. The sad truth is that, even with all our advanced knowledge of how things work and why, there is still not even any known 'cure' for asthma suffers. However, once diagnosed, there are many smart things you can do to remain symptom free or at least manage the symptoms so your treatment is just a task in your daily life.

Breathing: Someone with normal lung function, air comes in the nose and mouth. It passes the windpipe before moving to the bronchi that then pass on to smaller and smaller tubes, ending in a small sac called alveoli. That small sac is where oxygen is passed to the blood. The body needs this oxygen. Carbon dioxide, which the body does not need, is then removed.

People with asthma have trouble breathing in the presence of 'triggers.' Symptoms of asthma mean the flow is obstructed as air passes out of the lungs. This happens either because airways become irritated, swollen, or reddened producing mucous. The greater the inflammation, the more sensitive the air passages, the worse and more intense the symptoms. The other cause of symptoms is that the muscles surrounding the airway twitch and tighten, causing the air channel to narrow. The muscle tension is usually caused if inflammation is not treated.

Airways of someone with asthma are inflamed all the time to a degree. The greater the inflammation, the more sensitive the airway is, leading to increased breathing difficulty.

Asthma is chronic condition, meaning it needs to be controlled over time. Anyone is susceptible to asthma, though it's usually diagnosed in early childhood.

Most people living with asthma live healthy, fully active lives. You just need to monitor your symptoms, communicate with your doctor, and keep up to date on your current status, so that you too can enjoy a happy, productive life.

Childhood Asthma Tips


Asthma is a growing problem throughout the world and many children are now experiencing asthma symptoms such as wheezing and being short of breath.

Although medical science gives us a number of different drugs that help us deal with some of the symptoms of asthma none of them are really a cure and simply treat the symptoms while sweeping the remaining problems under the carpet.

The unfortunate thing is, we live in a world that gives us a lot of reasons to have allergies. It is no longer just a simple matter of seasonal allergies that comes from different flowers and trees being in bloom or our pets causing a problem with their dander.

Today, we have to deal with ever-increasing problems of environmental pollution and with household products that are nothing short of toxic to those of us that have breathing problems or who have sensitive skin. If your child is suffering from asthma induced by allergens or exercise there are a few things that you can do to help.

One of the most important issues is to keep your house as free as possible from the allergens which are causing your child problems.

This would not only include removing chemicals and other items from the home, but it could also include running a high quality air filter such as a HEPA filter at all times in the home. Of all places, the bedroom should be kept as free as possible from these allergens because we spend more time in the bedroom sleeping than anywhere else in the house.

Another thing that you may want to try is making sure that your child is hydrated at all times. Dehydration has been a major contributing cause to exercise induced asthma and by simply drinking enough water throughout the day, you can actually cut down on asthma symptoms.

Allergens tend to stick in a child's hair and get transferred to a pillow case and this can cause breathing problems at night Some symptoms can therefore be helped by bathing and rinsing allergens out of a child's hair before bedtime

Asthma is never easy and is worse for a child but there are some steps we can take to help our kids live a normal happy life.

9 Different Types of Asthma - You Should Be Aware Before it is Too Late


If you think that asthma is just a general disease with no other types and kinds, think again! Asthma actually is comprised of several types and it is important for doctors to specifically assess and diagnose of what type of asthma their patient is suffering from. This will enable the doctor to prescribe the appropriate medicine and give the needed recommendations.

1) Allergic Asthma

This type of asthma is the most common among all the other types. Statistics show that kids are more prone to allergic asthma with 90% having the disorder. Allergens such as molds, pollen and mites are the most common culprit of allergic asthma. Exercising in cold air or inhaling strong fumes, dust, smoke, perfumes or colognes can actually make it worse.

Since allergens can be found everywhere, people with allergic asthma must be careful with the places they go to as well as be vigilant in the cleanliness of their surroundings. As much as possible, they should steer away from dusty places and make their home or work-area as dust-free as possible.

2) Non-Allergic Asthma

From the name itself, it is obvious that non-allergic asthma is not triggered by any allergy-related factors. Usually it appears after middle age and is most often a result of recurrent infections in the lower and upper respiratory tract.

Just like allergic asthma, Non-Allergic is triggered by factors not related to allergies. It is characterized by the obstruction of the airways due to inflammation that is partially reversible and controllable with proper medication. Although the causes of non-allergic asthma may be different, the symptoms are still the same; wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and tightening of the chest.

