Recognizing the Early Signs of Asthma

Asthma is among the most common breathing disorders among children. An asthma attack occurs when the airways of the patient tighten up. An asthma attack causes great discomfort in the patient as the patient struggles to breathe and finds it hard to regain his natural breathing rhythm. In a large number of cases, the problem subsides, as the child steps into his teens. But it is important for parents to recognize these early signs of asthma, so that appropriate care and treatment can be incorporated.

Asthma Causes & Triggers

The swelling of bronchial tubes causes the tightening of air passage, which causes the patient to breathe with difficulty. It is not known, that what exactly triggers an asthma attack. However, certain factors which may be a mix of environmental and genetic factors are held responsible for this disorder. Some of the reasons for early signs of asthma are:

o Family history of asthma
o Allergies
o Respiratory or viral infection during growing years, which causes the immune system to become weak and thus prone to allergies
o According to another theory, tremendous emphasis on hygiene during early childhood makes children susceptible to infections and allergies, when they step outside the protected environment of their homes.
o Some medications
o Strenuous physical exercise

Prevention Of The Disease

The most important thing for people with early signs of asthma is to avoid contact with allergens or factors causing allergy. These may include: dust, cat or dog hair, cockroach waste, mold, pollen, etc. Some other factors may also irritate the normal functioning of the respiratory tract of the patient. That may include pollution from vehicles, chemicals, cigarette or tobacco smoke, etc. Rigorous exercise and physical activity must also be avoided by the patients.

Common Symptoms Of Asthma

Symptoms of asthma may vary from one patient to the other and from time to time in the same patient. Attacks of asthma are often preceded by the symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, tightness of chest, and wheezing.

The intensity of an asthma attack may be mild or severe. Mild asthma attacks are common and occur more often. They subside in a few minutes to a few hours, when the airways open up. The patient suffers discomfort during such time, but his condition is under control. Severe asthma attacks occur rarely but in such cases, immediate medical attention is required. Patients prone to severe attacks must always have an inhaler within easy reach.

Treating Asthma

Treatment of asthma is a combination of medical care and prevention.
Three step regimen is followed for treating this disorder.

1. Steering clear of trigger factors
2. Medication
3. Observing and controlling symptoms

More important than curing asthma is to control the symptoms of asthma. This can only be done when the patient and their family recognize the symptoms in time.

Tips and Solutions for Working Out With Asthma

Tips and Solutions for Working Out With Asthma

Exercise is an important part of everyone's life, and it is especially important for people with asthma to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet because being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms. It may be difficult for some people with asthma to get regular exercise without aggravating their asthma symptoms. The solution is for individuals with asthma to figure out what exercise program works best for them and to learn how to manage asthma symptoms if or when they do arise during exercise.

Generally, sports and workouts involving short bursts of activity, such as gymnastics, weight training, softball or baseball, wrestling, diving and volleyball, are well tolerated by people with asthma. Swimming is also generally a good form of exercise for those with asthma because the environment is warm and humid. Activities that have been reported to help people with asthma breathe better, such as yoga and tai chi, are usually not a problem for an asthmatic person. Sports and workouts that involve extended periods of activity or take place in cold environments, such as hockey, snow skiing, ice skating, running, jogging, basketball, soccer or lacrosse, may not be well tolerated well by someone with asthma, although many people with asthma can still participate in those activities with few or no problems and some believe that more intense cardiovascular exercises such as running or playing soccer can help an asthmatic person's lungs to function more efficiently and allow for easier breathing.

It is important for anyone with asthma to take certain precautions both before and during exercise. Using an inhaler prior to working out can help diminish any asthma symptoms that may appear during exercise. If you suffer from asthma, you should learn how to breathe correctly while exercising and should take the time to stretch before exercising. Some asthma sufferers find that stretching their upper body, particularly their chest/pecs is helpful in allowing them to breathe more easily while exercising. If it is cold outside, those who suffer from asthma should consider exercising indoors rather than outside or covering their mouth and nose during exercise. If someone with asthma has a viral infection, such as a cold, he or she should consider restricting exercise until his or her heath improves. After exercising, a cool down period is necessary. Sometimes, asthma symptoms will arise during a workout. If that happens, it is important for the asthma sufferer to remain calm and use his or her inhaler. If the symptoms disappear completely, the person may return to exercise if he or she feels able to. If the symptoms do not go away, the person should use his or her inhaler a second time and call his or her doctor. In some cases, it may be necessary to call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Everyone should consult his or her physician prior to beginning any exercise regimen, either on your own or with a personal trainer. If someone with asthma follows these recommendations, he or she should be able to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle with minimal problems due to asthma.

