7 Asthma Prevention Tips for the Home

Asthma is a problem where the bronchioles (air passages) become oversensitive to environmental triggers leading to inflammation and narrowing of the airways within the lungs along with excess mucus production leading to severe breathing difficulties. The number of asthma cases within the population seems to increase every year, perhaps largely due to increased pollution within our environment.

Although there is no quick fix cure for asthma there are a number of simple preventative measures you can take to help manage your asthma such as:

1) Limit Dust

It is important to keep dust inside the home to a minimum by regular vacuuming with a cleaner installed with a high quality filter to trap the dust. Other furniture and household items should regularly be wiped down with a damp cloth to eliminate dust buildup.

2) Avoid Mould Spores

Rooms and other damp areas should also be avoided as mould can often grow in such areas and the mould spores can become airborne and trigger asthma attacks in the same way as pollen. Always use an extraction fan in bathroom areas and if necessary wipe excess water from walls etc after showering to prevent mould from growing.

3) Ban Indoor Smoking

Smoking can not only trigger asthma attacks but also increases the likelihood of a child developing asthma so the home should be made a smoke free environment to prevent the potential problems it poses.

4) Avoid Pollen

Pollen from flowers and grasses is a major trigger for asthma and should be avoided where possible. The warmer months are of particular importance for asthma sufferers as the pollen in the air is at its highest and it is wise to stay indoors wherever possible to avoid the potential for a pollen induced asthma attack.

5) Food Preparation Smells

The smoke and aromas given off when cooking can be a major irritant to asthma sufferers so take steps to reduce such problems. If a proper extraction fan is not available then ensure there is an open window in the kitchen to help the cooking smells to escape outside.

6) Limit Pet Contact

If you own a cat or dog then it is a good idea to limit contact and wash your pet regularly as fine particles of hair, saliva and skin are all known asthma triggers. Also ensure that the pet does not come into the house as pet hair easily attaches to furniture and bedding and is difficult to remove completely.

7) Regular Exercise

Leading a healthy lifestyle is a great strategy to help manage asthma. Provided you keep any medication within easy access and follow a doctor approved fitness regime the benefits of exercise in controlling asthma cannot be overstated.

Following the simple asthma prevention measures above will greatly reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Prevention is the best treatment for asthma and the seriousness of this condition should not be taken lightly as attacks can lead to death in extreme cases. Take action to control your own asthma and breathe easier starting today.

Copyright © 2007 Colin Wolfenden

Say Goodbye to Your Asthma, Naturally and Safely

What's so special about grape seed extract?

Everyone is raving about nature's wonder grape seed extract and it even got special attention in TV shows like Oprah and The Doctors. What makes grape seed so special is that it contains more than 300 different natural substances. Some of the best known are oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), natural compounds that have a multitude of health promoting properties.

Resveratrol, found in grape seeds and other fruits and plants, is one of the most important OPCs and its thought to be the cause of red wine's healthy and disease-preventative properties. Here are just some of the things grape seeds can do for you: lowers cholesterol; reduces the risk of heart disease; controls blood sugar levels; has anti-aging effects; has highly potent cancer preventative agents; has anti-inflammatory properties; fights infection; normalizes immune response to allergens in hay fever; and reduces the influence of asthma provocative factors.

Grape seed treats the cause of asthma

So how can grape seed help you if you suffer from asthma? According to new studies, grape seeds significantly improve lung function, lung capacity and reduces symptoms associated with asthma. Grape seed also lowers leukotrienes, substances in our bodies that are produced in response to inflammation. This suggests that the cause and not just the symptoms of asthma are being treated.

This is great news because asthma is a fast growing problem and each year thousands of people die as a result of an asthma attack. The problem is made worse when pharmaceutical drugs are taken because they focus on treating the symptoms rather than trying to treat the cause and they often are accompanied by a host of unpleasant side effects.

If asthma could be controlled through natural and safe means wouldn't that be something? Well, it's now possible; I have witnessed many people lowering their asthma medications or even replacing them for grape seed extract supplements. Please remember though that any changes to your asthma medications should always be done in cooperation with a qualified medical professional.

References:
Hosseini, S. & all. "Pycnogenol in the management of asthma." Journal of Medicinal Food. 2003.

Asthma Triggers - Synthetic Fragrances Such As Deodorant and Perfumes

Synthetic fragrances in certain deodorant and perfumes can be a potential asthma trigger in sensitive individuals. It is difficult to avoid deodorant or perfume altogether in our daily lives. Most of us use them as part of our personal hygiene regime. It is an important item to ward off offensive body odor, and is especially important for those with strong body odor.

The unfortunate thing is that it can be one possible trigger for asthma sufferers, especially if it is a fragrance with a strong scent. This strong scent carries chemicals in the fragrance that can induce an asthma attack in individuals with poor health, especially those with existing respiratory problems, and triggering sneezing, coughing, rasping, runny nose and breathing difficulties leading up to an asthma attack.

However, this does not mean that you cannot use any deodorant or perfume at all and risk going about smelling offensive, or put a stop to your social activities altogether. There are alternatives that you can do for the benefit of your own health and the health of your co-workers, family members and people around you as well.

By understanding what is causing body odor, we can try to eliminate or at least minimize it. One of the things that causes body odor is the food that you eat. If you can change your diet to a clean diet consisting mostly of fresh vegetables, fruits and plenty of water, you will find that your body odor will get less offensive, and therefore, you will need to use less deodorant and perfume to mask the smell.

Instead, you can use natural organic deodorant, or even just use talcum powder. As long as you do not have a sweaty problem, and are controlling your body odor naturally with a natural clean diet, just light natural deodorant or talcum powder would do nicely.

By switching to using something natural, especially for deodorant or perfume that you put directly on your skin, it will benefit your health. For individuals who are sensitive to synthetic fragrances, you will find that you are able to breathe easier instantly and that the frequency of your asthma attacks had reduced since stopping the use of synthetic deodorants and perfumes.

According to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, synthetic fragrances pose to be a health risk in the office to approximately 20% of employees in work related asthma. Asthma is a serious health effect that can be caused by exposure to synthetic fragrances.

Handling an Asthma Attack

One of the most common pulmonary diseases is asthma. We all probably know what asthma is and know at least one person who's suffering from such condition. Not all asthmatic episodes require immediate medical attention. But once in awhile, asthmatics experience a severe and persistent kind of asthma. It is medically known as status asthmaticus or acute exacerbation. But for lay men, it is called an "asthma attack".

This attack will not respond to conventional therapy like asthma inhalers. An asthma attack can occur suddenly with no warning and can develop quickly to asphyxia. Some causes of an acute exacerbation include an infection, increased anxiety, severe lack of fluids, and external irritants.

Signs of asthma attacks are similar to a severe asthmatic episode. Some additional manifestations include labored breathing, prolonged exhalation, puffing up of the neck veins, and wheezing (asthma breathing). As the blockage in the airway is aggravated, the wheezing likely fades away. This may be a warning for respiratory failure.

During an asthma attack, the person might turn blue or cyanotic because of lack of oxygen. Chest pain may also be present, and loss of consciousness may be experienced. The person's extremities may also feel cold to touch and there might also be numbness.

An asthma attack is often not alleviated by asthma inhalers. Instead of relief, the symptoms may keep on worsening. Even when just talking, the person experiences panting. The patient becomes too breathless to speak, eat, sleep, or do other simple activities.

Status asthmaticus is an emergency situation. It can be fatal. However, most of us do not know what to do in this kind of situation. Asthma can deteriorate very quickly if warning signs are taken for granted. Luckily, you don't have to panic anymore. Just follow the simple steps below and everything will be just fine.

First, when the person starts to experience the symptoms mentioned above, grab the asthma inhaler immediately. Try sitting down and make sure that any stiff or tight garments are loosened. Never ever lie down. Lying down may worsen the attack and block the air passages. However, if the asthmatic did not experience any relief from medications or when in doubt, call the emergency services or your doctor right away.

An earlier appointment to the doctor will signify fewer drug requirements. In addition, it is important for the patient to stay calm. Anxiety will only make the situation worse.

Moreover, fluid intake is vital in people who are experiencing an asthma attack since dehydration is quite a common occurrence. Fluids help loosen and liquefy respiratory secretions, thus making it easy for secretions to be coughed out. Additionally, the person who has just had an asthma attack or is experiencing one should conserve his or her energy.

The room should be quiet and away from any environmental stressor. Finally, since allergens are the main cause of asthma, the surroundings must be free from respiratory irritants like flowers, tobacco smoke, strong perfumes, and many other allergens.

Do Children Grow Out of Asthma?

Parents are usually the ones who are greatly affected, when they see their child having an asthma attack. It bothers them so much especially when they can do nothing but comfort their child. It is certainly very painful for any parent to see their child suffering. The question 'Do children grow out of asthma?' is often asked by parents to their child's physician. They would want to know how long the disease will inflict pain and burden to their child. Every parent wants nothing but the best for their child and for that very reason, they would like to know if there is a good chance of outgrowing asthma.

It has been greatly debated if children will outgrow asthma. Many opinions and speculations have surfaced regarding the matter. Most doctors are very positive that there is a big chance of outgrowing asthma especially if it developed during childhood years. Children who developed the condition from an early age have greater chances of outgrowing it as compared to those who have acquired it later in life.