Non-allergic asthma can be triggered by intangible factors such as stress, anxiety, over or under exercise, cold air, hyperventilation, dry air, viruses, smoke, and other irritants. Unlike allergic asthma, the non-allergic type does not involve the immune system in the reaction.

3) Nocturnal Asthma

From the name itself, it is quite obvious that this type has something to do with sleep. And yes, it actually has something to do with sleep because it disturbs or disrupts the sleeper's good night sleep. It deprives individuals from having a good night's sleep because they usually waken in the middle of the night by very dry coughs.

Tightening of the chest is one of the very first symptoms of nocturnal asthma, followed by a series of uncontrollable, dry coughs. This type is one of the least preferred asthma because it is actually a scary kind. Who would want to wake up in the middle of the night feeling helpless and unable to breathe?

4) Occupational Asthma

Again, the background and cause of this type of asthma can already be guessed or determined from the name itself. This kind is just like any other kind where the only thing that makes it distinct from others is that it is acquired in the place where an individual is working.

Perhaps one of the most common occupations that induces asthma are teaching (chalk dust exposure), factory workers (exposure to dust and other powders), painters and construction workers (exposure to paint and other fumes), etc.

The symptoms are no different from the symptoms of the abovementioned other types; wheezing, dry coughs, tightening of the chest, rapid and shallow breathing are still present.

5) Child-onset Asthma

This usually occurs when children are exposed to certain allergens such as dust mites, fungi, animal proteins, and other potential allergens. When a young child or infant wheezes during viral infections, it may be a hint that asthma may be brewing around the corner as they grow older.

6) Adult-onset Asthma

It can easily be described as a type of asthma that develops during adulthood. It may be allergic, non-allergic, occupational, mixed, seasonal or nocturnal. The distinct characteristic is that it occurs in adulthood.

7) Cough-variant Asthma

This kind of asthma may be a bit difficult to diagnose since it can be confused with other kinds of cough that may be related to chronic bronchitis, sinus diseases or post nasal drips due to hay fever. It would usually take a lot of tests and check-ups before the doctor can make a proper diagnosis.

8) Mixed Asthma

This is a mixture of extrinsic and intrinsic asthma. This is a more serious kind since the sufferer must be vigilant to both extrinsic and intrinsic factors that can trigger asthma attacks.

9) Seasonal Asthma

From the name itself, seasonal asthma only occurs during certain seasons wherein the pollens or other allergens seem to be more present than any other season. For example, an individual is quite healthy all year round except during Christmas season, when firecrackers are more common. The dust and smoke emitted by firecrackers may be the triggers for the asthma attack.

How to Fight Asthma Naturally


Fighting asthma naturally sounds difficult, but what if it was so easy that you didn't have to change one thing in your daily activities? Would that be of interest to you? Fighting asthma for most can be a very long harsh battle and unfortunately many are stuck on prescription drugs and inhalers that only manage your symptoms, never giving you a way out. There is a way out and it's so simple that the young and old are finding it life changing. A method that helps your body overcome asthma right at the root cause of the illness itself.

What do you think causes asthma in the first place? We here believe that asthma is caused by environmental pollutants that enter the body as we breathe, eat or drink. They go into the lungs where they disrupt the precious balance that is needed for proper breathing functions. In order to fight the good fight against asthma, you must first understand your enemy. You know all too well what an asthma attack is like, but how do you bring it to an end completely? Have you ever been out on a really bad pollution day and found it impossible to breathe? What if it truly is the cause of your asthma?

Understanding that asthma can be beaten in battle, it starts from the inside out where these environmental pollutions hide and wait. Toxins do their best to break the balance, leaving you helpless to breathe and eventually causing attacks that could end up being fatal. It doesn't have to be this way; there is a newly discovered method that is changing lives every single day. It's showing people that they don't have to lay down and just put up with the disease. You can actually eliminate it completely from your body and your life. This is how it's done.

When environmental pollutants enter your system, they are forcibly absorbed by your body into fat cells and tissues because our bodies are so overwhelmed with pollutants. It is now impossible for your body to eliminate them naturally. With this ever growing problem that is only increasing every year instead of dissipating, it is time to take action to rid yourself of these dangerous pollutants and give your body the tool it needs to overcome disease all on its own. Your body is the only cure in this world and it can overcome anything if you provide it with the right tools. Prescription drugs and inhalers are not the right tools, all they do is manage your symptoms so you have to keep coming back for more and more till the side effects drive you insane.

