Pneumonia - Playing Hide and Seek

Here is an important question clinicians need to ask. When can you have a pneumonia and not see it on a chest x-ray? You can have a patient who is clinically sick because of a pneumonia, but when you do an x-ray you just don't see it there. There are three answers.

One is dehydration. A patient who is dry will not waste water on hydration of a lung that is infected. So, as we talked about under working up a patient who is dehydrated for hyponatremia, when you size up a patient with pneumonia who is dehydrated, it is valid for you to make the diagnosis of pneumonia without seeing it on the x-ray. You would put in your notes that the patient is clinically dehydrated, and I am confident that when hydrated the next day, and we again x-ray, a pneumonia will become apparent.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients can have pneumonia and not have it readily apparent on the chest radiograph. Remember that the pathology of COPD is that they have air trapping. So, they have disproportionate amount of air in their lungs and because there is more air in the lungs, a pneumonia can be more subtle. COPD patients are treated with antibiotics. If someone comes in with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, we are going to assume that there is indeed an infectious component and automatically treat with antibiotics. Of contrast, in asthma patients we understand the pathophysiology does not include infectious disease. So, when someone comes in with an asthma attack, very rarely would we put them on an antibiotic as opposed to someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who we always place on antibiotics.

Lastly is a retrocardiac (or lingula) pneumonia. This is where behind the heart there is a pneumonia that would not be seen on an AP film. You would need to use a lateral film. It's extremely difficult to evaluate a patient that has an under penetrated CXR. If they have a well penetrated film and you can see the vertebral bodies, you may be able to make out a lingula pneumonia on the chest x-ray. If not, you really need to get a lateral radiograph. Of concern here is patients with pneumonias that are low in the lungs and very close to the diaphragm, it is classic that their fever could present with a degree of abdominal pain.

So, someone comes in with abdominal pain and a fever, you have to be concerned about whether this could be a pneumonia in the lower fields of the lung. Let's say you have a child who comes in with a fever and abdominal pain. You think appendicitis. The surgeon takes him into the operating room, removes the appendix and admits him to the hospital. In the postoperative phase, these patients are not placed on antibiotics. This could lead to a life threatening infection/sepsis. So, once again, when can you have a pneumonia and not see it on the chest x-ray? Dehydration, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and retrocardiac or lingular pneumonia.

Symptoms of Asthma - Learn How To Read The Signs Before The Unexpected Happens

An asthmatic attack is one of the most striking medical emergencies. In an asthmatic attack, there is constriction or a tightening or the bronchial wall muscle, and a secretion of mucus, often with plugging of small air tubes, as well as inflammation and swelling of the bronchial lining. The frequency, duration and severity of the asthmatic attack and its symptoms vary markedly from patient to patient.

Symptoms and Signs of An Asthma Attack

Although there are differences from patient to patient, the asthma attack is typically characterized by shortness of breath and wheezing. Cough and mucus production may be prominent symptoms.

In some patients, wheezing may not occur and a cough may be the dominant symptom. The patient demonstrates a rapid rate of breathing, often with heaving of the chest and use of neck muscles to assist each breath. During an attack, the patient is totally disabled. Even speech may be impossible due to severe breathlessness.

The patient may be totally consumed by the effort to breathe and become unable to eat or dress. The patient is often restless and unable to lie flat. Severe attacks can also end in exhaustion, with ominous slowing of the respiratory rate and arrest of breathing.

Depending on the severity of the patient's disease, the attack may be totally or partially reversible, allowing the patient to assume normal activities between episodes. Patients with severe asthma, however, may remain to some degree symptomatic at all times.

It should be noted that the degree of wheezing can be misleading. The severity of the asthmatic attack and its symptoms should never be judged on this basis alone. Some patients who are capable of moving large amounts of air may produce more turbulence and audible wheezing than others who are so severely obstructed that their breaths are shallow and incapable of producing much sound.

Reading Asthma Symptoms

In bronchial asthma, it is extremely important to recognize the presence of an attack before it become severe and requires emergency measures. Each patient should have a means of assessing the degree of the asthma symptom that is present from day to day. In this manner, severe episodes and often the use of oral or injectable corticosteroids necessary for such emergencies can be avoided.

As an extension of this home monitoring, the patient should also be instructed how to respond to the presence of increased asthma symptoms. In this way, a contingency plan can be in place and ready before severe attacks happen.

There are basically three elements to defining asthma. First is airway obstruction, which is characterized by the n arrowing of airways: air can no longer flow smoothly through the bronchial tubes. Since these tubes can dilate or open in asthma, this obstruction is called reversible, an important aspect of the definition since it may distinguish asthma from other broncial illnesses.

The second element in defining asthma is the presence of inflammation; the red, swollen appearance of the inside of the bronchial tubes. This characteristic of asthma has received a great deal of attention recently and has become the focus of much of the asthma therapy. The inflammation is present in the lining of the bronchial tubes, which can be examined by inserting into them a lighted scope called a bronchoscope.

The third asthma symptom is increased responsiveness or hyperirritability of the bronchial tubes and their tendency to overreact and narrow. The term twitchy has also been used in this regard. This irritability is often demonstrated the sudden, severe attacks patients can experience when exposed to substances, such as pollen, animal dander, dust and fumes. This forms the basis for bronchial provocation or challenge testing that is used by physicians to diagnose asthma in patients whose illnesses do not fit easily into the other symptoms.

How to Help Control Your Asthma Naturally

I am thirty five years old now, and have lived with the sometimes debilitating condition of asthma since I was eight years old. That's quite a lot of time to live with a health problem, so I think I've definitely earned some personal expertise points in how I've learned to control my asthma over the years. Not that it was always this easy for me.

I remember many sleepless nights, not being able to breathe, feeling like someone had a vice around my lungs and my rib cage and was squeezing me all of the time, lying there and focusing so much on just breathing that when I woke up after a few restless hours of sleep, with a tender back from trying so hard just to perform a basic living function - to inhale and exhale oxygen effectively!

Back then, there were really no well known natural remedies or alternative treatments for asthma. Back then, I was given some pills that made my heart race and my skin feel like it was alive, and an inhaler that did pretty much the same thing, and only seemed to have a temporary effect, thereby building me up to a tolerance and dependence on it.

We just didn't know, or have access to the same knowledge as I do now, as an adult, and in the information age where you literally have just about any information you need to know at your fingertips. Now, not only do I have more options to help control my asthma symptoms, when they arise, which thank goodness they rarely do any more thanks to a few lessons I've learned, but I also can interact with people who have tried different things for themselves and can share that information with me, online.

When I think of the damage I've done to my lung tissue over all those years of using steroidal inhalers to abate my asthma, and the pills as well, that probably weren't good for my heart since they sent them into a racing tizzy every time I took them, I wish I could undo it all. But alas I can't, all I can do now is live my life the best way I know how to, practicing the lifestyle changes that help treat and prevent asthma attacks, as often as I can.

One of the first things I correlated to my asthma attacks was my diet. If I went on a tear of eating lots of refined sugars and fats, such as most people do around the holidays, voila, I noticed that my asthma attacks would suddenly become more frequent, and more severe. When I was on the straight and narrow with my diet, eating less refined foods, no sugar, and healthy, whole foods, I noticed that my asthma attacks would pretty much disappear.

I firmly believe that diet is directly related to many asthma cases and attacks, because of my experience. I found that for me in particular, a lot of sugar was a trigger for my asthma attacks, and so when I cut it out, it virtually eliminates it.

Many people have claimed that following an alkaline diet, where they eat foods that are on the alkaline side of the pH scale rather than the more acidic foods (on the acid side of the pH scale), has made a dramatic difference in their asthma attack frequency. It's something to look into.

Another principle I live by is to make sure I get regular exercise. Although it seems counterintuitive, because exercise sometimes can trigger an attack, leading a sedentary life only makes asthma worse, and can actually exacerbate the condition and make it EVEN harder for your to exert yourself physically without getting an attack.

Sure enough, when I go through phases where I just don't have the time to devote to working out, I get bronchial spasms more often. Speaking of bronchial spasms, there are some excellent natural remedies I've relied on as well that help to relax the bronchial passages, and open them up so that oxygen can do what it's meant to, feed, detoxify and fuel your body.

We are fortunate to live in an age where we have so many excellent remedies that are all natural at our disposal, and I'd recommend that you familiarize yourself with the options that are out there to see what may fit your needs and your body best.

What You Should Know About the Medications For Asthma

When someone is diagnosed with asthma it is customary for the doctor and patient to put an action plan into place to eliminate triggers, prescribe treatment and ultimately control asthma symptoms. Being able to control asthma will prevent chronic symptoms of asthma such as coughing and wheezing, reduce the occurrence and frequency of attacks and maintain normal activity levels in daily life. Because there is no cure for asthma and in some instances of asthma there is no identified cause, medication is necessary to treat, prevent and control the symptoms of the disease. The type of medication is determined upon the patient's age, symptoms, triggers, and what makes the asthma better. Not all medications work on every individual especially since more than a quarter of people who suffer with asthma are children. Therefore determining the right type of prescription will be a task that both the doctor and patient will have to develop together.

There are two types of medications that doctors prescribe to asthma patients, long-term control medications and quick relief or rescue medications. Long-term control medications are the most effective way to reduce inflammation in the airway. Long-term treatments are normally taken on a daily basis to prevent symptoms. Quick relief medications are used in flare up situations to quickly open up swollen airways. Asthma patients most commonly use inhalers because the medication goes directly to the lungs however; pill and liquid forms of asthma medications are available as well.