A study once stated that only 2% of asthmatic children carry it on to adulthood and usually those who do have severe cases. Asthma is a disease resulted from numerous factors. It will be hard to tell whether a child would outgrow the disease without tracing its root cause first. The etiology of the development of your child's asthma will greatly affect the possibility for them to outgrow it.

Many children who have asthma came from a family of asthmatics. Genetics has been closely linked to childhood asthma since it has been noted that heredity greatly influences the child's predisposition to the condition. But aside from heredity there are other factors associated to its development. It doesn't mean that a child who didn't come from an asthmatic family is exempted on its development, truth is they still can.

Other children with asthma may have acquired it from constant exposure to allergens. Allergy has been known to be a factor in developing asthma. A child who has allergies especially those which are related to the respiratory system like sinusitis and rhinitis are at risk of acquiring it. Inflammation is the main cause of an asthma attack. The airways are usually inflamed due to irritation caused by certain triggering factors.

Perhaps, a well managed and controlled child asthma will lead to improvements and chances are its symptoms might disappear as your child grows. Once your child learned to properly manage an asthma attack, they will most likely outgrow it. Supplying a definite answer to the question "Do children grow out of asthma?" is quite impossible since you cannot predict who will grow out of it and who will not. Everything will just come down to how you carried out your child's asthma management through their growing years.

It simply means that the possibility of your child outgrowing asthma is relatively dependent on proper application of its management. The chance of your child outgrowing asthma relies on compliance and management of the disease. Child asthma have a very broad etiology, every attack differs from one child to the other. The chances of outgrowing asthma may be dependent to its severity and how it is being managed over the years.

The Serious Dangers of Mold and Mildew in Your House

Two years of severe hurricane hits along the Gulf Coast and heavy rains and flooding this spring in the Northeast are providing a nationwide breeding ground for indoor mold and mildew growth (some deadly) now that summer heat is here. What is the solution?

The subject is surrounded by controversy. The Centers for Disease Control, Institute of Medicine, as well as scientists and doctors at Harvard University, Mayo Clinic, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and several State Health Agencies have all looked at the problem. There have been several studies conducted by medical researchers over the past few years looking for any linkages between various respiratory and physical ailments and deaths and the presence of molds in our living space. While some say there is a linkage, others say the facts don’t support that.

Here are the facts. Mold is everywhere; inside and outside. Some molds are good (penicillin), some are very toxic and emit gases that can be inhaled (Stachybotrys “black mold”). Although some people apparently aren’t bothered by mold, all varieties have the potential to cause illness. Mold reproduces by generating spores that are released into the air, where they land on moist surfaces. They can grow on any organic surface such as wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpeting, wallboard and wood. They thrive in dark, warm, moist locations, like under carpets, inside walls and ceilings. They will also contaminate items that come in contact with those surfaces.

Mold can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks in many. Complaints of flu-like symptoms, chronic fatigue syndrome, memory impairment, migraines, sick building syndrome, dizziness and nosebleeds are common. These are the mild symptoms. Many researchers claim that mold can attack several main body systems, including the brain, central nervous and immune systems and have been the direct cause of some deaths. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, who wants to smell mold/mildew and inhale spores from household fungus? They can lodge in your lungs (remember dark, warm and moist). Asthmatics, infants and individuals suffering immune system deficiencies are particularly susceptible.

So, what should you do if you think that your home might have a mold/mildew problem? Here’s a suggested 5 step process:

• Mold Inspection- retain a qualified, certified mold inspection firm to evaluate your home and determine cause of mold and severity of infestation.

• Isolation of the Area- if there is a mold problem, you will want to isolate the area carefully to prevent carryover into non infested areas during clean up.

• Clean Up/Remediation- care should be taken to not stir up the mold; if it is severe, or in the walls, a specialized remediation firm (in space suits) may have to be used and materials removed in hazardous waste containers.

• Repair of the Cause- if there is structural damage or leaky plumbing causing a moisture problem, fix it.

• Maintenance/Prevention- an ongoing program to ensure no recurrence of the cause and use of proven purification technology to maintain a clean environment and kill mold growth.

On this last point, emphasis is placed on use of technology that has a proven track record of mold abatement. HEPA filters and electrostatic filters that are called purifiers are not effective on mold/mildew. There is, however, affordable, proprietary and safe technology currently available that has a demonstrated ability to sanitize surfaces from a variety of microbials and to stop mold/mildew growth. This effective technology has become widely accepted since it’s use by the government during the 9/11 Pentagon cleanup, is currently in use in several government facilities and is available to the general public through an authorized dealer network. For more information visit www.freshair2u.info [http://www.freshair2u.info]

How Does an Asthma Inhaler Work?

A person suffering from asthma, will have an attack, when ones immune system reacts to the inhalation of various irritants. These irritants can take the form of dust, smoke, and even cold weather. Stress can also cause an attack of asthma. This irritation activates the immune system and causes inflammation of the nasal pathways. It also causes the muscles at this area to become constricted. This leads to the near closure of the airway and causes wheezing and breathing trouble. The immune system causes mucus to build up in the lungs, and an asthma patient, will experience a coughing fit.

The portable asthma inhaler aids in providing the required drug to alleviate the asthma attack. The asthma inhaler works by reducing the inflammation in the airways. The inhaler delivers the required dosage to the patient. The drug can be delivered by inhaling through the mouth or nasally. The drugs used will depend on the asthma attack faced by the person.

There are various types of inhalers and can be classified as pressurised metered dose inhalers (MDIs), breath-activated inhalers - MDIs and dry powder inhalers, inhalers with spacer devices and nebulizer.

The pressurised metered inhalers use an inactive gas to inject the drug. Pushing down the top of the inhaler, releases the drug and it has to be inhaled. It is also small and easy to carry. Some inhalers have meters which can indicate the number of doses that remain for use. Otherwise, one will have to count the doses to keep track. The drawback is that, it requires coordination, as the person has to press down and inhale at the same time.

The drug is discharged by just breathing on the mouth piece and is easier to operate than the pressurised one. Though, Inhalation has to be done forcefully for the drug to be released.

Inhalers with spacer devices are much easier to operate than the other kinds. Inhaling through the mouth piece causes the spacer to releases the drug. A valve stops the drug from exiting the spacer when one breathes out. In some types of spacers, a face mask can be fitted instead of a mouthpiece.

Nebulizers convert the drug into the form of a mist. This can be breathed in with a face mask or mouth piece. This drug delivery system is used in hospitals where there are severe cases of asthma.

One must consider several issues, before choosing inhaler for use. This is because, some medications can only be used with certain of inhalers. People suffering from asthma should take adequate precautions to avoid being exposed to stressful situations, dirt, dust, smoke, or anything that can trigger an attack. In choosing the right inhaling mechanism, they can overcome an asthma attack.

Chronic Asthma Information

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

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

Studies indicate that this severe form of difficulty with breatjing involves two stages: the hyper-reactive response and the inflammatory response. The hyper-reactive response refers to the constriction of the airways in response to inhaled irritants, while the inflammatory stage involves the production of white blood cells in the airways.

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

Some medical experts speculate that the persistent symptoms of this severe type of breathing attack indicates a food allergy. As a result, some doctors encourage those suffering from breathing difficulties to revise their diets in order to reduce the incidence of flare-ups.

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

If you've been diagnosed with this form of asthmatic problem, medical experts suggest stopping all smoking and banning cigarette smoke from the house. Patients should also stop the use of volatile chemicals, which may exacerbate one's symptoms. Ending contact with pets can also alleviate the problem.

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

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

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

The basic goals of educating those with this form of asthmatic attacks include an ability to understand the nature of the breathing difficulties, an understanding of different types of asthma medication, an understanding of prevention strategies, knowing the correct use of inhalers, and recognizing signs of worsening symptoms.

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

Discovering Asthma - What Causes an Asthma Attack?

This article provides some interesting facts and figures about asthma including what is it, who gets it and what causes it. Asthma can be scary both to the sufferer and anyone struggling to help. Frighteningly, asthma ranges in severity from a mild attack to being fatal. In the UK one youngster in ten suffers this inflammatory disease of the lungs. This article will help you to stay calm as you understand asthma better. Study this with an open mind and give yourself time for thought.

Why does asthma appear to strike out of the blue?

Something triggers it off. In fact, every time you come into contact with a certain element or elements (called a trigger) you will get an allergic response. Scarily, the response can range in severity from a mild asthma attack to being fatal. The lungs are inflamed making breathing troublesome.

Although figure are difficult to find, in the UK it is believed that some 10% of children are struck down with asthma and about 8.5% of adults have the illness. The majority of the UK's 5.0 to 5.2 million sufferers live daily with dealing with the disorder. Sadly, each year, between 1400 and 2000 individuals die from it. This averages out at a death from asthma every 7 hours. Not many other countries have such a great occurrence of asthma attacks. The value of a viable cure for the UK cannot be taken lightly.

Who gets asthma?

Asthma can develop from birth. Even though asthma can emerge at any time, one in four children is first detected before they turned one year old. It may be grown out of when the child becomes a teenager. Nevertheless, only 42 per cent seem to attain overall alleviation. Those beginning puberty early, or are overweight in their teens seem to be in the biggest danger of suffering from lifelong asthma.