Or you can try something that has zero side effects and has changed people's lives so dramatically, like my 6-year old son who was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 4 and is 6 now and completely symptom free. His prescription drugs and inhaler lay on a shelf collecting dust. I keep them as a reminder that if you provide your body with the right tools, anything is possible. So, if you have been looking for something that could help you eliminate your asthma and give you a future of unencumbered breathing, then I leave it to you to follow this path we have showed you to healing. You are only clicks away.

How Doctors Accurately Diagnose Asthma


The diagnosis of an asthma patient can depend on the symptoms presented, a detailed medical history, the physical examination done by the doctor and the laboratory tests done to confirm the diagnosis. For the most part the diagnosis of asthma can be fairly easy once the results come through; however, the diagnosis has an involved process before the eventual results are determined.

For asthmatic patients symptoms can include problems related to breathing such as difficulty taking a breathe, wheezy respiration, labored breathing during activities that require exertion, chest tightness and any obstruction of airflow. A true indicator for asthma can be seen when the person gasps for breath with a wheezy sound, which is a characteristic picture of asthma. In addition, having a detailed medical history that includes any history of allergy, family history of asthma, persistent coughs, cold and seasonal allergies can be contributing factors for asthmatic patient.

After the diagnosis process has begun laboratory tests are usually ordered to confirm that the patient has asthma and can include blood tests for ESR and eosinophil counts that could give indication of any allergic reaction or chest infection, as these are also contributory factors. The chest x-ray confirms the expansion of the lungs as well as any infections or other abnormalities in the lungs that can contribute to asthma. The groups of tests performed to diagnose asthma are Pulmonary Function Tests, otherwise known as Spirometry. In this test the degree and access of airflow obstruction is measured along with the confirmation of its severity. These are otherwise termed FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC. The assessment of the reversibility of asthma can also be done through these tests. Carrying out tests of allergen detection through skin sensitivity tests is also a form of testing. These tests are of prolonged duration by which time the person has a fully established asthma. Still, if the allergens detection is accurate and the person needs to stay away from certain allergic substances, then asthmatic attack is preventable.

One of the most experienced symptoms of asthma is a wheezing sound as air enters the respiratory system. Many other chest diseases can present the same types of breathing problems as asthma; hence an accurate diagnosis is very essential. Spirometry is the confirmatory lung test for asthma. Once the diagnosis is made, the options open to the patient vary in range from no prescription, for very mild cases of asthma, to a full course of asthmatic preventatives to help those patients who have a severe asthmatic problem.

Steroids Used for the Treatment of Asthma and the Treatment of Crohns Disease


Budesonide

Budesonide is a glucocorticoid steroid. This class of steroids is so-named because they are synthesized in the adrenal cortex and play a role in the metabolism of glucose. Budesonide is available in various preparations that are sold under different brand names. These preparations are approved treatments for several medical disorders.

Uses

The most common use of budesonide is the treatment of asthma and allergies such as hay fever. It is also used to treat and prevent nasal polyposis, commonly known as nasal polyps. Some patients take budesonide as a Crohn's treatment. This disease is known generically as regional enteritis, which is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. A new preparation of budesonide is also being tested as a treatment for ulcerative colitis.

Brand Names

AstraZeneca sells a nasal inhalant preparation of budesonide under the brand name Rhinocort, also known as Rhinosol in Denmark. This company also makes an oral inhalant formula of budesonide under the name Pulmicort, also known as Budicort in Israel. AstraZeneca combines budesonide with formoterol into a single inhalant, which it sells as Symbicort. Eurofarma markets the same preparation in Brazil as Noex.

Prometheus Laboratories sells budesonide in a timed-release capsule and an enema under the brand name Entocort. This company also markets budesonide as an immediate-release capsule under the brand name Entocort EC. The typical course of treatment for oral capsules is 9 mg budesonide per day for 2 months or 6 mg per day for 3 months.

Pharmacology

Budesonide is metabolized quickly compared to other corticosteroids. It has the greatest efficacy in the right colon and ileum when used as a treatment for Crohn's disease. Budesonide causes a lower loss of bone density than prednisolone, a similar corticosteroid. Budesonide has little effect on the activity of the adrenal, hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which means a patient does not have to taper off the drug before discontinuing it.