Asthma Diary - Use it to Record Your Asthma

Keeping an asthma diary puts the state of your health firmly in your own hands and you can keep it there with a dedicated record of your asthma. It's going to empower you more than you think.

No two people are identical (not even identical twins) and how our bodies react to asthma triggers varies from person to person. In terms of disease and epidemics, asthma is different: it affects over 20 million people in the US yet no two cases are identical. Medically, it is recognized as having a genetic link, meaning you inherited your tendency toward asthma from your parents or grandparents (someone has to be blamed!). The asthma symptoms are all very similar but what differ in people are the triggers which cause the attack.

Common Triggers

The most common asthma triggers are easily identified (dust, dog, cats, rabbits, exercise, laughing, cold air). With a little thought and common sense, a pattern will soon emerge if these affect you. There are, of course, degrees of intolerance to each trigger (known or unknown trigger) and this can be confusing. This is where a dedicated asthma diary will show you just what your body reacts to with an asthma attack.

You may already have an awareness of whether or not pets bring on an asthma attack. Exercising, speaking excitedly, laughing, breathing in cold air - these are all potential triggers which you may already have identified as being definite triggers. But are there times when they act as triggers and other times you are not so sure?

Keeping Your Asthma Diary

With a diary, we can record more information than just the time and place of the attack. For example, when recording physical exercise, note the weather and temperature. Where did you exercise and what was in the environment? Should there be any change in the environment (i.e., flowers, drapes being open/closed, deodorant, perfume -- even worn by other people), note that too.

Food is another item worth recording as your trigger may be a certain ingredient, e.g., wheat, sugar, cheese. While investigating your body's reaction to food, it is helpful to eat very simply. Plain meals at home make that easier as you know exactly what went into them. A plain omelet one night may be OK while a cheese omelet another night may trigger an attack. Immediately, you would suspect the cheese - unless of course you went out on a cold night to visit a friend who owns a cat!

Baked potatoes are a good place to start as you can give them different fillings -- provided the potato itself is not a trigger. You may find that eating proteins and carbs at different times will improve your tolerance, so a potato on its own is not a problem, neither is tuna fish, but together they may bring on an asthma attack.

Test Your Control Pause

Complicated? Yes, but it is not forever. A few days are probably all it takes to see a pattern emerge. As a measure of your progress, test your Control Pause. You do this by counting the number of seconds you can hold your breath following the out breath. Do this simple test in the morning before getting up. Just breathe out normally and check the number of seconds before your body requires you to breathe in again -- do not wait until you are gasping!

You may not even be able to wait one second, and that is OK. What we do is try to last marginally longer each morning, without causing distress. Right now, you will not believe it possible but one day you may reach a control pause of 40 seconds or more -- with ease. You can increase your control pause by doing breathing exercises. Many people have found their asthma attacks stop when they have a Control Pause of greater than 20. This gives them the confidence to lead a normal life.

Avoid These Things To Prevent Your Asthma Symptoms

Asthma attacks are scary episodes. When they happen to you or a loved one, it is natural to panic and lose control of the situation. While maintaining your calm during an attack is important, perhaps the most important thing you should understand is the things that can trigger an attack. Knowing them can help you to prevent a problem before it turns into an out of control situation.

1. Tobacco smoke

If you are someone who suffers from asthma attacks, you should avoid smoking at all costs. Smoking can constrict your airways and bring about an attack due to the tar and nicotine you are inhaling. If you are a smoker who is not able to quit on your own, seek medical assistance. In addition to quitting smoking, it is also beneficial to stay away from second hand smoke, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.

2. Pollution

Air pollution is a serious problem for those who suffer from asthma. When the air quality is poor, the result can be a devastating attack that quickly spins out of control. While it is not possible to avoid all air pollution, there are some things you can do. Stay indoors during periods of peak heat and humidity. When possible, avoid pollution from exhausts, such as that you are exposed to sitting in traffic during peak rush hour. If attacks are very severe due to this trigger, it is beneficial to consider moving to a less populated, more rural area if at all possible.