There seems to be a link between figures for obese children and figures for childhood asthma symptoms. Both are on the increase in the UK. A recent UK study has produced some good news bucking the trend of the past 40 years; indications are that the number of 9 to 11-year-olds presenting with allergic symptoms has stabilised recently. Disappointingly, research in New Zealand indicates that of the youngsters whose allergic responses had vanished by the age of 18, almost one in three had them back by the age of 26.

In a group of adult patients, none of whom had childhood symptoms, 9 per cent had their first attack before 26. The number of adults getting allergic reactions seems to rise each 12 months by approximately 5 per cent.

What Causes An Asthma Attack?

Those prone to asthma have airways with swollen, reddened linings making them over-sensitive to a variety of triggers. The airways go into spasm and this creates an asthma attack and a sense of constriction in the chest. Breathing requires effort and there is coughing and wheezing. This scary condition feels as though you are trying to breathe air through a very narrow straw making the patient light-headed and distressed due to the brain becoming short of oxygen. It is important to stay calm as panic will make things even worse.

Are you affected by asthma? As you are still reading, I assume you are not altogether content with the side effects of the drugs you have used up till now. Are you interested in finding information about nature's abundant and specific treatments? People affected by asthma symptoms need this helpful information... new ways that release them - not only from the illness itself, but also from the drugs they are taught to depend on. In her wisdom, mother nature has made several effective alternatives available.

I hope you were able to get something positive from this article. If you or your child suffer with asthma, you will want to find out more about a natural treatment for asthma that has been recording very encouraging results from long-term sufferers. Chances are, you won't hear about this report anywhere else because it reduces dependency on asthma drugs and, therefore, it isn't in the interest of pharmaceutical companies that you know about this.

Home Remedies for Asthma to Prevent Asthma Attack

When it comes to asthma home remedies be careful about which ones you choose. If you are looking for natural home remedies on the net, be careful and study each one before attempting them yourself, look for testimonials from other asthmatics that have similar symptoms to what you may be experiencing. Another good tip to remember when trying to prevent attacks, is to try and cover you nose and mouth when going out into the cold air, because the cold air will likely cause symptoms for you.

Besides, it is a good idea to stay away from dairy products such as milk and cheese, because they can increase the amount of mucus that comes with an attack. Natural home remedies that actually work can be something that is hard to come by so do your research before trying any asthma home remedies.

Natural Home Remedies for Asthma

There are a lot of natural home remedies out there and finding the one that is both perfect for you and actually works can be a difficult experience, so here are some natural home remedies that might make that experience a little bit easier. Today one of the most popular natural home remedies for asthma would be honey. Yes, you read that right, regular honey right out of your kitchen! It is said that by smelling the honey it can actually reduce your symptoms.

A lot of people who suffer from nocturnal asthma know how difficult the night time hours can be, but vitamin C may very well be the answer. Vitamin C is said to help prevent those symptoms that occur during the night and early hours of the morning, so by taking vitamin C before bed could help reduce some of your night time symptoms. Sometimes out of all the home remedies there is just nothing better then good old-fashioned fresh air, simply setting outdoors can help reduce your asthma symptoms, but be careful to avoid dust and cold weather.

Garlic is also considered to be an effective part of the group of natural asthma home remedies. Another popular theory for curing or reducing symptoms would be to boil garlic in milk. This is said to help in many asthmatic symptoms. There are also many home remedies involving grapes this may sound a little strange but some people swear that it is effective. The theory is that you should soak fresh grapes with seeds, in water then place them in a cool place. Then chew the grapes before bed. This helps prevent symptoms. Again, none of these home remedies have been scientifically proven to be true. They are simply home treatments that others have tried. Some may work while others may not, it is up to you to decide for yourself if these treatments actually work.

Remember that if you are thinking about trying any of these, ask your local physician to see if it will be safe for you to try out these home remedies. Never forget that a lot of the home remedies for asthma out there today are just suggestions by people who have asthma or know someone with asthma. When you are looking for remedies online, be careful to choose web sites that are legitimate, and that provide facts about asthma and treatments. Be sure that the home remedies you try are all natural. So, play it smart and choose wisely when it comes to asthma home remedies.

How To Help An Asthma Sufferer

We have all turned on the TV and watched the scenes of a character portrayed with classic asthmatic wheezing. It is called a "device" in the movie biz that is not nearly the truth for most asthma sufferers. Because of this literary device, wheezing has become one of the most emphasized signs of asthma so that most of us actually expect all asthma victims to have that tell tale wheeze when they breathe. These sounds, dubbed into movies and TV shows, like the wheeze and the raspy throat, have actually become scary to non-asthma sufferers. It is the worst side effect of the disease that is quite dramatic and used for that purpose. Because this device has become a standard in film and TV, the general public has come to believe that all asthmatics can be identified by these sounds.

Hollywood fiction is certainly not the whole truth in this instance. Actually, it is far from the truth for a large number of asthma sufferers. In fact, about half of all asthmatics do not wheeze or make raspy sounds at all, especially when following a proper treatment program. The majority, nearly 60%, have a nagging cough when suffering an episode. Wheezing actually occurs only in the most extreme cases which is why movie makers use that device when depicting asthmatics to over-dramatize the scene. But, such depictions create a false picture and may cause some borderline asthmatics to ignore real symptoms.

Wheezing is certainly a sign of severe asthma but other, less dramatic, symptoms should not be ignored. Where there is a nagging cough, breathing problems when under even mild exertion, wheezing only when sleeping or at rest, or any shortness of breath, are all possible signs that a visit to a doctor may be indicated. Remember, only the most severe asthmatics fall into the wheezing category. The majority of asthmatics do not wheeze.

Even if you are not asthmatic, it is good to know what to do if someone has an attack in your presence. The key is to be calm if you are to help that person. An attack can be frightening, especially if you do not have asthma, so it may be up to you to be calm so you can help the asthmatic get through an attack. There is nothing worse than not knowing what to do when a friend or loved one is having an attack so here are some steps that will help you to help the person having an attack.

Keeping a cool head is the main way you can help. The asthmatic may be in a panic mode so they will need you to talk to them to calm them and slow down their breathing. I am reminded of Mel Gibson in the movie "Signs" where he talks to his son who is having an attack. He has his son breathe with him in a relaxed and steady manner. For once Hollywood had it right!

Asthmatics, who are under the care of a doctor, will likely have an inhaler handy or within easy reach. If you are going to be out and about with an asthmatic, find out where their inhaler is located and be sure it can be easily reached should an attack occur. Most asthmatics will likely have their medication with them at all times but you should ask just the same. After all, it will be you who will be called upon to help should an attack occur.

Do not hesitate to call an ambulance to get the asthmatic to the nearest hospital emergency room if the attack is not mitigated by an inhaler or other measures. In most cases, you should be able to handle the situation. However, in extreme cases, the victim may pass out and emergency medical help is then warranted.

If you, yourself, are diagnosed with asthma, you likely already have a plan prescribed by your doctor as to what you need to do when an attack strikes unexpectedly. Your main goal is to first calm yourself so you can take the medical steps needed, such as using an inhaler immediately. If you allow the stress of the attack to overtake you, your breathing will worsen and you will panic even more. So, staying calm is your best first step to overcoming an attack.

And, if you need more information or have questions, scroll down for the blog.

Emergency Room or Walk-In Clinic - Choosing Correctly May Save Your Life

Do you know when to go to the Emergency Room or when to choose a Walk-In Clinic (aka Non Urgent Care or Minor Emergency) facility for your health care needs? If you are having chest pain or trouble breathing-which would you choose? What if your child is having an asthma attack or your sister got bitten by a dog? Choosing the correct health care facility is essential to receiving the best care possible in a timely manner and may even save your life or that of a loved one. Here are a few simple tips to help you choose wisely.

Tip # 1. If your emergency involves chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, go to the Emergency Room. One of the main differences between the emergency room and a minor emergency clinic is the time in which patients are seen. In the ER, all patients go through a triage procedure that works something like this: When you enter the ER you are seen by trained triage personnel, which usually include a nurse, EMT, or paramedic. They take your name, history of your present emergency, and your vital signs. They are trained to prioritize the emergency, that's what triage means.

As an example, if you present to the ER at 10:00 a.m. with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and high blood pressure, you will most likely be taken immediately taken through the swinging doors into the back treatment area and seen by a doctor, even if the ER waiting room is full. If you arrived at the emergency room one hour before this with a sore throat and fever, you may experience a very long wait, as those with chest pain, bleeding or breathing issues will automatically be seen before you. You may even feel very sick, have severe throat pain and be vomiting, but those with life and death issues will always be seen first. After all, most sore throats won't kill you but a heart attack can. There is a limited amount of rooms and a limited amount of doctors and nurses staffing the ER so they can only see so many patients at a time. No one likes to wait in the ER but triage is essential for saving lives, even if it is inconvenient for you. If your child or family member can't breathe, you will be very thankful for the triage system.

Tip # 2. Go to a Walk-In Clinic only when you don't anticipate the need for further medical treatment past seeing the doctor. By further medical treatment, I mean such things as CT scans, MRI's, breathing treatments, surgery, or even CPR. When you go to a minor emergency clinic you will be seen in the order in which you arrive.There is no triage system and the people who check you in are non medical personnel. That means they have no medical training and won't know what constitutes a true emergency. Their job is to get you signed in and your paperwork filled out for insurance purposes.Then you join those in the waiting room and will be seen by the doctor when it is your turn.This sometimes results in delayed care for those who have emergencies and should have gone to the Emergency Room instead of the Walk-In Clinic. Most of these clinics don't have the equipment to deal with advanced emergencies.