Side Effects

The side effects of budesonide are generally milder than those of similar medications. These side effects typically include the following:

Change in mucus color

Coughing

Dry mouth

Lightheadedness

Muscle cramps

Nasal irritation

Nausea

Nose bleeds

Rash

Sore throat

Budesonide may also cause the following side effects in rare cases:

Breathing difficulty

Facial swelling

Irregular menstrual periods

Severe acne

White patches in the mouth

Patients should report these symptoms to their physician immediately. Children who take budesonide may exhibit behavioral changes in very rare cases.

Contraindications

The following drugs can cause significant interactions with budesonide:

Clarithromycin

Erythromycin

Ketoconazole

Indinavir

Itraconazole

Nefazodone

Nelfinavir

Ritonavir

Telithromycin

Budesonide may be contradicted if you have diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension, osteoporosis or tuberculosis. You must inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before taking budesonide. You will also need to avoid people with chicken pox or measles, especially if you have not been vaccinated against these diseases.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Conquer and Defeat Your Asthma With This Simple Breathing Exercise


Most people including asthmatics and non-asthmatics alike take breathing for granted but do you know by learning how to breathe properly, you can reduce asthma symptoms and frequency of asthma attack? It may sounds a bit absurd but it true.

Learning how to breathe properly prevent the bad habit of over breathing. Another word to describe this over breathing effect is hyperventilation. Hyperventilation simply means that air is moving in and out of your body so quickly that your body is unable to take in nutrients from the air fast enough.

Therefore learning good breathing will decrease your probability of bad breathing. This simple breathing exercise focuses on strengthening the diaphragm to improve your breathing. A strengthened diaphragm can help reduce over breathing. This exercise is easy to do with enough practice. It requires only 10 minutes and you need to do it twice a day.

Now the very first thing that you need to do is that you need to find a quiet place where you won't be distracted for the next 10 minutes. Your clothing should be loose and comfortable.

Now lie on your back with one pillow under your head and another pillow under your knees.

Make sure that you relax your jaw and your mouth is wide open when you inhale. This will open your throat.

Begin to inhale deeply and when as you exhale, start counting slowly from 1 to 10 and backwards from 10 to 1 in one slow continuous motion. Now, this part is very important. The counting sounds should be below the audible sounds of a whisper.

Continue your exhaling as long as you can until you feel your lungs is urging you inhale in. So you should be experiencing a brief period of discomfort and breathlessness. Ensure that your jaws are still loose and your mouth is still wide open. Repeat the exhaling process several times with the silent counting for about five minutes.

After the silent counting process, it time to for the counting to be heard. Now what you need to do is when you exhale, start counting at audible levels from 1 to 5. So when you are exhaling, you should be counting out "One, Two, Three, Four, Five", five digits at one time.

Now you don't have to project your voice till someone in another room can hear you. Just maintain it an audible level that is the same when having conversation with someone. Repeat this process for the next five minutes and you are done.

To enhance the training, you may occasionally want to lift your knees to your chest and swing your legs from side to side. Make sure you lift your legs only during the exhaling process.

Once you practice enough and got used to the breathing, you may try doing it standing up or sitting. Soon, you may be able to do it whenever and wherever you like.

Take note that it may take up to several weeks before you will see any significant effect. One more thing to note is that please consult your doctor before commencing with this exercise.

Asthma - Definition, Cause and Triggering Factors


What is it and who gets it? Asthma is a condition whereby the smaller airways of the lungs constrict (or narrow) from time to time, causing typical symptoms. The duration and extent of narrowing vary and they determine the degree of severity of the disease. Asthma affects people of all ages, however, it tends to starts in childhood and runs in family. Having said that, certain asthma sufferers have no family members who have asthma.

What are the symptoms of asthma? Typical symptoms are a cough, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. The severity of asthma can usually be classified according to the degree of symptoms. Each episode of symptoms may last from a hour to several days if left untreated. Death is a known but uncommon cause of severe untreated asthma.

Symptoms of mild asthma: Episodes of symptoms only during exercise or triggered by a chest or an upper respiratory infection. You are usually symptom- free between episodes.

Symptoms of moderate asthma: You display symptoms from time to time. Symptoms tend to be worst at night and early in the morning. You may be awakened at night with a tight chest and coughing.

Symptoms of severe asthma: You have symptoms on most days. You may find it hard to talk. Frequent hospitalization for asthma is also one of the criteria for severe asthma.