Long-term control medications include inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta agonists, combination inhalers, theophylline, and methylxanthines. Quick relief medications include short-acting bronchodilator inhalers, anticholinergics, and oral and intravenous corticosteroids. With extrinsic asthma, allergies are a possible trigger, which is why allergy medication is used to treat allergy-induced asthma. Allergy medications include immunotherapy allergy shots, oral and nasal spray antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroid nasal sprays. Bronchial thermoplasty is another treatment that is used in cases where asthma is severe and traditional medications are ineffective. Lastly in cases where patients have difficulty with inhalers, an asthma nebulizer should be used.

LONG-TERM CONTROL MEDICATIONS

Inhaled corticosteroids-Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred long-term control medication for people who suffer with asthma. They are most effective at relieving airway inflammation and swelling. By reducing the inflammation in the lungs it prevents the chain reaction that causes all the symptoms of an asthma attack. Taking inhaled corticosteroids daily can greatly reduce the severity of asthma, frequency and occurrence of asthma attacks. Inhaled corticosteroids are generally safe and are not habit forming. They have a lower risk of side effects than oral corticosteroids in pill or liquid form. Examples of inhaled corticosteroids include Flovent Diskus, Flovent HFA, Pulmicort Flexhaler, Asmanex, Aerobid, Qvar, Vancenase, Beclovent, Nasacort, and Atolone.

Leukotriene modifiers- Leukotriene modifiers inhibit leukotriene, a chemical that promotes the body's inflammatory response. By blocking these chemicals, leukotriene inhibitors reduce inflammation within the airways. Therefore eliminating the chain reaction, which causes asthma symptoms. Some side effects linked to leukotriene inhibitors include agitation, aggression, hallucinations, depression and suicidal thinking. Examples of leukotriene inhibitors include Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR.

Long-acting beta agonists-Long-acting beta agonists are chemically related to adrenaline and are used to open up the airways. They keep the airways open for 12 hours or longer. However, long-acting beta agonists should not be used along. They should be used in combination with a low dose inhaled corticosteroid. Side effects include rapid heartbeat and shakiness Examples of inhaled medications include Serevent, and Foradil,

Combination inhalers-Combination inhalers include an inhaled steroid with a long-acting bronchodilator. Examples of combination inhalers include Advair Diskus and Symbicort.

Methylxanthines- Methylxanthines is a group of controller medications that is chemically related to caffeine and opens up the airways. Methylxanthines work as long-acting bronchodilators. Theophylline and aminophylline are examples of methylxanthines.

QUICK RELIEF MEDICATIONS

Short-acting beta agonists- Also known as short-acting bronchodilator inhalers, this medication is used for quick relief of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breathe. These medications dilate the airways to lessen the asthma symptoms. Examples of short acting beta agonists include Albuterol, Levalbuterol, and pirbuterol.

Anticholinergics- Anticholinergics open up the airways by blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine within the central and peripheral nervous system. This is similar to the action of beta-agonists however; anticholinergics take slightly longer to take effect but last longer overall. In some instances anticholinergics and beta-agonists will be used together to produce a greater effect. The anticholinergics used for rescue asthma medication is Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent).

Oral and Intravenous Corticosteroids-Corticosteroids should be taken for short-term use only due to the increased side effects. Corticosteroids are an effective anti-inflammatory, and side effects are temporary when taken for two weeks or less otherwise they can be permanent. Prednisone and methylprednisolone are two examples of oral corticosteroids.

ALLERGY INDUCED MEDICATION

Immunotherapy- Immunotherapy is used to alter the immune system in patients who have an elevated level of immunoglobulin E, an allergy antibody. Allergy shots are generally given once a week for a few months, and then once a month after that. Omalizumab (Xolair) is one kind of immunotherapy injection.

Allergy Medication- Allergy medications include oral and nasal sprays, antihistamines, and decongestants. They work by preventing asthma related inflammation in the airways.
Cromolyn and Ipratropium are two forms of nasal sprays used as asthma medication. Cromolyn can prevent the development of an asthma attack if taken regularly however it does not help once an attack has started.

BRONCHIAL THERMOPLASTY

Bronchial thermoplasty- When inhaled corticosteroids don't improve asthma symptoms, especially in severe cases, bronchial thermoplasty may be the next best option. Bronchial thermoplasty uses an electrode to warm the inside of the airways, which calms the smooth muscle within the lungs. This helps to inhibit inflammation in the airways, which causes asthma symptoms. Bronchial thermoplasty is not widely available since more research is needed to determine the benefits and possible side effects.

ASTHMA NEBULIZER

Asthma Nebulizer- An asthma nebulizer is also known as a breathing machine. They are generally used in cases where there is difficulty using an inhaler. Asthma nebulizers use a mask that covers the mouth and nose. It changes the medication from a liquid into a mist making it more accessible to be inhaled into the lungs. Unlike an inhaler, a nebulizer requires several minutes for treatment.

Connecting Sinus Infection and Asthma

Wouldn't it be nice to feel the breath of fresh air through your nose in each and every day of your life? Well, this does not happen. There are too many factors that can lead you to experience nasal congestion, along with several other respiratory conditions that will give you breathing problems. You need to know about these if you want to get to the bottom of your problems and solve them quickly.

Two types of respiratory diseases - sinus infection and asthma - have nasal congestion as their common symptom. Sinus infection is characterized mainly as an inflammation of the sinuses. Asthma is the narrowing of the airways that restricts the proper flow of air into the lungs.

It is actually very confusing to differentiate respiratory problems from one another. For instance, for both a sinus infection and an asthma attack, symptoms are very similar:

- Runny nose
- Excessive mucus - either discharged easily or trapped inside the linings of the nasal and sinus passages
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Fatigue

There are differences in the indications of each disease, but for the purpose of discussing just the connections between sinus infection and asthma, let us concentrate on the common symptoms.

Some people do not want to bother with investigating these indicators further to find out which disease they have. They are content with taking reactive (as opposed to proactive and aggressive) steps to relieve them of their symptoms. This is not a good idea, especially for those who are attacked with respiratory problems in a chronic manner. It is better to study why you have the particular symptoms you are pestered with so you can focus on the root cause, instead of spending too much time dealing with all of your symptoms separately.

A sinus infection can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other invasive organisms. Once you know what kind of infection you have, you can apply the corresponding recommended treatment for your condition:

- Viruses just need to exploit your body for a time, and then the symptoms disappear by themselves. Getting plenty of rest, relief from painkillers and decongestants for your stuffy nose can be enough to provide you comfort during the onset of the virus attack.
- Bacteria need to be treated with antibiotics. You can get oral, topical or intravenous antibiotics, depending on your preferred form.
- Fungi are eliminated using anti fungal medications. Avoiding exposure to the said organisms will also discourage further development of your disease.

Asthma is also triggered by elements similar to those causing a sinus infection. But there are a lot more varying triggers, such as being in areas with allergens, doing strenuous activities, and being under pressure or emotional stress. Asthma is a disease that is hard to analyze. It comes and goes, and you can easily be attacked by very slight occurrences of its triggers. Genetics also play a hand in marking your fate with regards to asthma.

Because of its complex nature, there is major difficulty in finding a permanent cure for asthma. The best recommendation right now is to just stay away from your asthma triggers and to use medical treatment as prescribed by your doctor accordingly.

Do I Have Asthma?

What is asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease that affects the airways, It causes obstruction of the airways. Airways plays a very important role as it is responsible for carrying air in and out from lungs. If a person suffering from asthma the muscles surrounding the bronchi constrict, impeding the outward passage of stale air. When your breathing stale air you are not getting oxygenated properly.

What causes asthma? We don't know there is some genetic and environmental factors to cause asthma usually early on in life. These factor include your Parents have asthma, Certain respiratory infections during childhood.

Contact with some airborne allergens or exposure to some viral infections in infancy or in early childhood when the immune system is developing.

What causes an asthma attack well it is causes by what we call triggers and trigger can be from a variety of different things but here are some examples.

1. Animal dander
2. Dust mites
3. Chemical
4. Strong smells (bleach is a huge trigger, also perfume)
5. Tobacco smoke

What happens during an asthma attack?

When you have an asthma attack the airways can close so much that vital organs do not get enough oxygen as needed. An asthma attack is constriction and inflammation process the combination of these two things working against your normal breathing process.

What are signs and symptoms of asthma?

1. Coughing from asthma often is worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
2. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
3. Chest tightness, this may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
4. Shortness of breath
5. When someone is having an asthma attack their cough is high pitched and they may also vomit up large amount of phlegm due to the inflammation.

How Can Asthma Be Prevented?

Currently, asthma can't be prevented you can take steps to control the disease and prevent its symptoms.

Learn about your asthma and how to control it.
Use medicines as your doctor prescribes.
Identify and try to avoid things that make your asthma worse (asthma triggers).
Get regular checkups for your asthma.

This is a brief description of asthma, If you think you have asthma you should make an appointment with your physician for treatment.

If you are having difficulty breath seek immediate medical services/ visit the Emergency room for diagnosis and treatment.