If you go to a Walk-In Clinic with a head injury you may sit in the waiting room for hours. And when you are finally seen, you will probably be sent to the ER so that a CT scan or MRI of your brain can be done. I once saw a man sit in a crowded Clinic waiting room for hours. When he first arrived, he told the receptionist that he was having some chest pain but since he was walking and talking she didn't think it was an emergency so she didn't tell anyone or even advise the patient to go to the ER. Neither did she offer to call an ambulance. By the time this patient was seen two hours later, he was in the process of having a full blown heart attack and was rushed to the ER by ambulance, where he later died. The receptionist was not held liable for this because it was beyond her scope of practice to give medical advice and she was just doing her job.

Tip # 3. If you have any doubt of whether to go to a minor emergency clinic or the ER, call your primary care doctor and ask or if you don't have a doctor, call directly to the ER and ask to speak to a triage nurse. The nurse will have the expertise to help you make the correct choice. Emergencies rooms are meant to be just that- for emergencies only. We can probably all agree on that. What we may not agree on is what constitutes an emergency. When you are in severe pain from a sore throat or your child is screaming with an earache, it may feel like an emergency to you but it won't be seen as an emergency in the ER triage area. Likewise, someone with a deep laceration to the face should go to the Emergency Room because it will probably require the services of a plastic surgeon, who won't come to a minor emergency clinic to sew someone up.

In summary, you should choose the Emergency Room with what could be life or death issues; such as chest pain, breathing problems, head injuries, and severe bleeding because the ER will have all the resources at their fingertips to help you. Choose a Walk-In Clinic if you have a sore throat, cough, minor laceration, twisted ankle, or ear ache. And if you're not sure, call your doctor. Choosing the correct healthcare setting may save your life or that of your loved ones.

Sleep Well When You Have Asthma

When you suffer from asthma, having a relaxing sleep can really be an issue. Asthmatic people can really have a hard time in getting the rest they need. They usually have to cope with nocturne asthma attacks which do not let them sleep or even the fear of having such an attack may keep them awake all night long.

Even though it may seem hard to attain that state of relaxation most people have when sleeping, asthmatics can have a good night sleep if they follow some simple rules. First of all it is necessary to have clean bedding. Washing the bedding once a week in hot water it is absolutely essential if you want to get rid of all the allergens which can trigger an asthma attack. Dust, animal hair or any other types of allergens can easily get stuck in the bedding fibers and trigger an asthma attack when you go to bed. So, cleaning the bedding is the first essential step you have to take in order to have a good and relaxing sleep, all night long.

Next, it is advisable to choose a position in which you will be able to breathe easily. Most doctors recommend that you use two or three pillows instead of one and place them all under your head, neck and back, so that the upper part of your body is lifted up a little. Also, you should avoid sleeping on your back or on your stomach, as these positions obstruct your airwaves, preventing the air from getting in and out of the body. A much more suitable position for asthmatic people is the sleeping on the left side, if possible with the legs brought up at the levels of your stomach.

In order to get the amount of rest you want, it is also recommended that you go to sleep only when you feel you are so tired that you can only sleep. This way you will fall asleep immediately and will not have time to worry about whether you are going to sleep that night or not.

Last, but not least, you should not sleep during the day. If you are really tired and cannot really focus on anything, you can take a 30 minutes nap in an armchair. Thus, you will refresh your brain a little bit, without giving your body too much energy. You will become tired in the evening and you will sleep all night long, without waking up during the night.

Follow these simple methods and you will see that you will be able to sleep normally again, even though you suffer from asthma.

Food Allergies and Breathing Problems

Although many people who do not have asthma consider it to be a problem with breathing, it actually goes much deeper than that. For people that suffer from asthma on a regular basis, the effects can not only be uncomfortable but they may actually be life-threatening. As a result of the bronchial walls closing, it becomes increasingly difficult for an individual that is undergoing an asthma attack to breathe properly. As a matter of fact, there are cases in which these walls close to the extent where the air is cut off completely and the individual loses consciousness or perhaps even dies.

Although there are some pharmaceutical treatments for asthma, these are merely only things that are going to control the symptoms to a certain extent, not things that are actually going to be able to cure the problem and control it for the long term. Most people realize that in order to do so, they are going to have to adjust their lifestyle considerably but for individuals that suffer from this problem on a regular basis, it is really going to be well worth the effort.

As far as a natural cure for asthma is concerned, it is not always doing something that is going to treat the problem, at times it has to do with avoiding things that cause the problem in the first place. What many people don't realize is that allergies to food are often behind an individual's asthma attacks and in order to overcome those problems, they need to avoid the things that are triggering the attacks in the first place.

The real problem is that the types of foods which trigger asthma attacks vary from individual to individual. While one person may get severe asthma if they are even near anybody who eats peanuts, another individual may be able to eat them without any problems. The same is also true for other foods that are typically high allergen, such as shellfish.

That is why it is important for an individual who is having regular asthma attacks to keep a food journal in order to recognize the patterns that may be happening. It might also be necessary for them to remove certain foods from their diet for a period of time in order to see if a difference is noticed. It may take a little bit of work on your part, but eventually you will be able to identify the things that are causing the problems.

A Good Treatment For Asthma Attack Is At Hand

Asthma is a medical condition that is effecting more and more people everyday. This chronic problem can interfere with a person's enjoyment of life, at the most inopportune times. To enable them to get more out of life, sufferers of asthma need an effective treatment for asthma attack that will alleviate their symptoms forever.

Asthma is caused by inflammation of the bronchioles, or the lungs' air passages. Some substances, such as pollen or smoke, can irritate these passages and trigger an asthma attack. The muscles in the bronchioles constrict, resulting in a build up of mucous and phlegm, which makes it hard to breathe.

There are other symptoms of an asthma attack, apart from the obvious difficulty in breathing, and knowing more about all of these symptoms is the first step towards finding a good treatment for asthma attack.

Wheezing - wheezing is usually one of the first signs that a person is having an asthma attack.

Shortness of breath - no doubt, the most serious and life-threatening symptom of an asthma
attack, and one that needs an immediate bronchial asthma remedy.

Coughing - another distressing symptom that tends to occur during the night or early in the morning.

Chest tightness - this symptom, alone, usually means that an attack is imminent and, as such, a treatment for asthma attack needs to be applied quickly.

Tight neck muscles - this can really make it difficult for the sufferer to speak.

Chest pains - whilst this is a common symptom of heart attack, it is also a symptom that is found in 3 out of 4 asthma sufferers.

Rapid heart beat and sweating - also one of the early indications of asthma attack.

Of course, not all symptoms are experienced by every asthma sufferer, but it is essential to be familiar with all the possible signs of an attack, so a bronchial asthma remedy can be readily given. Delaying treatment will only lead to more serious problems and possibly even death.

A good treatment for asthma attack will not cure the condition forever, but it will enable you to manage and subdue any further attacks effectively. Asthma treatments usually come in oral or vapor form. Some are long term treatments, such as leukotriene inhibitors, while others are designed to be used only during an attack.

If you are experiencing an asthma attack, natural treatment can also work very well. Herbs, such as garlic, sage and tumeric have been known to relieve the symptoms of asthma. Other natural treatments that can help relieve asthma, include meditation, hypnotherapy, massage, acupuncture and, of course, a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Foods that are high in antioxidants and vitamins C and E are the best. Try to reduce, or cut out altogether, sugar and dairy products. Research has also found that probiotics can play a vital role in the treatment for asthma attack because they act as a natural anti-inflammatory.

It is important to always have a plan for managing your, or a loved one's, asthma and keeping up-to-date about the above symptoms and proper treatment is a good start. However, it is recommended that you consult your physician, or other medical expert, before trying any new treatments.

5 Breathing Treatments For Asthmatics

Asthmatics have a difficult time breathing when they experience an attack. This is mainly due to the fact that asthma is an inflammation of the air passages. If you are having an asthma attack, you will find yourself gasping for breath or wheezing.

Asthmatics have a difficult time breathing when they experience an attack. This is mainly due to the fact that asthma is an inflammation of the air passages. If you are having an attack, you will find yourself gasping for breath or wheezing. Preventing exposure to known as triggers is the best way to avoid an attack. Different anti-asthma drugs are prescribed depending on the severity of your condition. And to better manage asthma, breathing treatments for asthmatics have been found to be really effective. These treatments for asthmatics have been established to reduce the number of asthma attacks and the use of anti-asthma drugs. Here are 5 breathing treatments for asthmatics that have been found really effective.

1. Buteyko method. This breathing treatment for asthmatics was developed by a Russian doctor named Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko. The core principles of Buteyko method are reduced breathing, nasal breathing, and relaxation.

Reduced breathing or breath control is practiced in this breathing treatment for asthmatics. Here, asthmatics are taught to hold their breath until they feel uncomfortable. This exercise is called Control Pause. This feeling is the same as what one feels during an asthma attack. With regular practice, asthmatics are able to have increasing amount of time in Control Pause. And as Control Pause increases, asthma symptoms are reduced.