What causes asthma? Asthma occurs as a result of inflammation in the lower, smaller airways. No one is entirely sure why the inflammation occurs. As a consequence of the inflammation, the sensitive airway constricts, making it hard for air to get in and out of the lungs. This leads to symptoms like wheezing, breathless, chest tightness and a cough. Not only that, the inflammation also stimulates the airway to pump out extra mucus, which causes the airway to obstruct further.

What are the exacerbating factors of asthma or what can make it worse? Asthma symptoms may be triggered by certain factors. Occasionally, we do not know why it becomes worse. It is possible to avoid certain triggers to help to reduce symptoms. Identifiable triggers include:

Exercise. Exercise is a known trigger for asthma. Having said that, you should not refrain yourself from doing sports and exercises. They are actually good for your asthma. It is possible to prevent asthma symptoms while exercising by using an inhaler before you exercise.

Pollen and moulds. This is particular evident during season of hay fever.

Infection. Viral respiratory tract infections like flu or common cold are common triggers.

Smoking and air pollution.

Some medicine. Certain medicines are known to constrict smaller airways in the lungs, they include aspirin, beta-blockers and some eye drops for glaucoma.

House dust mites.

Some food. We do not know why certain food can bring up symptoms of asthma. Food like nuts, eggs and fish can sometimes trigger off an asthma attack in people who have known asthma. However, this is not a common trigger.

Emotion. Asthma has nothing to do with your 'nerve'. However, certain emotions like stress, laughing, anxiety can all cause symptoms of asthma.

Suffering From Asthma Shouldn't Mean You Don't Exercise


Many experts believe that regular strenuous exercise has significant health benefits for those who suffer from asthma. Patients frequently report feeling significantly better both physically and mentally. Obviously anytime that you are thinking about changing your exercise program then you should consult your doctor.

For the most part, people that have asthma suffer with wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, and chest pain when they do strenuous exercise. To be on the safe side, people who suffer from asthma need to do certain things before they exercise to help lower the chances of exercise induced asthma attacks.

Some tips to get the most out of exercise, and prevent asthma attacks while getting exercise are:

1. Make sure that the exercise you choose is something you can handle. Some of the best exercises for asthma suffers are things like walking, riding a bike, swimming, and hiking. These are generally tolerated much better than other types of exercise that make you run for long periods of time. Symptoms are usually fewer with exercises that are constant, like gymnastics, golf, and wrestling. Things like tennis, field hockey, long distance running, and softball, can make symptoms more likely to occur.

2. If you use things to control your asthma, then use your inhaler about 15 minutes before you start to exercise, and be sure they are close to you when exercising in case you are in need of them.

3. It is also a great idea to breathe through your nose, and not through your mouth, since this can trigger an asthma attack, due to the fact that mouth breathing causes cold air to be inhaled right into the bronchial tubes. Breathing through your nose allows the air you breathe to be filtered and given moisture, as well as warming the air before in reaches your lungs.

4. Be sure that you exercise somewhere that there is a minimal amount of pollution, and allergens. It is best to avoid places where there are grass and trees, as well as mould.

5. If you are suffering through asthma symptoms already, you should avoid exercise, until symptoms subside. 6. Be on the lookout for signs of an asthma attack. If you suffer from symptoms shortly after beginning exercise, then your asthma might not be controlled, and your doctor might need to be consulted about a medication that you can use every day to help get your asthma under control.

Asthma that is induced during exercise is caused when the muscles that are around the airways become sensitive to the changes in humidity and temperature, and they contract, making the airways more narrow. Some of the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma are:

1. Being abnormally tired during exercise

2. Having a hard time catching your breath when exercising

3. Chest begins to tighten

4. You start to wheeze Most of the time, these symptoms will begin about 5 to 20 minutes after exercise has started, or a few minutes after you have stopped exercising. These sort of symptoms need to be discussed with your doctor before exercising.

To prevent or control asthma symptoms before or during exercise, asthma inhalers or bronchodilators can work well for asthma sufferers. Used before exercise then they may reduce the chance of experiencing asthma symptoms during exercise.

Some other treatments for asthma include medications that last for up to twelve hours, like Foradil and Serevent. If used first thing in the morning then the symptoms of asthma may be significantly reduced for the remainder of the day. You should also have an asthma inhaler with you as well, in case of emergencies.

Other things that can be done, is to make sure you cool down after exercising, and warm up before you exercise. If you have allergies and asthma, you should not exercise outside when there are high pollen levels, or days when pollution is high. Do not exercise when you have an infection or a temperature as this may increase the risk of having an exercise induced asthma attack.