3. Strenuous Exercise

Those who suffer from allergies benefit from regular exercise. It helps to open airways and increases the circulation of oxygen within the body. That being said, sometimes excessive exercise can be dangerous, and it might even bring about an asthma attack. Avoid exercising in excessively hot conditions or prolonging difficult and strenuous exercise programs. If you are having difficulty breathing, don't try to push yourself. Instead, take a break and get some water. You can always return to your exercise once your body has had an opportunity to rest for a bit.

4. Strong Chemicals

Chemicals can omit gases that are dangerous to the respiratory system and prompt an asthma attack. Fortunately, avoiding such chemicals in your home is relatively simple. Consider purchasing natural cleaning products or using homemade products such as vinegar and baking soda based cleansers. If you must use a chemical such as bleach or ammonia, make sure to do so only in a well ventilated area. Open all windows, turn on fans and consider wearing a mask to protect yourself from breathing in any toxic gases. Finally, never mix chemicals in combination with each other; many can be very dangerous.

An asthma attack is serious, and controlling attacks is beneficial to anyone who suffers from this illness. While it is not always possible to control every environmental trigger, there are some simple steps you can take to lessen the frequency of attacks and improve your quality of life. Follow the steps outlined here and be sure to discuss any concerns related to attacks with your family physician.

Causes of Asthma Attacks

It is vital in improving your health to know the different causes of asthma attacks. This helps you to understand what triggers your medical condition so that you will be able to protect yourself against their disturbing effects. Knowing these triggers can also be useful to guide you in order for you to prevent them from worsening your condition.

Asthma is a frightening experience to witness not only for you but also for the people around you. Even if you'll say that it is only just a mild attack, it can still be considered severe as well as a life threatening event. Regardless of the level of severity, it still needs immediate medical attention and treatment. Here are the things that you should know.

Allergens

Asthma is usually caused by allergens such as pet dander, mold spores, dust and pollen. These allergens are usually found in the environment that you live in, and it circulates in the air you breathe. You may feel confident in inhaling the air in your home but what you don't know is that there might be an allergen included in it. Once inhaled, it can cause an allergic reaction which results inflammation to the airway passages.

Poor quality of air

Always remember that a clean home is not always an indication that you're breathing a safe air. You may not even be aware that you're surrounded by an unsafe air. Breathing in a poor air quality environment can irritate your airway passages, which in turn can lead to asthma attacks.

Smoke

If you're a smoker and you have asthma or anyone in your family, you're putting yourself and your love one's in great danger. Smoke that comes from tobacco products, cigarettes, cigars as well as pipes can greatly trigger an asthma attack.

Infections

There are certain infections that can affect the condition of an asthmatic person. It includes influenza, pneumonia, colds and bronchitis. These infections can temporarily weaken your lungs, which can result to an asthma attack.

Exercise

Most people know that exercise is good for the health but not in the case of some asthmatic individuals. In their condition, even a light or tiring exercise can cause their asthma to worsen. However, it still depends on the environment and other conditions such as the weather. One of the best things to do with this medical condition is to understand the causes of asthma attacks. Knowing this can help you prevent the threatening effects of asthma.

The Himalayan Inhaler Could Be Your Best Choice

A salt inhaler is a device that helps you relax your respiratory system. It is an age old custom to sit for hours in a salt cave to inhale the salt laden air and clean the respiratory system. There are places where this happens even today. But with modern technology available to you, it is now possible to get these health benefits right in the comfort of your home. For people with respiratory complications like asthma, this is one great item to use. Among all the salt inhaler, the Himalayan inhaler is supposed to be the best.

You must have seen inhalers. Asthma patients always carry these miniature pumping devices. The moment they have an asthma attack, they take out their inhaler and use it to pump in the medication into their respiratory system. You must also have seen the horror on their faces when they cannot locate their inhaler. Asthma is such a problem that people go to any length to have it cured. Some alternative medicine practitioners says that sitting inside a salt cave is a good cure for asthma. This is a natural treatment for asthma where people inhale the salt infused air that kills harmful bacteria inside the body. Better quality air is inhaled in higher quantities, and that leads to an overall health improvement.