2. Nasal breathing is also emphasized in the Buteyko method. Nasal breathing humidifies, cleans, and warms the air that enters the lungs. Relaxation is also an important principle in the Buteyko method. Here, asthmatics are taught to control over-breathing which usually signals the onset of an asthma attack.

3. Papworth method. This breathing treatment for asthmatics was developed as a diaphragmatic breathing technique. The core principles of the Papworth method are nasal breathing and relaxation. Like the Buteyko method, asthmatics who practice the Papworth method are taught to control over-breathing prior to an asthma attack. Asthmatics are also taught to practice gentle and relaxed breathing through the diaphragm and abdomen.

4. Pranayama breathing exercises. These are commonly used in yoga. This breathing treatment for asthmatics is also anchored on breath control. The different types of Pranayama breathing exercises that are recommended for asthmatics are Dirga pranayama, Naadi Shodhana, Ujjayi pranayama, Sit Cari, and Kapalabhati pranayama.

5. Strelnikova exercises. This breathing treatment for asthmatics was initially designed to aid in the recovery of singers who lost their voices after an illness or trauma. As the years progressed, the benefits of Strelnikova exercises among asthmatics were also established.

Ramdev exercises. These breathing exercises also utilize yoga breathing techniques. Swami Ramdev Ji is a world-renowned yoga guru.

These are 5 breathing treatments for asthmatics. Remember that every treatment for asthmatics is used in conjunction with anti-asthma medications. If a breathing exercise is regularly practiced, there will be considerable decrease in the occurrence of an asthma attack, length of time of an asthma attack, and frequency of use of anti-asthma medications.

5 Herbal and Natural Ways to Relieve Asthma

Due to its unpredictability and the danger that it poses for each and every attack asthma requires constant monitoring and treatment. Although the there is no doubt when it comes to the affectivity of your prescribed medication, there may be unwanted side effects that can result from long term usage.

Of course your doctor wouldn't tell you that long term use of steroid based drugs for example can impair the immune system and can lead to more serious health problems in the future out of fear that you might stop your medication totally. You will need your medication to prevent and control attacks but it is important that as soon as possible you can minimize your dependence before any irreparable damage is done.

So how can this be done then? There are actually various options that you have when you want to deal with asthma without having to depend too much on your regular treatment. One of the options is getting relief and control with the aid of nature's own medicine; plants.

Even before the advent of modern medicine, our ancestors have already been using plants and herbs for various ailments and afflictions. Not only are they effective, they are also safe and can work well along with your regular medication. Strengthening your immunity by natural means and helping eliminate underlying causes as well. While more complicated preparations will require the aid of an expert, there are a number of mixtures with easy to find ingredients that you can prepare for yourself. Here are a few of them:

Honey: Honey is considered to be one of the most highly beneficial and most commonly used ingredients in treating asthma. Honey has been known to help asthmatics by thinning the mucus within the body making it easier to expel. Here are some preparations that you can make using honey as the main ingredient: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey in lukewarm water and take three times a day, you can add a little sugar for taste. You can also mash the bitter root of a gourd plant into a thick paste and mix it with honey, take one teaspoon before going to bed every night. Try it for a month and feel the improvement for yourself.

Ginger: A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with honey and a cup of fenugreek can act as an effective expectorant for asthmatics. Take once in the morning after waking up and once in the evening before going to bed.

Garlic: Garlic has long been used by some asthmatics to deal with coughing, congestion of the chest and sore throats. The preparation of garlic for asthma includes; 10 cloves of garlic and about a quarter cup of milk. Mix the two ingredients together and bring to a boil. Strain the garlic and allow the mixture to cool. Take during an outset of asthma to relieve discomfort.

Figs: There are many varieties of figs found in the market and while eating them raw can help deal with the condition, they are actually quite more effective when soaked in water. Choose soft, sweet smelling figs for this preparation as they have the best effect. Soak figs in water and leave overnight, eat the soaked figs preferably on an empty stomach and drink the water where the figs were soaked, this will further help clear out mucus buildup within the throat and lungs.

Mustard oil: Mustard oil mostly serves as an inhaler for asthmatics. All the preparation needs is boiling water and mustard oil. Since there is no specific amount required, feel free to experiment until you get the mixture that works best for you. Inhale the steam deeply and slowly to get the best possible results.

Asthma in Cats Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Asthma in Cats

Asthma in Cats - much like human asthma is really a chronic inflammation of the small passageways of a cat's lungs. Whenever an asthma attack happens, these types of passageways coagulate and tighten, rendering it very hard for your cat to breathe. This frequently results in asthmatic distress, that can turn out to be serious within a matter of minutes. Your cat's lungs might also start to release mucus in the air passages, bringing about fits of wheezing as well as coughing. A few cats having more gentle circumstances merely feel a small, persistent cough. Since asthma can easily turn into a fatal health condition, any kind of hacking and coughing cat must have a vet examination.

Symptoms of Asthma in Cats

繚 Coughing and wheezing

繚 Persistent cough

繚 Squatting with shoulders hunched, neck extended as well as rapid breathing or gasping for breath

繚 Gagging up foamy mucus

繚 Open mouth breathing

繚 Blue lips and gums

繚 Labored breath after exercise

繚 General weakness and lethargy

The Cause of Asthma in Cats

Though there are numerous components which lead to asthma in cats, it is considered to produce due to allergic bronchitis. Allergic bronchitis takes place when the air passage within a cat's lungs turn swollen because of an inhaled allergen or some other element that induces the immune system.

Frequent components that may add to the intensity of the asthma attack can include:

繚 Allergens, such as pollens, molds, dust from cat litter, cigarette smoke, perfume as well as particular foods

繚 Pre-existing heart problems or illnesses

繚 Parasites

繚 Extreme stress

繚 Obesity

Asthma-like conditions in cats can be related to various other disease, like heartworm, respiratory parasites, tumors, heart failure and pneumonia.

Do Allergies affect Asthma in Cats

Cat Allergies The Sensitivity to external air-borne pollutants and pollen can play a role in asthma in certain cats.

Cats More Susceptible to Asthma

Asthma in cats generally builds up between age of 2 and 8 years of age, having a greater likelihood in female cats than males. Siamese and Himalayan breeds as well as mixed breeds often have asthma more often than other breeds.

My Cat Has Asthma What do I do

Pay a visit to your vet right away if you believe your cat has got asthma. The Vet will then carry out a physical check-up and probably suggest diagnostic assessments to discover the cause of the condition.

How does Asthma in Cats get Diagnosed

Given that signs of asthma may be much like the ones from other diseases like heartworm, pneumonia and congestive heart failure, it is vital for your vet to identify the reason for his attacks. No specific test can confirm asthma, however radiographs, blood work, analysis of bronchial secretions as well as parasite tests might be performed to exclude additional factors.

Treatment for Asthma in Cats

Though there's no genuine cure for asthma, there are a variety of techniques for effectively handling it. Efficient therapy can include medicines which will clear breathing passages and lessen airway inflammation or adjust the body's immune response. Similar to human asthma, medicine is occasionally given via an exclusively adapted inhaler.

Prevent Asthma Attacks in my Cat

繚 Have your cat analyzed regularly for internal parasites.

繚 Reduce stress within your cat's environment, since it has a tendency to intensify allergy and asthma symptoms.

繚 NO perfumes, room fresheners, carpet deodorizers, hairspray, aerosol cleaners, etc., around your cat.

繚 Avoid cat litters that generate a lot of dust, scented litters or litter additives.

繚 Dry air motivates asthma attacks, so hold an effective humidifier going particularly throughout the winter months.

繚 Hold your cat's weight down and her body active!

繚 NOTE, no cat should be exposed to cigarette smoke however should your cat have asthma, cigarette smoke is a complete no-no.

Adult Onset Asthma - What Is it and Who Gets It?

Adult onset asthma means that you developed asthma an adult after having avoided it your whole life. Developing asthma as an adult can be pretty frustrating since you will probably have to make lifestyle changes unless you come up with a treatment that works. And I am not talking about asthma prescription medications since they can cause side effects that are oftentimes worse than your asthma.

Asthma can be a very dangerous health problem and needs to be taken seriously. It will not go away by itself and your prescription medications will not cure it. Age does not appear to be a factor as to when adults can develop asthma. You are just as likely to develop asthma as a 25 year old as you are as a seasoned 65 year old. However, for some reason more women develop adult onset asthma than men. That is yet to be fully explained.

There Are Some Increased Risk Factors For Getting Asthma as an Adult

Although there are no clear answers as to why someone would suddenly develop adult onset asthma, there appear to be some different factors that seem to increase your chances of getting it. These are listed below:

• Allergies - approximately half of those people who developed adult onset asthma had prior allergies.


• Obesity - appears to increase your chances of developing asthma as an adult.


• Cat Allergies - anyone with cat allergies seems to have an increased chance of getting adult onset asthma. There is no supporting evidence to show why this happens, but the numbers say it does. Another one of those unsolved mysteries.


• Estrogen Supplements - Women who have taken estrogen supplements for at least 10 years after menopause are 50% more likely to develop adult onset asthma. Another one of those interesting facts and figures.


• Environmental Conditions - long term exposure to some environmental conditions at work also seems to lead to more asthma cases.