How To Help Decrease Asthma Attacks

First and foremost asthma is a disease of the lungs.
Specifically it is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the bronchial tubes which are the airways within the lungs. It has the effect of making these airways really sensitive to irritants, and this in turn leads to a difficulty in breathing. It is a chronic condition affecting both adults and children in most western countries.

There is no cure for asthma. Fortunately though it can be controlled thus lessening the severity and frequency of attacks and most patients can lead an active life.

Asthma sufferers need to be aware of the problem and take steps to deal with it. Knowing what sets an attack off and trying to avoid or minimise these factors will lessen the symptoms. Also make sure to take any medication as prescribed by your doctor.In this way you can prevent serious symptoms and lead a normal life. On the other hand if you do not take steps to control it, it can have serious consequences in every area of your daily activities, and lead to a lesser quality of life.

In asthma sufferers the airways in the lungs are extra sensitive or hyper-responsive. When the symptoms begin to get more severe, the condition is called an asthma attack. What happens is that muscles around the bronchial tubes contract, and this narrows the airway openings so that the flow of air is restricted. In other words less air can flow through the airways than previously. The airways then become progressively inflamed and even more swollen and narrow. An excess of mucus is then produced narrowing the airways even further. All of this causes the classic symptoms of asthma. It simply means that it is difficult for air to travel in and out of the lungs and the oxygen levels in the blood decrease as a result.

Some attacks are worse than others. A severe asthma attack leads to the airways becoming so constricted that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from a severe asthma attack. During the attack a sufferer may have a sensation similar to drowning.

Asthma can affect anyone, at any age, anywhere, and unfortunately the numbers worldwide are increasing.
Conditions in the environment such as air pollution, processed foods, and centrally heated, double-glazed houses are believed to contribute to the problem.

During an asthma attack a sufferer experiences tightness in the chest, a wheezing or whistling noise, coughing, breathlessness, and difficulty breathing because the airways have become narrowed, inflamed, and blocked by mucus.

It can also happen quite quickly, but warning signs can help you recognise an imminent attack. Symptoms such as an itchy nose or itchy skin, dizziness or light-headedness, or an irritating cough.

Heeding the warning signs can help a sufferer to take preventive action, such as medication, thus lessening the severity of the attack.

Being a chronic condition, attacks can occur over long periods of time. But there can also be long periods when a patient will suffer few, if any, symptoms.
It should be noted that children may grow out of asthma but that it can recur again as they get older.

For the most part though it can be controlled, and it is important to recognise what can trigger an attack and take your medication as early as possible to help weaken the symptoms. The good news though is that it is possible to lead an active and healthy life and take part in all sporting and physical activities.

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Natural Home Remedies for Asthma

Causes of Symptoms: Asthma is a disorder of the respiratory system characterized by severe paroxysms of difficult breathing. The onset of an attack is sudden, though the patient starts feeling uneasy, drowsy and irritable a little before the difficulty of breathing starts. Respiration becomes difficult and the breath comes with a wheezing and sometimes whistling sound. The general belief is that asthma is a chronic disease and that once gotten continues to dog its victim till the day he dies.

In fact, asthma is caused by excess of phlegm and the inability of the body to expel it. If the patient gives up foods which tend to increase the phlegm, e.g., rice, flour passed through a sieve, sugar, lentils, milk and curds, he can find relief. He should be put on foods, which discourages phlegm, such as green vegetables, fruits, and the like. That would tend to reduce the amount of phlegm present in the body and the disease will leave him. Unfortunately, under the false impression that asthma being a weakening diseases, the patients are fed on high protein diets like meat, fish, milk and milk products and fats and that makes their condition worse.

Treatment: An asthma patient must select foods, which help contain the amount of phlegm in the body. For breakfast he should take food like orange, tomato, papaya, guava, mango and rose apple and vegetables like carrots. His dinner and lunch should consist of boiled vegetables. His bath is recommended in the morning and evening to perk up his digestive powers. Taking a walk is also recommended, if jogging is beyond the capacity o the patient.

Asthma, particularly when its attack is severe, tends to destroy the appetite of the patient. He should not be forced to eat. He should keep fasting till the attack is over. The only thing he should take is a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time would be doubly beneficial. If this regimen is followed, the attack will not last for more than 36 hours and its virulence in case of a recurrence would be very much less.

An asthma patient should regularly fast one a week and takes an enema the morning after the fast to clear his bowels. If he is unable to fast regularly, he must not hesitate to stop eating the moment the attack comes. A fortnight after the treatment has been started the patient can take cow's unboiled milk or curd with a breakfast of fruit.
The sufferers from this disease should be extremely careful in his eating habits. He must never overeat. The amount of food taken at one time should be so measured that he must feel extremely hungry at the time of the next meal. A salt-free diet would be the best.

At the onset of the attack, soaking of the feet in the warm water can relieve the agony to a large extent. A chest pack can also help, even though on application it may seem to aggravate the attach. The pack applied in the afternoon and immediately before sleep would do wonders. The main aim of treatment of asthma should be to augment the vital force of the body with the help of proper diet and a natural living in which clean water and sunshine play an important part.

The above regimen is helpful in dealing with tonsillitis also.

Read more on Natural Home Remedies for Asthma, Herbal Remedy, visit http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/

Alternative Herbal Remedies For Alleviating Asthma

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

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

How Asthma Affects An Individual

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

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

Alternative Treatments For Asthma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://primeherbal.com - Prime Herbal

Asthma Natural Cure - What You Eat Affects Your Asthma

If you are suffering from asthma, chances are you've tried a whole host of natural cures. Most of these remedies have probably been in the form of some type of drugs that your doctor has prescribed for you. However, there are several asthma natural cures that maybe you haven't tried. These cures include adjusting your diet and practicing a breathing technique.

What You Eat Affects Your Asthma

Did you know that what you eat or don't eat could have positive or negative effects on your asthma? There are some foods that you might be allergic to that could trigger an asthma attack and then there are some foods that are just naturally bad for your asthma because they make you more susceptible to an attack.

However, there are also some foods that are good for you and will help stop your asthma or lessen an asthma attack. Many of these foods contain minerals that act as anti-histamines. Anti-histamine helps stop swelling in the body. This includes swelling of the bronchial tubes, which is what happens during an asthma attack.

Good and Bad Foods for your Asthma

Most of the foods that are bad for you are bad because you have some type of allergy to those foods. Maybe the foods cause your bronchial tubes to swell, maybe it produces extra mucus, or maybe it has some other effect that triggers an attack.

Unfortunately what foods cause a negative reaction is usually unique to you and your situation. Therefore, you have to figure out which foods might be causing your asthma attacks. The best way to begin to figure this out is to keep a food diary of everything you eat and then to also keep a diary of when you feel good and when you don't. Then compare the two and see if any foods jump out at you.

As for good foods, these are foods that are high in magnesium content or in antioxidants.

Some of the foods that are high in magnesium include fish, legumes, and pumpkin seeds whereas foods that are high in antioxidants include dark green leafy vegetables, spinach, and apricots.

Breathing Techniques

Over the past several years, asthmatics have found that they can dramatically improve their asthma by learning how to breathe correctly. They also learn to control their asthma attacks by breathing through them.

There are a few different breathing techniques that work quite well. Probably the most well known method is the Buteyko Method. While this method does work very well, it is also quite difficult to learn. There are other methods that produce the same results but are easier to learn.

The Two Broad Categories of Asthma Home Remedies

There are many different asthma home remedies that are "out there" right now. Some of these remedies work quite well, while others don't work so well. For the most part, two broad categories of effective home remedies are diet and breathing techniques.

Peak Flow Meter Readings - The Benefits of a Digital Peak Flow Meter

The asthma peak flow meter is a commonly used device by asthma sufferers. This device records the speed at which the air can be pushed out of the lungs in one hard breath by the asthma sufferer. This sort of reading is taken due to the effect that asthma has on the airways in the lungs, which is to narrow and tighten the bronchial tubes, which in turn effects how much and how fast an affected person can expel air from the lungs. By analyzing the readings from the asthma peak flow meter, a doctor can see whether a patient is in the danger zone for an asthma attack, and take preventative measures accordingly.

There's a great deal of different asthma peak flow meters available, and most asthma sufferers will want to have one at home for daily use, and parents with asthmatic children will especially want to keep a close eye on their children's symptoms. Of all the meters available, they mostly fall into two categories, digital and traditional.

Traditional meters are mechanical in nature, where the breath expelled from the lungs pushes a flap that is attached to a sliding notch with indicators of speed along the side. Despite the seemingly simple nature of these devices, they are extremely accurate. In fact, studies have shown that digital models offer no improvements in accuracy over the traditional kind of meter.

While no more accurate, a meter can have some benefits depending on how a patient prefers to record and analyze their readings. Digital meters can store readings on the memory of the device itself, freeing the patient from recording them in a diary, which many people find extremely convenient. They can record months of data before the results have to be downloaded, and will indicate when they need to be cleared. Additionally, all the data is viewable on the device itself.

When downloading the results, a digital asthma peak flow meter software package can be used to store and analyze the data, which can be presented in graphs, averages over time, and many other ways that allow the user to see when their results were at their best and worst and correlate that data with their lifestyle, location and activities of the time.

In short, a digital asthma peak flow meter is not a necessity, and you can get by just fine with the old kind. But if you are prepared to spend the money, they can offer you enormous flexibility and convenience in recording and analyzing the peak flow readings.