Imagine doing all this at home. This is exactly why you need a salt inhaler. A salt inhaler looks exactly like a normal inhaler that people suffering from asthma use. Whenever you need some salty air, you simply put the nozzle inside your mouth and inhale deeply. You suck in the high salt and oxygen content air that immediately does a cleaning job inside your body.

Among the salt inhalers that are available in the market, one that is really doing well is the Himalayan inhaler. As we all know, the Himalayas are the highest mountain ranges in the world and the Himalayan inhaler contains all the purity of these majestic mountain ranges. It uses the healthiest available salt, known as Himalayan salt which contains every kind of mineral, including all the trace minerals.

The urban areas of the world are getting more polluted by the day. The air is rich with all kinds of toxins that we are continuously exposed to. Without us even realizing it, polluted air is seeping through the pores in our bodies - the nose, the mouth and even the sweat glands. If you could only look inside your respiratory system when you come back home in the evening you would have seen the body systems scream in agony. The salt inhaler, especially the Himalayan inhaler acts as a soothing balm for your respiratory system.

The best way to let your respiratory system breathe pure ionized air is with a salt inhaler. Purchase your Himalayan inhaler today and start feeling rejuvenated when you inhale the healthy air for the first time.

10 Natural Ways to Ease Asthma

1. Stay away from cigarette smoke and do not smoke. Do not smoke around children or babies, especially if they have asthma.

2. Stay away from log fires, open fireplaces, and wood stoves. They may be romantic but they will aggravate your asthma.

3. Do not go to sleep on a full stomach. Stomach reflux can aggravate your asthma.

4. When exercising, keep your mouth closed and breathe through your nose. If you breathe through your mouth, it dries your throat and can trigger an attack. Swimming is great exercise and will not dry out your throat.

5. Try to avoid extra salt and be careful of food additives. Most asthma is brought on by allergies and if you are allergic to food additives, you can trigger an attack.

6. Aspirin and ibuprofen can be deadly to asthma sufferers. A sensitivity can develop without notice so it is best to avoid these products completely

7. If you do not have your inhaler and feel an attack coming on you can try two cups of strong coffee or a couple of chocolate bars. The caffeine can help in an emergency.

8. Talk to your doctor about vitamin B6. It is dangerous in large doses but it has been noted that many asthma sufferers are also low in B6.

9. A warm dry climate with little pollution is the best climate for an asthma sufferer.

10. Listen to your body. Learn your warning signs and do not ignore them. If you start to have more attacks or more severe attacks, see your doctor. People die unnecessarily from asthma. Look after your condition and you will be able to live a totally normal life.

Allergic Disorders of the Lungs - Bronchial Asthma in Particular

These are disorders caused by allergic substances or particles which stimulate hypersensitivity of the lungs. They are of great medical significance to man because these disorders affects a good percentage of the world population today.

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
These are a group of disorders characterized by the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Many of them are caused by organic dusts. Fungal spores contaminating by penetrating the epithelium of the alveoli can produce a type III hypersensitivity reaction, leading to bronchioloalveolitis. Several distinct entities are included in this group.

Some common types of bronchioalveolitis
Farmer's lung (mouldy hay), Bagassosis (Sugarcane dust), Mushroom worker's lung (Mushroom compost), Malt-worker's lung ( mouldy barley, malt dust), Maple-bark stripper's lung (mouldy bark), Bird fancier's lung (bird's droppings).

Clinically all these disorders cause dyspnea and systemic disturbances on exposure to the antigen. Physical examination may reveal wheeze and crepitations. Skiagram of the chest may reveal small nodular shadows of diffuse honeycombing. Avoidance of the allergen causes relief of symptoms and recovery in the early stages, but in advanced cases the symptoms continue. Diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis develops in those cases which continue a chronic pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. Treatment consists of avoidance of the allergen and bronchodilators. In some cases, corticosteroids are beneficial.

Bronchial Asthma
This is perhaps the most common chronic respiratory ailment seen all over the world. Around 0.5-2% of the population suffer from asthma. Bronchial asthma is clinically characterized by widespread reversible functional narrowing of the airways that varies in severity. The tracheobronchial tree reveals increased responsiveness to several factors, both immunological and non-immunological. Immunological mechanisms are precipitated by several organic and other dusts, fumes, chemicals and so on. Non-immunological stimuli include thermal, chemical or psychological factors.