Research indicates that asthma sufferers who regularly exercise have fewer attacks of asthma. In addition, the attacks they do experience are generally not as severe. It can often go a long way to making the person feel better mentally as well.

People that suffer from asthma shouldn't put off exercise if their doctor tells them it is alright. There may be lasting physical and mental benefits to the sufferer and improve the quality of their life.

Asthma Attack Relief Report Review - Is Susan Millar's E-Book Worth Your Money?


Asthma and the effectiveness of its various available cures have been subjects of major deliberation among patients and doctors alike. In this asthma attack relief report review, we will discuss about Susan Millar's path breaking steps in this direction. Not only does it provide a suitable cure for asthma related illnesses, it also offers a fresh perspective into the illness and the ways of dealing with it.

The aim of the book is to provide completely natural and drug free treatments for asthma. The steps laid down lead you into natural breathing techniques and help in managing asthmatic symptoms without having to endure harmful side effects. In a nutshell, the e-book aims at strengthening the entire respiratory system and helps in regulating breathing patterns naturally.

The report looks at the problem in a broader perspective. It innovates ways of healing and regenerating tissues that prevent life threatening asthma attacks from occurring and also helps us to gain complete control of the situation. The book looks at addressing the root causes and eliminating the problems from the core rather than just covering up the symptoms in the name of cure. Dealing with the causes would actually help in managing the symptoms better.

This asthma attack relief report review concludes that the unique concepts suggested in this e-book worth giving a try so as to enjoy the benefits of good health. The book also comes with a 100% money back guarantee which certainly adds that extra touch of credibility to the product.

The Importance of Nasal Breathing For Asthma


There are several reasons why the nose is designed for breathing through, compared to the mouth. There are both several positives for nasal breathing and several negatives for breathing via the mouth.

It's now understood that mouth breathing can contribute to involuntary hyperventilation, i.e. that is breathing more air than you require, and this can cause asthma. Not only will it cause asthmatic symptoms, but it is known also to cause many other health concerns which include: high blood pressure & could even cause heart disease and possibly numerous other health issues.

If you're a mouth breather, you'll need to retrain the way you breathe so that you are breathing via your nose 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week if you want to lead the healthiest and longest life that you can, along with being asthma free. This may seem very difficult when you first start out and try to change a life long bad habit. You may be only able to do it for small periods of time when you are focused and find yourself slipping back into mouth breathing when you are not focused.

But don't worry; it will take some effort to correct a bad habit you have developed over your entire lifetime. The good news is it will soon become normal and second nature for you to breathe through your nose and will require no effort at all. Your nose is a filter and air conditioner for you lungs!

Your nose is a perfectly evolved appendage which filters the air you breathe from dust, pollens, bacteria, pollutants and any other foreign matter before it reaches your lungs. Your lungs like clean air. These things can cause severe health problems if they are allowed into your lungs and your nose is your body's best defence against them. If you breathe through your mouth, you will bypass this defence mechanism and make it much more likely for yourself to become sick or allergic.

Your nasal passage takes the air you breathe on a longer delivery path to your lungs; therefore it arrives at your lungs at a temperature more consistent with your body temperature. Your lungs do not like extreme changes in temperature. Nasal breathing also increases the humidity of the air that reaches your lungs. Your lungs like humid air. Dry air causes dry lungs.

Another reason why nasal breathing is healthier and better for asthma sufferers than mouth breathing is because it is much harder to hyper-ventilate with nasal breathing. Not impossible, but much more difficult. That's simply because your nasal passages are much smaller, therefore the volume of air you breathe will be much less. It also slows the escape of air on the exhale creating back pressure, so that the lungs have more time to extract the oxygen and retain carbon dioxide. Contrary to popular belief, carbon dioxide is not a waste product. If carbon dioxide is lost in larger than required quantities as it is with mouth breathing, oxygen absorption is decreased.

5 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Your Asthma Symptoms Almost Instantly


Natural asthma remedies have proven effective in relieving asthma symptoms and should not be brushed aside. Best of all, they are cheaper than prescription medicines and they have no side effects.

Some of the best ways to get rid of the asthma symptoms naturally are:

• Garlic - garlic is really a wonder food and it has so benefits to the human body. When it comes to asthma, its wonders are experienced when it is mixed with milk and boiled, and it is this mix that alleviates the symptoms.