How to Relieve Asthma Using 5 Simple Steps

Asthma attacks can be really dangerous, especially since it can escalate quickly and cause severe damages to your health. This is why learning how to relieve asthma is a necessity for people suffering from the disease, so, they can easily manage and recover from any asthma attack.

But how can one quickly deal with asthma? Here are five simple steps you can take to get asthma relief during an attack:

1. Calm down. An asthma attack can cause anxiety to some patients, but you should know that this can only make matters worse. By panicking, you'll only make your body need more air, which is already hard to do since your airways are already constricting due to the asthma episode. So, if you're already sensing the onset of an attack, make sure to keep your calm.

2. Grab your fast relief meds. Quick acting medications are always your number one aid when it comes to asthma attacks. So, as much as you can, always keep you fast relief medications like inhalers, at hand. This will help you prevent a full blown episode and may even save you from further damages.

3. Remove or get yourself away from the thing that triggered your attack. Generally, asthma attacks are triggered by something. Once your asthma episode has already kicked in, you should also immediately identify what has caused it, so you can get away from it. If its exercise, stop whatever you're doing; if it's environmental, get yourself away from it or have someone remove it in the vicinity so you can stop the attack from worsening and make your attack stop.

4. Monitor the developments. Sometimes, depending what triggered your attack and how severe your asthma condition is, fast acting meds won't work as effectively as possible. So, make sure to monitor yourself after taking the asthma drugs. This will not only help you recover, but it will also help you assess what to do next in case your medication didn't work.

5. Start on other ways how to relieve asthma. Aside from quick-relief meds, there are still other ways to deal with your condition. Make sure to learn these other ways so you can have more options in getting asthma relief.

Remember, asthma may be a common health condition millions all over the world suffer from, but it doesn't mean that it should be taken lightly. Make sure to really find ways how to relieve asthma so you can help yourself control and fully manage this condition, allowing you to live a normal, active life.

Allergic Asthma Natural Treatment - Let Nature Cure You

For those allergic asthmatics, who are fed up of traditional methods of treatment, then natural treatment of allergic asthma comes as a rescuer. Regular asthma drugs can have side effects, but you are bound to take them for instant relief. In the long run, you get addicted to them. Why not employ nature for the cure?

Nature, no doubt, holds best of medicinal herbs that can help you combat most critical ailments. Natural treatment is not only safe, but also can be followed along with the regular treatment. Though, in any case, it should be started after proper consultation from the health counselor. Today, a number of natural remedies for allergic asthma are in use. Some of them can even be found in your kitchen. You just need to be informed well about them.

Let's Start From Your Kitchen

The allergic asthma natural treatment can be started right from your kitchen. Ever wondered about Garlic, which is known to be the most essential ingredient of the food? Apart from increasing the taste value, it also nourishes the immune system. When a garlic bead is consumed with a glass of water on a daily basis, it minimizes the frequency of asthma attacks. Apart from this, it also lessens the intensity of attacks. Honey can be the most sought after and tastier method of asthma treatment. The smell of honey can work wonders for asthma patients. It melts down the thick mucous layer, thus making the task of breathing much easier. Citrus fruits like Orange, Lemon, grapefruit, etc. are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C strengthen body's defense mechanism. Regular intake of such fruits and vegetables boosts up breathing capacity. It minimizes the sensitivity of the bronchial system. So, chances of asthma attacks become considerably low.

Make Most From Nature's Bounty

Like Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 also relieves you from the grip of allergic asthma. It helps you combat this menace by giving you ample energy. Foods that readily contain this Vitamin are fish, eggs, pork, soya products, peanuts, avocado, bananas, and brown rice. Make all these items part of your diet and you will be able to fight all sorts of bronchial problems. Many researches made on fish oil show that the supplementation of the same helps cure even long-term asthma. A number of Ayurvedic medicines containing rare herbs have also been introduced for allergic asthma treatment. If taken regularly, they give tremendous resistance to the body. The medicinal plants like figs also play a pivotal role in treating asthma. Soak dried fig leaves in water overnight and consume it the next day. Make this a regular practice and you will see the difference. The phlegm causing difficulty in breathing gets drained, thus giving you a new life. To decrease the sensitivity towards allergens, a traditional Chinese method has also been employed to a great extent. This method is termed as Acupuncture. Several points in the body are identified. Very thin needles are inserted through these points. This causes stimulation at these points that empowers body's capability to prevent asthma symptoms. It helps maintain good health for healthy living.

Apart from this, it is always advisable to stay away from the agents triggering asthmatic conditions. Increase your exposure towards them gradually, in accordance with the development of resistance in your body. It is worthwhile to note that Mother Nature holds a lot of enriching agents that have rejuvenating powers. They can even induce new life to almost dead cells.

Feline Asthma - This Common Health and Breathing Problem in Humans is Often Shared by Cats

Cats frequently get what we call feline asthma. The signs of asthma in cats is very similar to those seen in humans, which is difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing that might sound like gagging. If a cat is having trouble breathing, he sits with his neck extended, inhaling and exhaling with his mouth open. Asthma is not the only disease that can cause difficulty breathing in cats, so neither you nor your veterinarian should assume that asthma must be the cause.

The signs of asthma in cats can come on suddenly and be very serious. It is also frightening to observe. Just like an asthmatic person who feels like he cannot breath, your cat can panic, and you must do all you can to minimize stress while he is having difficulty breathing. The best way to do that is to not create any additional stress. Do not chase him around by trying to put him in a carrier. Let him calm down first.

If it is the first time your cat is having this problem breathing, take him to the veterinarian or to an emergency pet clinic. Call ahead so the clinic can be ready for your arrival. But be prepared for a stressful wait while the staff tries to find the cause of your cat's breathing difficulties.

Cats having a hard time breathing are very fragile, so too much handling can worsen the condition to the point where they may even die. While trying to determine the cause of the breathing problem as quickly as possible, your veterinarian will try to eliminate any obvious problems, such as a blocked airway, or fluid around the lungs. Significant handling must be avoided during the process, allowing time to calm your cat down. In more serious cases, your cat may need to be given oxygen until he is more stable, and able to tolerate more diagnosis or treatment.

If your veterinarian diagnoses feline asthma in your cat, he probably will have prescribed medications that will help ease the symptoms. When your cat is having breathing problems, give him the medication, but only if you can do so without stressing him further. Otherwise, wait for him to settle down. Use this time to call your veterinarian and discuss the symptoms, and whether your cat needs to come in for treatment. If you are told to bring him in, use the carrier he is most familiar with. Once you get to the office, go directly to the receptionist for an assessment. Your veterinarian, or his staff, can determine the severity of the asthma attack, and if needed, your cat can be immediately seen to get the medication and oxygen he needs to relieve the situation.

Although no one really knows the cause of asthma in cats, minimum exposure to dust, smoke, aerosols, and other irritants is essential. Stay in touch with your veterinarian so you can always get the latest information relating to the cause, prevention, and treatment of feline asthma.

Prevent Asthma Attacks by Learning About These Asthma Triggers

One of the best ways to prevent asthma attacks is knowing your triggers and this indeed can be of big help for you to reduce or avoid asthma attack. Mostly, asthma triggers can be avoided and by being familiar with your triggers, you can actually help manage this disease.

Here are some of the triggers that you may want to pay attention to if you are an asthma sufferer and you are finding ways to prevent asthma attacks as well.

1. Exposure to pesticide and insect sprays. Avoid all these harsh chemicals at home. If you want to deal with cockroaches or other pests infesting your home, find ways to eradicate them without applying chemicals.

2. Strong perfumes and scents. Choose perfumes and scents at home that are not irritating to the nose. Choose something that is mild but of course, if you do not want to do some trial and error on this one, then avoid them if you can.

3. Flu and other respiratory infections.Respiratory diseases as well as influenza can be a start of an asthma attack. In fact, when you have cough and colds, this can trigger an asthma attack, thus you may want to consider preventing these simple infections as well.

4. Cigarette smoke. Yes, cigarette smoke can trigger an asthma attack, so stay away from second-hand smoke and stop smoking if you are an asthma sufferer.

5. Dust, dust mites and pollution. Small particles and dust mites can also irritate your airways and may cause a flare-up. Make sure to eliminate dust and dust mites in your home. Maintaining a clean home is of course, one solution to this. When going outdoors, you have to find ways to deal with air pollution, as this can also trigger asthma.

6. Too much exercise. Although exercise is advisable for those who have asthma, it is very important to consult your doctor for exercises that are good for you. Also avoid pushing yourself to your limits when it comes to exercising as this can also be an asthma trigger.

7. Allergies, sinusitis. Allergens can also be triggers of asthma, thus if you are allergy to something, then make sure that you avoid them at all cost.

8. Extreme temperatures. Exposure to extreme temperatures may also trigger asthma attack. Especially when you are exposed to sudden change in temperature, your airways may also be irritated and when you already have an inflamed airways that can also aggravate the condition.

10. Animal hairs or feathers. Although asthma sufferers can still be pet lovers, it is important to consider that animal hairs and feathers may also trigger asthma attack. Indeed, these little hairs especially that of cats can also irritate your air passageway and that may also cause flare-ups of asthma. If you are still planning to get a pet, think twice of the decision. If you already have one at home, then try your best to make your home free from these asthma triggers.

11. Intense emotions.Yes, extreme emotions can also trigger an asthma attack, thus if you have this disorder, then try to find ways to control your emotions and ways to stay calm when surging emotions are about to swept over you.