• Medications - certain medications like aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral beta blockers, and beta blocker eye drops for glaucoma also seem to increase your chances of developing adult onset asthma.


• Infections - other conditions like infections, a cold, the flu, etc., can also increase your chances of developing asthma as an adult.

What is Asthma

Having adult onset asthma (or any type of asthma) means that your airways (breathing tubes) going to your lungs are very sensitive and are just waiting to get irritated. For some people they might even be mildly irritated all the time. That will definitely impact your quality of life. Some very annoying and possibly very dangerous results occur when they do get real upset.

Results of Irritated Airways

• The insides of your airways get extremely sensitive and begin to swell up. This leaves less room for the air to go back and forth to your lungs. It also causes you to cough.


• The muscles around the outsides of your airways get real tight and try to squeeze your airways shut. This makes the opening in your airways even smaller.


• Gunk or mucus is also produced on the insides your airways. This plugs up the already small airways.

The things that cause your irritated airways are called your asthma triggers. Once your airways get irritated by these triggers, then you start to have your asthma symptoms and what is called an asthma attack.

Treatment options are prescription medications (which don't cure your asthma) or one of the natural asthma treatments which can be very successful in curing your asthma.

How to Cope With an Asthma Attack

Knowing what to do when someone is having an asthma attack can save their life. So many people around the world have asthma, however it can be easily forgotten just how serious a condition it can be. The fact is that people die from asthma attacks, they simple cannot breathe.

So if you learn how to handle an asthma attack, you can save a life.

Firstly the symptoms of a worsening asthma attack, these are shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and a tightness of the chest. Asthmatics will also be using their inhaler a lot more than usual. Usually this inhaler will relieve the symptoms of asthma and the asthmatic can just carry on as normal. However there are times when using an inhaler will not work.

So how can you tell if the situation is serious? Well there are certain symptoms that you can look for, the reliever inhaler appears to be having no affect, the asthmatic is pale looking or their lips are turning blue. They may also appear confused or irritable, and too breathless to talk or eat. All of these symptoms are tell tale signs that an asthma attack is taking place.

If you feel that the situation is beyond control then you should call an ambulance or Doctor immediately. Never be afraid to ask for help no matter what the time or place. You may save someones life.

What to do in an Asthma Attack...

Firstly take two puffs on your asthma inhaler straight away, the number of puffs taken may vary from person to person so get asthma advice from your Doctor or Nurse.

I know it is very distressing but try to stay as calm as you can, stress itself can make your asthma symptoms even worse. Try to control your breathing as much as possible.

Do not lie down, sit down with your hands on your knees for extra support. I know it is very difficult but try to slow your breathing so that you exhaust yourself less.

Continue taking a puff on your asthma inhaler every minute for five minutes or until the symptoms ease off.

If after five minutes the symptoms haven't improved, then call a Doctor or an ambulance straight away for help and advice.

Until help arrives, keep taking your asthma inhaler every few minutes. Asthma UK advise that repeating the dose is safe until help arrives.

Don't be afraid to approach your Doctor or Nurse for help on asthma advice. They can advise you on how to deal with an asthma attack.

Running And Asthma - How To Run Better With Asthma

Running with asthma can be difficult and demanding, but it shouldn't prevent you from starting and sustaining a running program. Therefore here are some tips and strategies that can help you run better with asthma.

Choose running environment wisely:

You should choose your setting sensibly; avoid running near traffic where pollution levels are high or under cold weather conditions, this may increase the risk of an attack. Instead, you should run far from toxic waste and enjoy breathing clean air.

Warm-up

When running, the chance of an attack increases greatly; therefore one way to prevent this from happening is by warming up properly before you pick up your running pace. Start you running session by a brisk walk and do some light stretches, this gets your lungs and muscles ready for the exercise. Many runners run out of gas too soon just because they skipped this important phase.

Pace yourself

If you are a beginner, then you should start slowly and pace yourself; run according to your current fitness level, doing so will keep your breathing under control and lessen the chance of a sudden attack. The talk/run test is the best way to make sure that you are not pushing yourself too hard, this means that you can carry on a conversation while running without huffing and puffing. Of course when you are confident that you can go for the extra mile, then you can increase the intensity and distance gradually; just be careful.

Be aware of what your body is telling you

Body awareness is the best way to stay to detect any symptoms of an attack; if you start wheezing or feeling any tightness in your chest, you should slow down immediately and use an inhaler if necessary. Our bodies know what's best for us and they always warn us if we are welling to listen.

Develop good eating habits

I don't want to sound like a broken record, and I'm sure that you have heard this advice a thousand times, but following a healthy diet is crucial, especially if you are suffering from asthma. If you are a smoker or drink heavily, stop it, there is nothing more important than your health, learn to delete instant gratification and give up the quick fix mentality.

Avoid unhealthy foods such as fried or micro waved meals; consumption of this type of foods makes only the problem worse. Instead, you should consume organic and healthy food, this type of diet will make you feel better, lose weight and enrich the quality of your life.

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Four Basic Tips To Control Your Asthma

Asthma can be dangerous for your health because it restricts your ability to breathe easily. Asthma attack can occur any time. It can be fatal if you do not know how to treat your asthma immediately. In this article, you can figure out how you can treat your asthma condition. Try to do these natural tips to get your healthy life.

1. Know what your asthma trigger is

You should visit your doctor to know the allergens that can trigger your asthma attack. Your doctor can help you to have several allergy tests that will identify the allergens for your asthma condition. After you know your asthma trigger, try to avoid that trigger to manage your asthma symptoms. Some items, such as pollen or smoke, can trigger the asthma attacks. One thing that you can do is to use mask when you go outside. It prevents you from those allergens.

2. Avoid doing activities in cold weather

If you have asthma, you might want to keep doing your activities normally. However, you have to make sure that you should not go outside in cold weather. Cold air can enter your nasal system easily and cause asthma attack. Consider to stay at home when you have asthma attack.

3. Avoid smoking

You might be familiar with this advice. If you have asthma, you should avoid cigarette smoke to prevent asthma attack. You should know that smoking is an unhealthy habit because the smoke can come into your lungs. As the result, you won't be able to breathe easily. When you have asthma, smoke from cigarettes will exacerbate your asthma symptoms.

4. Get fresh air

If you have asthma, it is essential to let fresh air to flow in the house. Try to get as much fresh air as you can. Open your doors and windows so fresh air can flow through your house. By doing so, you will allow the air in your house to circulate well. You can also put ventilation in your house to keep the air circulation in your house. However, you should close your doors and windows, when the amount of pollen is relatively high. It is important because pollen can trigger your asthma attack.

Those basic tips are very useful to treat your asthma condition. You have to control your asthma. It can be dangerous for your health, if it is not treated and controlled well.

Pictures of Asthma

These pictures are usually educative. They give information about asthma at a glance. Pictures of asthma can be used in asthma education forums and seminars. They make it easier for people to understand about the condition. The pictures can explain what happens when one has an attack or comes into contact with an asthma triggering factor.

Pictures of asthma should mostly center on the respiratory system of a person. This is where everything about the condition takes place. When one has an attack, the air passages to the lungs swell and block air from passing through them. As a result, asthma symptoms are felt. These include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Pictures illustrating how this happens can be found in asthma clinics, health centers and asthma foundation organizations.

Other pictures of asthma illustrate the correct way of taking asthma medications. This is especially the asthma inhalers. These pictures can be found in the asthma medication boxes. These boxes are the packages used for asthma medications and inhalers. Sometimes, written instructions are not easy to follow. Once the instructions are put in pictures and diagrams, understanding them becomes easier. This is especially helpful for those with reading problems.

Pictures of asthma lungs can be fund in asthma books, magazines, brochures and web sites. These pictures are very helpful when it comes to understanding the condition. One should use the pictures together with the written information in order to understand the condition better. This information can also be used by relatives, friends or work mates of those with this condition. This will help them understand how to handle the patient once an attack occurs.

Are You Dehydrated? How Insufficient Water Intake Damages Your Health

Your Body's Many Cries For Water

This is the title of a book published by Dr Feyedoon Batmanghelidj, an Iranian medical doctor who documented revolutionary discoveries about water metabolism in the human body. He had received first class medical training at St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, one of the most respected medical schools in the western world.

Dr Batmanhelidj was of aristocratic lineage in his native Iran, and when the Shah was overthrown, the doctor was arrested and jailed along with more than 3000 well-born victims of the Khomeini revolution.

All the prisoners were awaiting execution and Dr Batmanhelidj was assigned as their medical officer, pending his own execution. He had no access to medications, and was working in what he came to realise was a large stress laboratory. Prison disciplines, the uniformity of the prison diet and environment, and the fact that his patients could not evade him, provided Dr Batmanhelidj with the perfect conditions to conduct clinical trials.

Using the only medicine he had - water - he made discoveries about how water functions in the body and how important adequate hydration is to human health. His discoveries had eluded medical research, hospital complexes, universities and the vast resources of the pharmaceutical industry, whose focus is always on what is dissolved in body fluids (the solute), not on the solvent, water. Dr Batmanhelidj's research indicates that we must pay more attention to the solvent - that is, how much water is present.