• Nutrition is very important for an asthma sufferer. Certain foods will make the symptoms worse and increase the chances of asthma attacks. Dairy foods as well as wheat products make the symptoms worse, and should be replaced with foods that are asthma friendly such as salmon, oysters and spinach.

• Honey - honey is very effective in treating asthma symptoms. Just the aroma of honey can alleviate the symptoms of asthma, however drinking it with either water or milk is also effective in reducing the symptoms.

• Turmeric - when taken with water, it is also hailed as one of the most effective treatments for asthma.

• Coffee - coffee has been said to be bad for the health for the most part, but in this case, it can alleviate the symptoms. What makes it effective is the caffeine that is in the coffee. Cocoa also has the same effect, in reducing the symptoms.

Asthma is a condition that can be managed if preventative measures are taken and one is careful to avoid triggers and inducers. Nutrition also plays a vital role in managing asthma, as well as exercise and weight.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Treatment And Solutions For Asthma


Asthma is now becoming one of the major health problems affecting people around the world. Asthma is a chronic, treatable disease that causes narrowing of airways in the lungs in response to allergens, making it difficult to breathe at times. When not treated properly it can interfere with the daily life of the patient and cause breathing complications and even lead to death. Assessing and monitoring the condition is the first important step towards treating asthma.

The specific medical treatment for asthma depends on the severity of the condition and the frequency of symptoms. Specific treatments for asthma are broadly classified as relief medications, preventive medications and emergency treatment. Bronchodilators are recommended for short-term relief for all patients. Patients with mild occasional attacks need no other medication. For people with mild persistent attacks, low-dose glucocorticoids, a mastcell stabilizer or leukotriene modifiers are to be taken in addition to relievers. In severe asthmatics oral glucocorticoids may be added to these treatments during attacks.

Asthmatics must also identify the triggers that cause the allergic reaction in them and find ways to reduce or eliminate them. Asthma is very strongly associated with air pollution, which causes the condition to worsen in asthmatics.

While the medications can sometimes help control the symptoms of asthma, it is often a temporary measure only and does not address the root cause. Besides these prescription drugs can cause side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, depression, impotence, liver damage and more. That is why more and more patients now are choosing natural medicines that address the root cause, over pharmaceutical drugs that trick the body's immune response system. The task in case of asthma is to strengthen the weak body systems and soothe and calm the hyperactive systems. This is done by substances called catalysts.

Natural medications provide natural organic catalysts to the body that restore balance in the system and thereby eliminate all the symptoms without any side effects. Breathing techniques such as pranayam, buteyko and yoga practices also are helpful as they naturally help the breathing and the general well-being of patients. Nutritional supplements and good diet will help improve the immune response and the overall health of the patients. Asthma sufferers should try to manage their condition as much as possible with complementary therapies to avoid further stressing their immune system with drug residues.

How to See Exercise Induced Asthma Symptoms


Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the air passages. The symptoms of asthma can be caused by many things called triggers like pollen, dust, dirt, and even exercise. Yes, even exercise can cause asthma. If you start feeling the symptoms of asthma like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue in 5 to 20 minutes since you started exercising, you may be experiencing exercise induced asthma symptoms.

Exercise induced asthma symptoms are just like the usual symptoms of asthma. The only difference is that these symptoms are triggered by exercising. In children, aside from the usual symptoms of asthma, exercise induced asthma can have discreet representations. You may consider the following examples as exercise induced asthma symptoms: children who avoid or do not like participating in physical activities or games; children who complain of difficulty in playing games and sports with their peers. Those are the symptoms in children can lead to problems with socialization or low self-esteem.

Remember that you may experience this kind of asthma symptoms a few minutes after you start to exercise or even a few minutes after finishing your workout. It is important to observe the time when you feel the symptoms because this will be key in identifying the cause of the symptoms. When you consult a doctor, asthma can be diagnosed by a series of tests and evaluations. Tests may be any of the following: spirometry, peak flow meter, oximetry, and chest radiography. If this will worsen, consult your doctor immediately.

Most people who experience this asthma symptoms wonder if they will have to prevent any form of physical activity for the rest of their lives. The answer is no. In fact, many great athletes have experience exercise induced symptoms. Look at Dennis Rodman. He has exercise induced asthma but he can play basketball.

The key is prevention. In order to live normal lives and participate in sports activities, people with exercise induced asthma are given drugs to prevent the symptoms.