Asthma Attack - Signs and Symptoms

An asthma attack feels somewhat like taking a deep breath of air on a very cold day, holding it in, and trying to take another breath. Breathing becomes difficult and can even hurt. You may cough, wheeze or make a whistling sound.

These problems happen because the airways narrow. The muscles around the airways tighten, and the inner lining of the airways swell while membranes lining the airways secrete mucus that can block air passages.

The result: a wheezing sound resulting from the rush of air through the narrowed passages. And there could be other symptoms-coughing, chest tightness, breathing difficulty or, in severe attacks, feelings of anxiety, profuse sweating, an increased pulse rate or even a bluish color in the face and lips.

Early Warning Signs

Although asthma attack s can come on suddenly, most people experience some warning signs-often as much as one day in advance. The signs can be subtle and differ from person to person. But by learning to recognize signs of an impending attack, you can take steps to head it off, or at least reduce its severity.

Changes in breathing patterns, such as an unexplained shortness of breath, or a gradual increase in coughing are two of the most common warning signs. But any of the following symptoms could indicate a coming attack and should prompt you to take appropriate measures (which depend on your doctors management medication plan):

• Sudden coughing


• Itchy chin or throat


• Dryness in the mouth


• Tightness in the chest


• Breathing through the mouth, unrelated to vigorous exercise


• Increased pulse rate (unrelated to exercise)


• Fatigue


• Complaints of not feeling well


• Feelings of nervousness, anxiety or irritability


• Increased sweating


• In children, becoming overactive or unusually quiet.

During An Attack

During an actual asthma attack, constriction of the airways and formation of thick mucus makes it progressively more difficult to inhale and exhale. This leads to one or more of the following symptoms:

• Tightness in the chest


• Shortness of breath


• A chronic or recurring cough


• Wheezing, particularly when trying to exhale


• Anxiety or agitation


• Flaring of the nostrils when breathing-especially in children.

Less common symptoms during an attack include rapid heartbeat, restlessness, pallor, fatigue, vomiting or postnasal drip. In many cases, the attack may not be over when it first subsides, particularly if it developed as a result of exposure to an allergen such as animal dander, dust or even exercise. Typically, these attacks peak within 10 to 15 minutes and subside completely within one to two hours. But symptoms may return up to eight hours later, and persist for hours or even days. These return attacks are called a late asthmatic response and stem from substances released by cells in response to an allergic reaction. These substances, called mediators, communicate between cells, and attract white blood cells called eosinophils which in turn cause further inflammation and mucus secretion leading to a second, more severe asthma attack. In a sense, the second attack is caused by a physical reaction to the first one.

Natural Methods to Control Asthma

Asthma affects the lives of millions of people across the world. If not properly cared for, asthma can lead to serious problems. However, with the proper control, asthma attacks can be limited and the overall quality of life for the asthma victim can be improved. The correct management of asthma can help a person maintain better long-term asthma control and help that person avoid long-term problems.

There are many natural methods for maintaining asthma available. Natural methods are preferable to conventional drugs for a few reasons. First, conventional drugs only provide a short-term solution by dilating the passageway of the lungs, while natural methods can help improve symptoms over a sustained period of time. Secondly, conventional drugs come with the risk of potential side-effects. Natural methods have very few side-effects compared to conventional drugs. Thirdly, conventional drugs do not offer a long-term solution, whereas natural methods do. This does not mean that conventional drugs should not be used, because having an inhaler at all times is necessary to ensure that a person with asthma is safe at all times. However, natural methods should be taken under consideration and applied to improve the management of the person's asthma.

One method that can be used to help control asthma, is by adding more magnesium to your diet. Magnesium improves the function of the lungs and can be taken as a supplement. If you know the season in which you are most likely going to experience severe asthma symptoms, it is a good idea to prevent those symptoms from getting out of control by supplementing magnesium into your diet. Food like nuts and dark green vegetables are high in magnesium and can and should be added to your diet as well.

Eating apples on a regular basis, surprisingly enough, has also been considered beneficial to maintaining asthma symptoms. Scientists suggest that there is a link between apples and asthma and that eating apples can provide improved lung function. Pregnant women who want to decrease the chance of their children developing asthma may also benefit from eating apples. In one study, it was determined that mothers who ate apples while pregnant gave birth to children who had a lower risk of asthma and wheezing. This is an incredible study that proves that apples are an awesome superfood.

Another great method to control asthma is Peppermint. Peppermint aids in opening airways to the lungs. Also, Peppermint calms the nervous system. This is very beneficial to those who have asthma, because asthma attacks are often made worse when a person panics.

Natural methods of maintaining asthma can be very beneficial to anyone looking for long-term control over their conditions. They come with little to no side-effects and provide anyone with asthma the opportunity to gain better control over their symptoms. By increasing the use of natural methods, a person will not have to rely on as many conventional drugs that come with harmful side-effects.

Asthama Symptoms, Complications, Treatment and Cure

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease. It causes problems to the breathing passage of our lungs also known as bronchioles. It is caused due to chronic, long term and ongoing inflammation of the lung passage. The lung passage also called airways of the affected person become very sensitive to the triggers.

The inflammation is caused or triggered due to various internal and external factors that fills the passage with mucus and also swells it. The muscles contract and narrow the passage making it difficult to breathe. This resistance of exhaling finally leads to symptoms of a typical asthma attack.

Since the disease causes obstruction to the air being exhaled, it is known as an obstructive lung disease. The medical term for this is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also known as COPD. COPD includes other diseases as well.

Asthma is a disease that you shall have to live with during your everyday life and there is possibility of being exposed to the triggers. Asthma is a reversible disease unlike the other chronic lung diseases. Asthma cannot be ever totally cured but you may always keep it under control.

If the disease is diagnosed at the right time and the treatment is started right away then there is a better chance of controlling the disease. If there is a proper treatment then the attacks shall be lesser and not even very severe. If there is no treatment then the attacks will be so severe that it may even lead to death.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms include cough which may be accompanied with phlegm production, pulling in of the skin while breathing and shortness of breath which worsens with activity or exercise. Wheezing also is possible that begins suddenly, happens in episodes and gets worse with breathing and exercise.

What is the treatment?

Asthma is a chronic disease and the treatment shall go on for a long time. For some it may extend forever and the best way is to live to take proper care with the help of right consultation. The goal of the treatment is to prevent the syndrome and to avoid the attacks.

In the treatment the medications used are inhalants instead of oral medications like liquid or tablet. Inhaled medications work directly on the surface and muscles of the airway where the problem initiates. The side effects are very few as the absorption in the rest of the body is minimal.

The medicines are beta-2, agonists, anticholinergics and corticosteroids. Oral medications are aminophyline, beta-2 agonists and antagonists. Adrenaline is one of the medications used for the medication of asthma but it has side-effects.

Is there a cure?

Asthma has no cure but symptoms can improve over time. With the right medical treatment and self management people suffering from asthma can lead a perfectly normal life.

What are the possible complications?

The complications attached with asthma are of a severe nature. They may include persistent cough, breathing troubles that may require assistance in the form of ventilators, lack of sleep because of nighttime symptoms, decrease in the ability to take part in activities like exercises and permanent alterations in lung functions. In severe cases it may also result in death.

Asthma - How to Cure Asthma

If you are prone to anxiety attacks, stress or emotional upset, your probability of asthma attacks is increased. Isolate and avoid anything that triggers your asthma by trial and error. You must learn to manage your asthma in order to live a normal life. Triggers can be allergens for example dust and pollens. Some irritants like perfumes and aerosols can also trigger your asthma. It is advisable to take extra precautions if you are down with common colds or viral infections like flue. Your breathing becomes very difficult. You are wheezing and coughing. In some cases it could even be life threatening. Here you will learn about asthma treatment and how to cure asthma.

Your doctor may recommend a course of steroids (Prednisone) if your peak flow meter reading is below a critical level. This critical level varies depending on your size, age and sex. At the end of the course continue on the treatment of preventative medicine. Working closely with your doctor on how to administer and take these medications to achieve the best results.

Using reflexology you can take control of your asthma naturally and no longer need inhalers, nebulizers or steroids. Reflexology is an art of healing that promotes health and prevents illnesses. Every part and organ of the body has a corresponding acupressure point on the hand and foot. Reflexology is the acupressure therapy applying pressure to points on the hands and feet. This interacts with the body's nervous system. It relaxes the body and improves circulation.

You can treat yourself by providing reflexology work frequently and consistently. It is easy to do reflexology while doing other activities. Build reflexology into your life. Be creative in how and where you apply techniques but be consistent. Reflexology works as the pressure applied to the feet or hands interact as a part of the body's nervous system by relaxing and improving circulation. You can follow the six simple steps to asthma treatment and how to cure asthma using reflexology:

1. Allergy points which helps to reduce the effect of asthma triggers.
   
2. Treatment of endocrine glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones are chemical signaling molecules that target specific cells and activate specific functions within them. They also regulate, protect and increase the immune system of the body. Adrenal gland pressure point produces steroids to relieve asthma attack.


3. Pressure point treatment for lungs to clear infections


4. Kidney Pressure point to remove toxins from the blood.

The Symptoms of GERD

The causes of acid reflux (GERD) are rather simple if they do not lead to further complications of the disease. The symptoms of GERD are heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. However, the complications are potentially rather severe, ranging from an ulcerated esophagus, symptoms of coughing and asthma and other serious symptoms. Therefore, it is best to seek treatment for the symptoms as soon as possible before the complications have set in.