After three years in the Teheran prison, Dr Batmanhelidj was released and went to America, where he continued to research water metabolism for another ten years, working with the University of Pensylvania, lecturing to doctors, and writing papers for professional publications. After many years of working with and researching water and dehydration, Dr Batmanhelidj had a large number of completely cured people, including medical doctors, and including cases of "incurable" diseases.

Ailments Caused By Not Drinking Enough Water

Many seemingly un-related conditions were shown by Dr Batmanheldijh to respond to adequate daily water intake: Dyspeptic pain, stress, depression, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess body weight, chronic fatigue, arthritis, asthma, allergies, insulin-dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, back problems and impotency are just some of these conditions.

Results With Asthma

The first astonishing clinical result achieved by Dr Batmanhelidj in prison was with asthma patients, who, by increasing their daily water intake were able to stop wheezing and asthmatic attacks without using medications.

Dr Batmanheldijh concluded that asthma is due to the body's natural histamines constricting the lungs to limit any further loss of water via the breath. Your body does this as a "drought control" reaction. While it remains true that allergens in the environment can bring on an asthma attack via histamine release, the spasm that causes wheezing is more likely to happen if the lungs are already partially constricted in response to dehydration.

Dehydration and High Blood Pressure.

According to Dr Batmanheldijh, it is absurd to treat high blood pressure with drugs without first increasing water intake. He explains that high blood pressure is the result of the way your body adapts to total body water deficiency. When your total fluid (water) volume decreases, your blood vessels decrease their aperture by constriction of the muscles, to maintain fluid pressure within. Otherwise gases would separate from the blood and fill the extra space forming "gas locks". The result is high blood pressure.

Successful recoveries from ulcers, asthma and high blood pressure were achieved in just months by increasing daily water intake.

Chronic Dehydration Is The Real Problem

One day of low water intake is not what causes problems. It is weeks, months and years of low water intake that causes the problems. Therefore, you can't solve the imbalance by drinking gallons in one day. You need to increase your water intake every day and keep it up, for weeks, months and years - in fact, for the rest of your life.

The Water Prescription

Adults should drink at least eight 8oz glasses of water a day to hydrate their body properly. Dr Batmanheldijh advises that you should have teaspoon salt per day with your food, so that your body can use the added water intake effectively. The salt is crucial.

Water should be drunk between meals, not with meals. This means at least half an hour before meals, and 2 hours after food, for best results. This time schedule helps digestion, improves bowel activity and reduces craving for food between meals. Many people are so dehydrated that they confuse the thirst signal from their brain with hunger.

Coffee, soda, diet drinks, and fruit drinks containing sugar are not substitutes for water, because they are dehydrating. The caffeine and/or phosphates they contain cause water loss from your kidneys, which cancels out any water present in the drinks.

Some Interesting Facts

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half the world population)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down your metabolism as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

5. Lack of water, is the # number 1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking enough water every day?

Asthma Treatment and Precautions

Asthma is related to the problems in respiratory system or in lungs. It sometimes results in choked breathing. There may be a number of causes of asthma but major one in current times is the increasing pollution, especially the inhaling of dust, smoke, fumes and carbon or lead particles which are the outcome of rapid industrialization and automobiles.

Before it is increased to a severe level, it is always suggested that you should visit the doctor for asthma treatment. The worth mentioning point for asthma treatment is that prevention is better than cure. Doctors advise medicine keeping in view its duration, frequency and the age of the patient. By the way, age is not a significant factor for this disease as it may happen to a newly born child or to an old man.

In case of extreme bronchi problem, patients are usually given nebulizers or nasal sprays as immediate asthma treatment to get the immediate soothing effect. But it is important that excessive use of such things make patients their addict and they have to keep these things all the time with them. For the patients of this disease, it is advisable that they avoid wall to wall carpeting in their homes as researches have proved that carpets are one of the main reasons. The dust particles are never removed completely from them even if you clean it and these left over particles often suspend in the air to cause trouble to asthmatics.

Some times asthma is the out come of some severe respiratory allergy but it does not pop out immediately. It evolves gradually. The best way to avoid allergy in asthma treatment is to keep an eye on the things (may be certain eatables or some biotic factor) that harm you. Research is going on for asthma treatment but still there is no final solution to it.

4 Natural Asthma Treatments That You Should Not Ignore at Any Cost!

There are many natural asthma treatments that you might consider if you are looking for ways to avoid using the medications. Many of these natural treatments include garlic, turmeric, mustard oil, and ginger. Treating asthma with steroids and other medications can cause unwanted side effects of excessive weight gain and other things. Natural treatments are designed to eliminate the need for medication and help you overcome the problems with asthma.

It is very common for people to have problems with asthma medications. The problem is that they need the medication or some type of treatment to stay alive if their asthma is too bad but the side effects of the medications may make life miserable. Here are a few natural treatments that you can use to treat your asthma so you don't have to take as much or anymore medication.

Garlic is a natural treatment in the body for many different things. Garlic is used for asthma. When you use garlic to treat asthma you will boil it with milk and then drink it upon the first signs of an asthma attack. This does mean that you would have to store the boiled milk and garlic in a container. Obviously, if you feel an attack occurring you won't have time to pull out a pot and begin boiling milk and garlic. This is one of the asthma natural treatments that is considered to be effective for treating the symptoms associated and can relieve the inflammation.

Turmeric is another herb that is used to treat the onset of an attack if you are asthmatic. This is one of the asthma natural treatments that is considered to be very valuable. The best way to be sure that turmeric is the most effective is to mix one teaspoon with a glass of milk. You should drink this two times a day and it will help prevent asthma attacks from occurring.

Mustard oil is another one of the herbal natural treatments for asthma. You do not drink the mustard oil as you do turmeric or garlic but instead you use this as massage oil into the chest of the person that suffers with chronic asthma. The mustard oil will work when inhaled to keep the air passages open and clear. It also works to loosen congestion build up in the chest cavity.

Ginger is a natural herbal treatment for asthma also. All you do with ginger is make some tea. Add crushed garlic to the ginger tea and drink this twice a day. This is extremely effective in relieving the symptoms and maintaining total control over them also.

There are many asthma natural treatments you might consider if you are having problems with the medication prescribed by the doctor or you are just not comfortable with prescriptions. The cost may even be causing problems for you too. Many of the herbal treatments that you can try include making drinks with garlic, turmeric, and ginger. You can even massage mustard oil into your chest to relieve the symptoms.

Anxiety and Fear - Three Ways to Handle Fear and Anxiety Attacks

If you have ever experienced anxiety or fear (and really, who hasn't at some point?), then you know it can be extremely unpleasant. Depending on how lucky you are, you might just feel a few butterflies in your stomach. However, you might get the full force of chest constriction, wheezing breath, and feeling like you are going to throw up.

Usually we know what is making us feel 'fear-full'-maybe you have a presentation to do, or you are going to meet someone you admire. Sometimes fear and anxiety come on for no particular reason though. You get all the symptoms but have none of the reasons to account for what you are feeling.

Have you ever gone through this, or know someone who has? Chances are good you do.

Learning techniques to handle fear and anxiety - before they strike - will help you to get through any possible panic attacks (or mild butterflies) that might come your way. I've described techniques below that I use myself whenever anxiety strikes (oh yes, I get the wheezing breath, an elephant is sitting on my chest variety). They have proved useful time and again to get my body back to a nice relaxed state, I hope they work equally as well for you!

Technique #1: What shape is your body in?

When I ask what shape your body is in, I'm not referring to your exercise program or whether you're eating properly (although both are important to keeping your body in good condition and stress free).

The body shape I'm referring to is the actual physical form your body has taken when the anxiety or fear hits.

Let's do a little exercise because pictures speak a thousand words. Imagine you are walking through the park on a nice sunny day. You see a baseball game going on and stop to watch for a few minutes. The batter hits a ball high in the sky - right towards you! You look up but the sun is in your eyes and you can't see the ball. What do you do? You probably saw yourself cover your head with your arms to protect your head and face. What did the rest of your body do? Did you curl over a little to protect your vital organs?

When we are feeling threatened or have any fear coursing through our body we instinctively protect our heart. This results in rounding your shoulders to close your chest and surround your heart with other body parts. Most of the time we have no idea we are doing this; it's instinctive.

Feelings of anxiety or fear can cause the same physical response. So, what do you do?

The simplest technique I've found to counteract the instinctive closing of my chest and shoulder rounding from anxiety is to lift my breastbone. Sounds a bit funny, doesn't it? When you lift your breastbone, however, you are putting your body back into its natural alignment, with shoulders back and your spine in its natural curve.

To lift your breastbone lightly place your fingertips on it. Then lift it skywards. It will probably only move a few millimetres or a centimetre, but you'll feel the change in your body instantly.

This is a great technique to do all the time to help ensure you have good posture. Much better than taping a yard stick to your back!

Technique #2: Where is the tension?

Anxiety and fear will also lodge itself in muscles all over your body. The main culprits to watch out for are your lower stomach muscles and your shoulders.

Lifting your breastbone is great for moving your shoulders back to their normal position, but it won't necessarily drop your shoulders if you are rigidly holding them up. For me, this is my number one sign that I am feeling anxious-my shoulders feel like they are up around my ears. Most of the time I am not even aware of it, though.

To relax your shoulders first become aware of them. You'll notice immediately if you are holding them up at all. Then consciously relax them and let them drop. You might notice it suddenly gets easier to breath when you do this.