Asthma inhalers or bronchodilators are great in the said symptoms. These asthma inhalers are prescribed to be taken before exercising. If taken 15 to 20 minutes prior to exercise, asthma inhalers prevent and control exercise induced asthma symptoms for 4 to 6 hours.

Long-acting beta-2 agonists are also prescribed. When taken in the morning, these medications can prevent and control the symptoms for 12 hours. Also, warming up before exercising and cooling down after exercising are effective in preventing the said symptoms.

Certain types of exercises or sports are considered well tolerated by people with this kind of asthma symptoms. Examples of these are baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and swimming.

Chiropractic Treatment Can Improve Asthma Symptoms


When it comes to asthma, the numbers speak for themselves: Asthma cases have seen an increase by over 60 percent since the 1980s. Asthma-related deaths amount to 5,000 cases per year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that roughly 20 million people in the United States presently have asthma. In some cases, those who have the condition do not even know it, attributing their symptoms to other maladies.

Unlike twenty years ago, asthma and the use of inhalers are now widespread. It is no longer unusual to find many children in a single classroom experiencing breathing difficulties. In the present climate, researchers are left to speculate why asthma cases have seen such a marked increase. Genetics and environmental exposure to possible allergens are likely culprits. Nowadays, people are exposed to a vast amount of potential allergens such as cleaning products, and formaldehyde preservatives that go into carpets and furniture.

Air quality also plays a factor. Drafty houses that bring in fresh air to dry and freshen up the space also clear out mold and other allergens. Unfortunately, many modern houses are too insulated; basements, for example, are known for increasing mold exposure. Those who spend a lot of time in them are likely to have regular contact with mold and other allergens.

Another source of allergen exposure comes in the form of food, especially manufactured foods with preservatives. Vaccinations and antibiotics may also figure in, contributing to the overall picture.

Since asthma is a chronic condition, it can't be cured. It can, however, be managed. Consulting with both primary care physicians and asthma specialists such as an allergist, are recommended for solid treatment results. Experts advise asthma patients to identify specific allergens and to seek ways to reduce exposure to substances that provoke aggravated episodes. This is in addition to any medication taken.

Allergens, however, is just one of the factors that affect asthma symptoms and attacks. Stress also plays a role. Moving to a new town, divorce, a new school, and challenging situations may trigger asthma attacks. Moreover, strong emotional outbursts such as anger, fear, and even laughter, can provoke an attack.

In order to address the patient's stress level and improve the asthma patient's quality of life, alternative treatment methods should be considered. Relaxation techniques employed by the likes of meditation, yoga, massage, acupuncture, and breathing exercises can be very beneficial. Clinical evidence has also shown that chiropractic care and manipulation help asthma patients.

A clinical trial showed that asthma patients treated with chiropractic treatment experienced significant improvement of bronchial hyper-reactivity and saw a decrease of asthma severity. Another comprehensive clinical trial reported that the patient group that was treated with spinal manipulation showed significant improvement in asthma symptoms.

Doctors of chiropractic offer a thorough evaluation of asthma patients, examining their overall physical and neurological data, as well as their diet, lifestyle and potential stressors. In this way, chiropractic care can offer invaluable support to the asthma treatment team. They work with patients to improve their motor coordination, respiratory and stomach muscles, as well as look into their overall quality of life.

To alleviate symptoms, here are few tips suggested by experts:
• Get checked for viral respiratory infections and other conditions. Once these conditions are treated, asthma symptoms are also likely to improve.
• Be aware that endocrine factors, such as pregnancy and thyroid disease, may also worsen asthma symptoms.
• Use hypoallergenic bedding to lessen exposure to dust mites.
• If exercising provokes attacks, consider getting an individualized program prescribed for your needs. Your chiropractic care doctor can assist you with this.
• Medications such as beta-blockers (eye drops, for instance), aspirin, and anti-inflammatory drugs, can also induce or exacerbate symptoms.
• Watch out for foods with sulfites or monosodium glutamate (MSG). These additives are uses in a many foods, so be sure to carefully scan labels, and eat in restaurants that are conscious of MSG.
• Aim to eat less meat. Animal proteins include arachidonic acid, which may aggravate inflammation.
• Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish and fish oil.
• Consider taking vitamin C supplements. They help counteract allergic reactions and wheezing.
• Look for ways to reduce possible sources of stress for your children.
• Take inventory of your child's lifestyle, quality time spent with family, and exposure to television and computer programs.
• Employ air filters at home.
• Cover pillows and mattresses with dust covers.