Acid reflux disease is frequent regurgitation-backward flow of digestive juices into the esophagus. These juices contain the digestive juices, one of which is a very strong acid (hydrochloric acid, HCL) which leads to one of the main symptoms. Another symptom is burning of the lower esophagus, which causes pain and sometimes regurgitation of small amounts of liquid into the mouth. Heartburn and nausea are also symptoms of this condition. Should these symptoms persist without monitoring and treatment the disease can lead to precancerous skin cells growing in the esophagus, this is called Barrett's esophagus and can lead to cancer of the esophagus. Cancer of the esophagus is one of the fastest growing cancers and often leads to death. Therefore, it if very important to have any symptoms of GERD checked if they continue for very long.

There are several causes of the symptoms of acid reflux or GERD. These symptoms can be caused by several disorders of the upper digestive tract, including a hiatal hernia, in addition to stress, poor diet and lifestyle habits. It is also a possible complication of pregnancy. The growing fetus is pushing on the digestive tract and can cause a reflux of digestive juices into the esophagus and thus cause the symptoms.

The main symptoms are heartburn, which is a pain in the lower esophagus, caused by the acid having prolonged contact with the unprotected lining of the lower esophagus. Other uncomfortable symptoms are nausea, and regurgitation, which are caused by some of the digestive juices being forced up into the mouth.

The larger problem with these symptoms is with the possible complications that can occur with prolonged damage to the lower esophagus. Barrett's cells have been discussed and are a serious complication that can lead to esophageal cancer. Other complications of these symptoms are an ulcerated esophagus, and coughing for apparently unknown reasons, either because of some symptoms of GERD the irritation in the region of the lungs and esophagus, or because an asthma attack has been triggered.

The treatments for the symptoms of GERD are certain medications and a change of diet and minor changes that decrease the symptoms. Acidic foods are eliminated, fatty foods, which can lower the lower esophageal sphincter and thus open it and cause acid reflux. Changes in sleeping patterns are needed to prevent acid reflux disease.

Acute Asthmatic Bronchitis

The respiratory system is one of the most important systems in the human body. It is the part of the body that distributes oxygen throughout the body in order for it to live. Without it, the body will not be able to survive. This is why it is important for you to always take care of your respiratory system.

However, there are instances where there will be a respiratory disorder. One type of respiratory illness is called bronchitis. This is an obstructive pulmonary disorder where the bronchi of the lungs become inflamed. This particular condition is common with tobacco smokers or people living in areas where there is a high level of air pollution.

One type of bronchitis is called acute bronchitis where it is considered to be a short-term bronchitis and can be treated right away. You can tell if you have it if you are suffering from the following signs and symptoms:

o Persistent coughing with mucus

o Shortness of breath (Dyspnea)

o Mild fever

o Fatigue

o Mild chest pains

o Feeling of vibration in the chest when breathing

o Feeling of coldness

If you are suffering from the mentioned signs and symptoms, it is recommended that you should consult your physician immediately in order for them to conduct a diagnosis. The diagnosis will include a physical examination where the physician will listen for your breathing sounds through a stethoscope. They will also have your chest X-rayed for further testing.

Acute bronchitis is commonly caused by viruses infecting the lining of the bronchial tree. The virus can be the same viruses that cause colds. In rare cases, this can be caused by an infection of fungus in the bronchial tree. Bacterial infection is also one of the main causes of acute bronchitis.

Treatment for acute bronchitis can be rather easy to do. If the bronchitis is caused by a virus, it will usually go away after a few days and signs and symptoms will subside. It is only required that you should get plenty of rest until the fever subsides and drink a lot of non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic drink, such as water and juices. It is recommended that you should drink at least 3 to 4 liters a day in order for you to recover faster.

However, if the bronchitis is caused by bacteria, the treatment will include taking antibiotics. It is also recommended that you should increase the humidity in the environment by using room humidifiers or by simply putting wet towels and blankets around the house.

In order to help the tree recover and heal faster and prevent another attack of bronchitis, it is recommended that you should stay away from polluted areas and if you are a smoker, you should cut down or quit smoking if possible or at least by not smoking inside the house.

The duration of acute bronchitis is usually 10 to 12 days after the first signs and symptoms appear. It will be accompanied by cold or flu or in some cases it can come unaccompanied by other conditions. You have to remember that it is contagious. It is usually transmitted through coughing where the virus or bacteria will be released in the air causing someone who breathes in the virus or bacteria to get infected. It is important that whenever you need to cough, you should cover your mouth with a damp cloth to prevent most of the virus or bacteria particles from getting airborne.

For some people, after the bronchitis has been treated, they will still continue coughing. However, if the coughing lasts longer than a month, it is recommended that you should consult your physician immediately as some other condition aside from it may be causing you to cough.

There are ways to prevent bronchitis. To do this, all you need to do is wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, drink lots of fluid, and get lots of rest. You have to remember that bronchitis is caused by viruses or bacteria that can be transferred from an infected area to your hands and from your hands to your lungs.

Always remember that once you see the signs and symptoms associated with bronchitis, you should consult your doctor immediately in order to make a quick diagnosis of your condition and let you treat it at its early stages.

Molybdenum Supplement - Learn About How This Essential Mineral Can Improve Your Health

Molybdenum is an essential mineral that is present naturally in the human body. Although it is just a trace mineral, meaning it is present in our bodies in very low quantities, it does perform many important functions in the human body.

Molybdenum is present in the soil, from where it gets absorbed into plant and animal foods.

Some good food sources of molybdenum include whole grains, legumes, milk, liver, beans, green vegetables, kidney, spinach, sunflower seeds, and wheat germ.

If you have hard water running through your taps, that could also be a great source of molybdenum.

In addition to food sources, molybdenum is also available as a supplement. Since molybdenum is not required in very large quantities for your health, it is usually available as a part of a multivitamin or mineral supplement.

Medicinal Uses of Molybdenum Supplement

Molybdenum is an important trace element for human well being as it is a crucial constituent of most enzymes in the body, thus being indispensable for many bodily processes.

Here's a look at some of the health benefits of taking a molybdenum supplement.

1. Easing Asthma Attacks: An asthma attack can leave a person very distressed and gasping for breath, which is not a very pleasant experience, not to mention being potentially fatal.

Asthma is generally caused because of an adverse reaction with sulphites in our body. Molybdenum has been proved to be highly effective in negating the actions of sulphites and detoxifying them.

Thus, molybdenum can be very useful in lowering chances of asthma attacks.

2. Prevents Anemia: Molybdenum helps your body to absorb and utilize iron more efficiently, which is required to maintain healthy levels of hemoglobin in your body.

Thus, by taking a molybdenum supplement, you can reduce your risk of becoming anemic.

3. Treats Impotence: Various studies have shown that the mineral molybdenum is quite effective in treating and preventing impotence, especially in older men.

If these studies are conclusive (and they appear to be), molybdenum could easily be called the new Viagra!

4. Molybdenum for your Teeth: Taking molybdenum supplements has been shown to help in reducing tooth caries and also prevents decaying of teeth.

Molybdenum Supplement: Its Side Effects

When molybdenum is taken in the recommended doses (between 75 and 200 mcg per day for adults), it appears to be relatively safe and does not have any major side effects.

However, if molybdenum is taken in doses higher than recommended, it could lead to an overdose which can cause gout.

Other side effects of molybdenum overdose include swelling in the feet, pain in lower or side back, stomach aches, and joint pains.

Molybdenum Supplement: Precautions While Using

The presence of molybdenum in our bodies is controlled by the liver and kidneys, with any excess amounts being excreted in your urine.

Thus, if you have any kidney or liver disease, or if any of these organs are not functioning properly, you should avoid taking a molybdenum supplement, as there is a risk of high molybdenum levels in your blood, which can have harmful effects on your health.

Do not take any molybdenum supplement if you are expecting or nursing.

Tips On Choosing A Molybdenum Supplement

Buying a molybdenum supplement that has been made by a pharmaceutical GMP compliant maker will ensure that you get a safe product.

Buy a molybdenum supplement that has the mineral in the chelated form. In such a form, the mineral is attached to protein molecules and is thus better absorbed by your body.

As molybdenum can cause a copper deficiency, you should ensure that the molybdenum supplement you are buying contains copper too. One of the best ways to ensure this is to buy the best multivitamin supplement that you can find, that also contains molybdenum.

How To Identify And Treat Asthma Attacks?

There are various health disorders that do not hold any specific treatments, but the symptoms can certainly be avoided with necessary medications and treatments. Asthma is one such disorder whose symptoms indicate an inflammation in the bronchial tubes of the lungs as well as excessive production of a sticky secretion inside the bronchial tubes in the human body. Individuals that suffer from this disorder experience asthma attacks that can occur suddenly and can be quite scary for the person suffering from this disorder and also for the bystanders. These attacks usually occur when a person suffering from asthma comes in contact with a trigger such as an allergen, which can vary among different patients. As a result, the person faces difficulty in breathing and requires an immediate medical assistance.

However, if you see someone near you suffering from such similar kind of terrible condition, then it is important for you to learn on how to treat such kind of attacks.