The other common culprits for tense muscles are your lower abdominals and bum. Draw your attention to your stomach area, particularly your lower stomach; are you holding it in? Just like your shoulders, consciously release it. Now do the same for your bum. Consciously relax your muscles.

How do you feel?

Scan your body and find other places you are holding tension. Are your hands balled up? What about your toes? Your thighs? Anywhere you find tension, focus your attention on the area and consciously relax it.

Although it may not feel like it when you are stressed, you are the master of your body. Willing your body to relax is a powerful technique that can quickly turn a bout of anxiety and fear on its head.

So, now you've lifted your breastbone, relaxed your muscles, let's work on breathing.

Technique #3: The breath knows and shows

If you watched the first season of the television show Lost, you may remember the character Shannon. In one of the first few episodes she has an asthma attack - but her inhaler was lost in the plane crash. The doctor Jack explains calmly to her that yes, she is having an asthma attack, however, the fear of not having her inhaler is making the attack worse. He asks her to focus on her breathing in order to help calm herself down and ease off the attack. If you've ever seen someone have an asthma attack, or had one yourself, you know how scary it can be to have your windpipe close to a pinhole and fight for air through it.

Fear and anxiety can have the same throat closing technique that asthma attacks have, without the aid of an inhaler to open your windpipe up again. Watching your breath is a great way to check your internal emotional state. If you are experiencing any fear that is shortening your breath, ways to get back to normal breathing are invaluable.

These two breathing techniques have been incredibly helpful in getting much needed oxygen through the pinhole of my anxious throat:

The first technique you can do anywhere, at any time, and no one will be the wiser. The technique takes a few practice tries to get the hang of, so I recommend trying it when you are nice and relaxed. It's a great way to make use of time while waiting in the checkout line at the store!

First, stand (or sit) up straight. Lift your breastbone, drop your shoulders, relax your stomach and bum muscles. Then slowly draw a breath in through your nose for a count of ten. Once you've drawn the breath in, slowly let it out through your nose, again counting to ten. Continue to breath in and out for a count of ten each way. Getting to that count of ten can be a bit tricky at first which is why having a few practice rounds while waiting in line or sitting at a red light can help.

The second technique is a yoga breathing technique (it's simple and requires no body contortions, I promise!) It is called nadi shodhana, or 'alternate nostril breathing'.

Sit with a straight back (on a chair, cross-legged on the floor, on the couch with your feet on the floor). With each breath you take, aim to fill your lungs completely, starting at the bottom of your lungs up to the top. Begin by pressing your right thumb against the right nostril. Now take a long, deep breath, drawing the breath in through the left nostril gently. Then press your right ring finger against the left nostril and release the right thumb. Gently expel the breath through the right nostril. Then inhale gently through the right nostril. Again press the right thumb against the right nostril and release the right ring finger, opening the left nostril. Gently exhale through the left nostril. You've completed one round. Do at least ten rounds. Ten rounds will probably take you about five to seven minutes to complete.

This exercise will help you stabilize your breathing and it is very good for bringing your concentration back to centre at any time. I have noticed that when I do this exercise every day, I feel much more balanced and calm. If ever I stop doing alternate nostril breathing, then after a period I'll start getting anxiety attacks again. That is a great reason to fit in five minutes for it if I ever heard one!

So, whether it is before a big meeting or for no reason at all, the next time you feel any anxiety or fear in your body, start by lifting your breastbone, then relax the muscles in your body wherever they feel tense, and finally do one or both of the breathing exercises. The beauty is that no one has to know you're going through your relaxation routine! All they will see is your outward peaceful, calm demeanour.

Does Altitude Affect Your Asthma?

If you have asthma and you enjoy outside activities that take you to higher elevations or much, much higher, the possible danger has certainly crossed your mind. Well, the news isn't all bad, though it is cautionary.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition, characterized by a difficulty with breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. During an asthma attack, their airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air passages to and from the lungs.

There's no question, as an asthma sufferer you're more likely to be affected by altitude sickness than if you didn't have the disease. However, if you're fit and healthy, with asthma that's well controlled, you should have no problems coping. This is, of course, provided you ascend slowly and recognize and accept your limitations.

Altitude will generally have little effect on stable asthmatics.

If your asthma is so severe that your blood oxygen is low, then air travel can put you in danger of reducing your blood oxygen level even further. That, combined with the dry, cool conditions generally encountered at high altitudes, could trigger asthma symptoms. In addition, if your destination is a high altitude, a city such as Denver for example, and you're unaccustomed to that altitude and have little opportunity to acclimatize, you may experience heightened symptoms. As always, discuss this with your doctor ahead of time.

Now, if you're dealing with severe asthma and you've been using your bronchodilator three or more times a week over the previous year, high-altitude treks can also increase your risk of an asthma attack. As already mentioned, the dry, cool conditions generally encountered at higher altitudes tend to aggravate the disease. Climbing, in and of itself, can be a very strenuous exercise which may trigger exercise-induced asthma in some people.

Then there's your inhaler to consider. In freezing conditions, pressurized inhalers may not work properly. So before using yours, first you'll need to warm it up using the body heat from your hands.

The best thing to do is to discuss your trip with your doctor several weeks in advance of your departure. This will allow time to work out a personal asthma action plan for the trip. This might involve increasing your preventer treatment for several weeks before the trip to give your airways extra protection, or measuring peak flow while away to determine how altitude is affecting your lung function, or even simple things like ensuring that you have enough medication and backup medication.

High altitudes do not need to be avoided. Just make certain you take some basic precautions. Humid air is certainly better for keeping your airways moist. However, the effects of dry, cool air can be prevented by keeping your asthmatic condition under close control. And some asthma sufferers, particularly those whose asthma is triggered by house-dust mites may actually find their asthma improves at higher elevations, where the dust mites can't survive.

So ask your doctor about any high-altitude travelling you have upcoming, heed his advice, and enjoy your trip!

Asthma Control And Management - What Are The Long Term Side Effects of Fast Acting Asthma Inhalers?

There are two main types of asthma inhalers or sprays. They include long lasting preventative type asthma sprays and fast acting or relieving asthma inhalers. They both have their place in modern medicine, each serving very different purposes.

This article specifically looks at the fast acting type of inhalers. It addresses the long term side effects of using this particular drug over many years.

A Ventolin or Salbutamol puffer or inhaler is the most common drug for managing asthma around the world. Its sole purpose is to relieve an acute asthma attack. It does nothing to prevent asthma attacks from occurring in the first place. It actually works against your body's own natural defence system and therefore creates dependency; worsening asthma in the long term.

Many asthmatics believe that the corticosteroids that they take are much more harmful to their health than the fast acting relieving inhaler they use. Therefore, they may skip doses of the preventative drug here and there and still require the rescue inhaler. This is a mistake. Corticosteroids administered in the correct dose are much less damaging to your health than the rescue drug Albuterol, Ventolin or Salbutamol.

The long term effects of Ventolin are alarming! Any asthma sufferer who is heavily reliant on Ventolin to control their asthma symptoms is doing great damage to their health and should consider addressing their asthma management plan YESTERDAY! Seriously "what are you waiting for!"

In fact clinical trials have proven that Ventolin can cause side effects to:

• Respiratory


• Ccardiovascular


• Musculoskeletal


• Metabolic


• Psychiatric Health

How Can Sports Induce Asthma Attacks?

Sports induced asthma, also commonly called exercise induced asthma, is a form of the asthma condition that manifests during exercise, sports, or other physically strenuous activity. Because it only surfaces during physical exertion, this type of asthma commonly surprises its sufferers with sudden and even unprecedented attacks that can lead to serious injury or even life threatening complications. To understand sports induced asthma, it is important to educate oneself about asthma and why and how it can manifest itself.

Asthma is the constriction of airways which leads to difficulty in breathing. This constriction is almost always the result of particular stimuli that is particular to a certain individual. Avoiding asthma commonly means avoiding its triggers such as the particular allergen or situation that causes the attack. However when this is not possible, it attacks can also be avoided by the use of particular medications or a combination of medications that are prescribed by the doctors or other medical health professionals.

There are several causes that can cause or increase the eruptions of sports induced asthma. One example is exposure to environmental pollution. Air pollution is the most common factor found in most asthma sufferers. Continuous exposure to air pollutants at home and at work can severely hamper or damage the immune system of the lungs and may lead to asthma attacks in the future.

Another factor that is considered important in sports induced asthma is temperature differences and environmental changes. For example, athletes that train in a particular temperature, altitude, or climate, can be exposed to different situations at the competition site and that can trigger an automatic response from the body that can lead to sports induced asthma and its complications.

Although there is no one sure fire treatment to asthma as a whole, there are several other steps one can take to make sure that there are less dangers involved in living with asthma. Sports induced asthma can be controlled by using various medications, and changing several things in one's lifestyle.

A thing one should take note of is all of the possible triggers there are involved in each asthma attack. For example, what kind or length of time during exercise or sports does it take to trigger an asthma attack. What kind of situation does the attack happen in? Temperatures and environmental factors can make a huge difference when it comes to sports induced asthma attacks.

When an asthma attack does happen one must be sure to take action right away. Delaying ones reaction to an asthma attack may expose one to unnecessary and even life threatening dangers. Ask your doctor or health professional about medications that can easily be carried on oneself for just these cases.