• The most important factor that you need to learn is recognizing the symptoms. When adults suffer from an asthmatic attack, they usually intimate the same to the people near them, but such reaction is not similar with children. In order to recognize the same, you will find that during an asthmatic attack a person starts wheezing or have a bad coughing fit, which is uncontrollable. Additionally, if left untreated the person's lips or fingernails would turn blue or gray.

• If you notice such a condition, it is important for you to stay calm. This is because an individual suffering from an asthmatic attack is likely to panic, which can even worsen the condition. Therefore, by staying calm you can support the patient and assure them of getting relieved very soon.

• As mentioned earlier allergens are one of the main causes of asthma and different patients react differently towards various allergens. Once you have identified the cause of the attack, it is important to remove that particular object immediately or keep the patient away from the allergen. Dust, pollen, mold and pet dander are some of the common allergens, but again there might be other allergens that could trigger an asthma attack.

• Individuals that are suffering from asthma usually carry an inhaler that consists of albuterol. These inhalers can be helpful during an attack as they contain a medicine, which provides an immediate relief during an attack. However, if still not controlled, it is necessary to call for emergency medical assistance.

Asthma and Allergies - The Dangers of Ocular Histoplasmosis in Your Child

Children are fascinated by birds. Whenever you go to the beach or a park, you can always see a child feeding or chasing after birds, especially pigeons. It is important that parents with children with Asthma and Allergies understand the dangers of playing with pigeons. Most children with Asthma and Allergies have a compromised immune system that needs monitoring by a Physician, especially children with Asthma.

Histoplasmosis is contracted when you inhale the dust that carries the fungal spores. Its effect on the body can vary widely in severity from one person to another depending upon their immune system. People can be carriers and have no symptoms at all. Others can experience flu-like symptoms and mild respiratory infections. It becomes a problem in people who already have a weakened immune system such as individuals with Asthma and Allergies.

Histoplasma capsulatum is commonly found in the in the dust and soil of the Mississippi-Ohio River Valley region. There are a lot of individuals in this area that are are carriers. It affects both men and women equally. It can also be found in other parts of the country where large amounts of pigeons gather. It gets into the soil mostly from bird and bat droppings.

We had an unusual case in Boca Raton, Fl in an office building. The people in the building were complaining about flu-like symptoms. Investigation of the roof found a pigeon nest in the fresh air intake. Testing of the pigeon droppings and feathers were positive for the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Reported the problem to the building owner and they cleaned it up. There were no more flu-like symptoms in the building after the cleanup.

The fungus may affect the eye by causing small areas of inflammation. It also scars the retina. A Physician friend of mine told me that these spots are sometime called "histo spots" and can be found in both eyes. It can also affect your vision depending upon the location of the "histo spots". The scarring of the peripheral area of the retina could possibly have little or no impact on the vision. If you are scared in the central area, it could possibily cause a blind spot. This can be diagnosed by a Ophthalmologist who is familiar with Histoplasmosis.

The sign of ocular histoplasmosis in your child could be distorted vision, blind spots and scars on the retina. It is detected with a dilated examination of the retina using ophthalmoscopy. Regular eye exams is recommended for anyone with "histo spots". The best solution we can offer is to keep your children away from pigeons and their droppings at the beach and park areas. Prevention is the best solution for Histoplasma.

In conclusion, keep you children away from pigeons whose dropping can contain the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. A child with Asthma and Allergies must be especially careful to avoid pigeons at the beach and in parks where they gather. It is tough enough living with Asthma and Allergies without being exposed to this fungus which can affect people with compromised immune systems. If you feel you or your child have been exposed to Histoplasma, contact your Doctor immediately.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us for more information concerning Asthma, Allergies, Mold, Indoor Air Quality and the Chemically Injured.

A Comprehensive Report on Exacerbation of COPD

Exacerbation of COPD refers to a clinical condition featuring suddenly worsened persistent obstructive pulmonary symptoms. COPD is a group of problems manifesting with some widespread symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness and productive cough. When these symptoms suddenly become severe, the medical condition is termed as COPD exacerbation.

Causes and triggering components of exacerbation of COPD

Several factors give rise to exaggeration of persistent obstructive pulmonary diseases. Major causes complicating COPDs are respiratory infections due to bacterial and viral spreads, air pollution and pulmonary embolism and idiopathic initiation. In one third of these situations, the triggering elements are absent or cannot be justified. Some patients are susceptible to allergies to certain molecules and feature anaphylactic reaction which is presented as exacerbation of COPD as well.

Some patients have presented with worsened instances of COPD; after investigations failure of drug therapy turned out to be the triggering aspects in these instances. These all are prevalent difficulties that can give rise to life threatening lung incompatibilities. There are many other indefinable variables too; but they can't be associated with any symptom and hence not included into major causes.

Signs and symptoms: how to detect instances of COPD exacerbation

COPD by itself is a group of pulmonary diseases that require tertiary level medical attention. When COPD complicates with severe symptoms, it gives rise to a life threatening medical emergency. COPD can be defined as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases characterized by shortness of breath, chest tightness and productive cough with sputum. Emphysema and persistent bronchitis are regarded as COPDs. In scenarios of COPD exacerbation, these symptoms turn into severe medical features. So the signs and symptoms can be detailed as:

• Acute shortness of breath with noisy breathing sounds and chest breathing


• Increased level of anxiety, tachypnoea, rapid pulse and tachycardia


• Productive cough with sputum or hemoptysis


• Difficulty in sleeping and loss of appetite grossly


• Lack of speech; slurring of speech


• Morning or after-sleep headaches


• Swelling in the lower limbs; reduced mobility and abdominal pain or discomfort

How to prevent persistent obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation

Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be prevented partially. The principles of prevention refer to reducing or devastating the triggering components. Early diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections and pulmonary embolism are effective strategies to prevent worsening of COPD symptoms.

Simultaneously, the patient must take counseling from the professionals about the other aspects present in the atmosphere and how they can manifest into acute exacerbation symptoms. The patients should be well-informed about the penalties of drug therapy-failure instances. They should know about their allergic traits, genetic anomalies and the molecules that may act as things that trigger allergies to their immune programs. Exposure to polluted air is one of the major reasons of complicated COPDs in developing countries. Hence, making certain a pure air-atmosphere should also be taken under consideration.

Preventing Exacerbation of COPD

• Passive immunization modules or annual flu and pneumonia vaccines (are also known as flu shots)


• Maintaining correct sanitation, handwashing etc


• Observeing well balanced diet charts precisely, doing normal physical exercises or activities and sleeping


• Sustaining a healthy, neat and clear home natural environment; Keeping away from crowds, stop smoking etc.

How COPD exacerbation circumstances are treated: the Effective Methods

Various treatment methods are being used to manage acute COPD related medical emergencies. In cases of exacerbation of COPD, the basic define of treatment can be presented as:

Oxygen therapy: The therapy requires infusing high flow oxygen to the patient. Saturation of oxygen should be more than 90 percent for better management outcomes

Steroids therapy: Glucocorticosteroids are provided to the patient in oral, Intravenous or inhaled form. Steroids are thought of as life savers in instances of inflammation. Pulmonary problems respond almost instantly to steroidal therapies.

Antibiotics: If the underlying cause of exacerbation is associated with bacterial or viral infections, antibiotics must be prescribed instantly.

Bronchodilators: Bronchodilators help in breathing mechanisms. The patient is relieved and chances of shock stick toed by coma reduce significantly.

Others: Beside the major therapeutic measures, some experts provide with some supportive treatments. They often prescribe respiratory stimulants, ICU ventilator support, and palliative care after immediate medical centerization etc.

Management of COPD exacerbation Cases: Care at home and Hospitalization to Handle Emergencies

COPD cases are well managed at home after medical stick to up and conservative treatments. However worsening of the signs and symptoms require emergency medical care. That's why specialists propose immediate hospitalization after acute attack of exacerbation of COPD. The treatments stick to the standard protocol and the patient is provided necessary support for restoration. The management procedures can be divided into two major stages:

Care offered at home: The family members should be well aware about the situation. They must know how to keep the symptoms under control and support the patient in all possible ways. At home, proper hygiene, sanitation, air clearing should be practiced for supporting the medical treatments. The patient should be kept away from any kind of air pollution, smoke or contaminants in the air. The drugs should be provided in due time. balanced diet chart (may be a separate diet chart) should be maintained. The family members should help the patient take enough rest, do regular physical exercises and sleep adequately at night.

Management of COPD exacerbation at medical center: In acute conditions, the patient is taken to the medical center instantly. A pulmonologist visit and handle the case of acute COPD conditions. They quickly start the treatment protocol. High flow oxygen is offered instantly after admission. Gradually other supportive drugs like Steroids, bronchodilators etc. are provided.

Some Statistics on Exacerbation of COPD

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the US. These issues are deemed as one major cause of death in all the formulated and developing countries.

About 25 percent of diagnosed COPD cases are seen manifesting into exacerbation. About 15 percent COPD exacerbation circumstances lead to pulmonary failure and death.

More than 30 percent of COPD exacerbation situations don't associate any detectable cause. These instances are deemed as idiopathic.

Global initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease or GOLD for short, has been working on COPD exacerbation circumstances around the world. They have trained the medical professionals, millions of COPD patients about the sudden life threatening emergency medical condition. Lung functions are debilitated significantly in COPD exacerbation situations. Taking essential preventive measures, preserving an optimum and healthy atmosphere can safeguard the COPD patients from such lethal conditions.

Asthma Facts - Types Of Asthma and Causes

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder and is very prevalent in almost all parts of the world. There are mainly two different kinds of asthma. Sometimes there are symptoms that resemble asthma but do not actually qualify to be the full blown disease. This brings us to the need of understanding asthma thoroughly as a disease so that proper prevention and cure can then be practiced.

Asthma is generally broadly classified to be of two types. These are the categories of bronchial asthma and the categorization is based on the simple criteria of the predominant factors that cause the disease. These two types are:

Extrinsic Asthma: Extrinsic asthma is classified as that form of asthma which develops when the people prone to it are exposed to surroundings containing various allergens. Generally these people do not show any symptoms and appear to be perfectly healthy but upon exposure to an allergen that has the potency to develop symptoms in them they can develop the symptoms of asthma very quickly.

The symptoms thus manifested can range from mild to chronic depending upon the reaction of the body towards the allergen. The people who generally develop asthma this way show a tendency towards other allergies and infections also like eczema. If tested it is seen that such people generally show allergic reactions to one or more than one allergens. These allergens can be of any kind. They can be food allergens or dust or animal dander or smoke or pollutants of any other kind.

It is important to understand that the people who are usually prone to this kind of asthma may have been suffering from recurrent mild to severe bouts of cold, cough and repeated sneezing. This happens generally because the respiratory tract becomes weakened with every such bout of cold and since the person is already prone to allergies, chances of his system contacting asthma become very high. This is also a type of asthma that is very prevalent in younger stages in life especially in smaller kids who get exposed to atmospheric pollutants a lot.

In the third world countries the situation is very bleak for patients showing tendencies of extrinsic asthma. This is because the laws controlling the effect of pollutants from various factories and developmental outlets are very poor and most of the time they are constantly flouted. So the tendency of extrinsic asthma can be really called as a developmental or lifestyle disease.

It is also seen that many of the patients who show tendencies of this type of asthma may continue to be prone to various allergies even in later stages of life. Sometimes allergy triggered off by one kind of allergen can be easily translated into a full blown asthmatic attack also.

Sometimes allergies caused by allergens may lead to asthma like symptoms but they do not qualify as full blown cases of asthma. Allergies are very difficult to detect because of the variety of allergens as well as the variety of reactions shown by the patients towards each. But careful analysis by a qualified doctor can lead to proper judgement in the detection of asthma.

Normally most cases of extrinsic asthma may benefit tremendously with anti-allergic treatments of different types. This is because the disease is mainly caused due to the allergen triggers and gets suppressed with adequate suppression of the allergen. But once the allergen is identified or even suspected the patients must take care in not exposing themselves to it to the extent possible.

Intrinsic Asthma: This type of asthma is generally not a resultant of allergic reaction to any kind of allergens. This may occur generally in the later stages of life. The disease may take full blown proportions and may manifest all of a sudden. This means that the disease has a way of attacking the people who do not have any known history of similar or even remotely similar disorders. This also applies to not having any genetic history of the disease. These facts make it very difficult for the patient as well as the doctor as the patient's psychological acceptance of any disease is of prime importance in any treatment. Since this disease is not triggered by allergens, these patients do not respond to the anti-allergic treatments of any kind.

Intrinsic asthma normally occurs due to some disease of the lung that may have existed for a long time but may not have been detected. Sometimes it is seen that the patients suffering from some kind of bronchial infection in the early stages of life develop intrinsic asthma all of a sudden after many years of the infection being cured and without any manifestation of any kind of symptoms of recurrence of the infection. This only goes to show that the lung infections need to be detected and treated properly and should never be neglected.

Also the people who have had any kind of lung disorder should take extra care and get themselves checked from time to time. Such people should also take care to get the condition of asthma ruled out properly if they ever find themselves in situations where even mild symptoms of asthma are visible in their systems.

What is Asthma Or Bronchospasm?

WHAT IS ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that affects our airways (the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs).

Asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and feeling tight in the chest. Each person with asthma may have different symptoms.

Children and young people with asthma have airways that are almost always red and sensitive (inflamed). These airways can react badly when children and young people with asthma come into contact with an asthma trigger.

Asthma triggers

Asthma trigger can be anything that irritates our airways and causes asthma symptoms. There are many triggers and the common triggers include house-dust mites, colds, viral infections, pollen, cigarette smoke, furry or feathery animals, exercise, outdoor air pollution, laughter, excitement and stress. There are many people with this chronic disease and each one of them may have different triggers and most of the time they can have several of them. It is important that anyone with asthma should know his own triggers and try to stay away from them or take precautions.

What happens during an asthma attack?

When a person with asthma comes into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscles around the walls of the airways in their lungs are tightening so that the airways become narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and begins to swell, making it difficult to breathe and leading to symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing or feeling tight in the chest. It is at this point that the person with that disease will need to take a dose of his reliever medicine.

What does asthma feel like?

Every person can feel different asthma.

Asthma varies in severity from person to person. Some people will experience an occasional cough or wheeze, while for others; the symptoms will be much more severe.

Some people with asthma may occasionally need to take time off work if they have come into contact with a trigger (for example contact with house-dust mites). Some people with asthma may experience those symptoms after contacting with feathery animals and as a result they can suffer at night and become tired at work.

Avoiding known triggers where possible and taking the correct medicines can usually control asthma effectively for most children and young people.

To help with asthma control, all people should have regular asthma reviews with their doctor or nurse. They should also have a personal asthma action plan.

Childhood Asthma is Preventable

Childhood Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by tight airways -- a result of airways being too responsive. Our airways are meant to respond to harmful substances in the air. Our airways shrink when we're in a smoky atmosphere, protecting our delicate lung tissues from the noxious ingredients in the smoke. They should go back to normal in fresh air but it doesn't always work that way with asthmatics.

That's the official point of view, from a medical industry that claims not to know how to cure asthma. The people who do cure the problem say that asthma is your body's attempt to compensate for bad breathing methods. So you should learn to breathe properly.

Here are some warning signs

Baby pants more than 40 breaths per minute while asleep.

Child refuses suckling.

Skin between ribs is pulled tight while breathing.

Rest of body seems small compared to chest.

Your baby's fingernails become blue

Your infant doesn't cry much because of shortness of breath.

Struggles to breath through mouth and flared nostrils.

Grunts like a pig during breast feeding.

Asthma and pregnancy

So much for asthma in kids. Now how could mothers give rise to asthma? (I'm not letting fathers off the hook either.) If you breathe badly you can't give your baby enough Oxygen.. Your baby gets all its Oxygen from your bloodstream so if you don't breathe properly your baby will be deficient. Yes, you really can learn to breathe properly.

Doctors like to charge you as much as possible, like any other business people. They offer us quack medicine to make us feel better, while making asthma worse, while telling us there is no cure. CORRECTION: I've just discovered it's not all the doctors' fault. They have been told by the medical industry that they will lose their licence to practice medicine if they tell you about the free cure for asthma.

The medical industry offers this official point of view (note the drug adverts included): "Remember: Using asthma medicine during pregnancy is much safer than letting your asthma get out of control. Such asthma medicines as inhaled beta-agonists (quick relief medicines like Maxair or Proventil), cromolyn (medicines that prevent triggers from causing reactions in your lungs, like Intal), and inhaled steroids (long-term controller medicines like Flovent) are safe for pregnant women when you take them as directed by your doctor. Please don't read the instructions as it might decrease our income." Some of that is untrue.

Experts tell you that exercise can trigger an asthma attack. I've noticed that digging the garden a couple of times a year triggers sore muscles. But if I was doing it every day there would be no sore muscles. Take a gentle stroll every day while you are pregnant for half an hour. Exercise is important and you should be able to be physically active without having asthma symptoms after the first few days of exercise.

Prevention of asthma in toddlers

Get ready for a shock! Having at least two pets in the house drastically reduces asthma later on. Fair enough if you don't give your toddlers a chance to learn to fight asthma in childhood by having pets they are likely to suffer every time a cat or dog comes near them. But it's natural for children to be among pets and perhaps eat a cockroach or two. Don't protect them too much or you may give them asthma.

Of course

doctors responsible for asthma in kids

I think that the doctors are more to blame than you, because they should know better. doctors cause a lot of the trouble in their endless attempts to sell you more drugs. Tests show that antibiotics destroy the correct activity in a child's intestine. This leads to impaired immune systems and asthma.

Abusing prescription drugs is as common as, or maybe even more common than, street drug use - and doctors are often to blame. your child could die from a prescription drug that has helped make your doctors wealthy.

Some children are constantly ill, because steroids prescribed by doctors have affected their immune system.

Danger in the showers. When chlorine vaporizes it combines with other airborne particles and forms dangerous chloroform gas. Tests show that asthma and other breathing problems are created. The U.S. EPA states that "Due to chlorine and showering, there is an elevated level of chloroform gas in virtually every home in America...". Many studies have linked chlorine to childhood asthma and reported that most of the risks are associated with showering in chlorinated water.

Sing Your Cares Away

Maldon & South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust has started a project to improve the quality of life of local children with asthma.

"Asthma is a serious condition for many youngsters," says Sarah Southerby, the PCT's healthy living co-ordinator. "The 'Huff and Puff' project holds innovative classes using song and art as mediums for helping children to control their breathing."

The workshops include simple songs, rhythms and breathing techniques, to teach the children not to panic when they suffer shortness of breath.