Bronchial asthma is broadly classified into the extrinsic and intrinsic (cryptogenic) types. In the former an external precipitating factor is identifiable, whereas in the latter it is not. The antigens include ingested, inhaled or parenterally administered substances. The serum of such individuals may show elevated levels of specific antibodies belonging to the IgE and sometimes IgG classes. Persons developing extrinsic asthma have other atopic manifestations like eczema. The dermatological and respiratory manifestation show a see-saw relationship. In many cases family history of bronchial asthma may be present. Extrinsic asthma generally sets in by the age of 10-15 years. This type has a better prognosis from the point of response to therapy and mortality. The age of onset for instrinsic asthma is after 30 years. Precipitating causes or raised antibody levels are not evident but these patients show a higher frequency of eosinophilia, aspirin sensitivity, and nasal polyposis.

Pathogenesis
Common stimuli which precipitate extrinsic asthma are inhaled allergens-like house dust, pollens, fungi, animal hairs, insect scales and industrial fumes, and foods and drugs which are consumed in day-to-day life. Once sensitization occurs, these antigens release chemical mediators from the mast cells by interacting with the IgE molecules on their surface. Type I hypersensitivity reaction ensues. Asthma can also be caused by type III (delayed) hypersensitivity mechanism mediated by IgG. In some individuals both type I and type III reactions occur, the former leasing to an immediate asthmatic paroxysm and the latter leading to a delayed episode.

Exercise-induced asthma is a condition in which bronchospams is provoked by various forms of exercise such as running or climbing stairs, but others such as swimming may not do so. Provocation of bronchospasm by cold inspired air is a possibility in such cases. The mechanism is a type I hypersensitivity reaction. Some subjects with intrinsic asthma develop the symptoms on taking aspirin. Respiratory infection and psychological stress play important roles in precipitating asthmatic paroxysms in both types. Both viral and bacterial infections may trigger off a paroxysm and the episodes tend to recur as long as the infections persist. In children asthma may be the presenting symptom in primary tuberculosis, so also in adults asthma may be aggravated by coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis. Cigarette smoking and air pollution act as aggravating factors in many affected individuals. The role of psychological stress is more in perpetuating the asthma than initiating the condition.

Pathology
The main lesion is in the bronchi and other small air passages. The bronchi are obstructed by inspissated mucus. The bronchial mucosa is edematous. The submucosa also shows edema and infiltration by eosinophils and basophils. The smooth muscle layers show marked hypertrophy. The final picture of bronchial obstruction is brought about by a combination of bronchial muscle spasm, mucosal edema, and thick secretions. The lungs show hyperinflations which is reversible in the early stages.

Clinical features
The attacks start with dyspnea (often at rest), expiratory wheeze and cough. The onset is abrupt in most cases. These attacks may occur seasonally or during all times of the year (perennials asthma). The attacks may last for several hours if untreated. Severity of the paroxysm varies. In the moderately severe case the patient is orthopneic and cyanosed, and the accessory muscles of respiration are active. There may be ineffective cough with only very scanty and tenacious mucoid expectoration. The asthmatic paroxysm in many individuals is ushered in by coughing and sneezing on exposure to the allergen. The pulse is rapid. Blood pressure is normal or elevated. In severe cases pulsus paradoxus may occur. Expansion of the chest is considerably diminished, often to less than 2cm during the attack. The diagnostic feature of bronchial asthma is the presence of expiratory wheeze heard all over the chest.

What Are the Symptoms of Cold Induced Asthma?

Asthma is defined as inflammation of the airways which results from exposure to different triggers. There are many different triggers which are established to cause an attack. One example is tobacco smoke. This can start an attack if it is the specific trigger for that person. Remember that people may have different triggers. Like one person's asthma is triggered by tobacco smoke while for another person it can be triggered by allergy to pollen.

Allergy is closely linked to asthma. Like allergies to pollen, dust mites, or even food can trigger an attack. Exposure to these allergens can start an attack. Did you know that exercise is also a trigger? Yes, this specific type of asthma is called exercise induced asthma. In this case, the simple act of playing for kids can start an attack.

Another trigger is cold air. This is called cold induced asthma. People with the said disease advised not to stay in unheated rooms during winter. Simply inhaling cold, dry air can trigger an asthma attack which is why people with that kind of disease have to take extra precautions during winter months.

What are the symptoms of this kind of disease? Like other types of asthma, people with asthma cold induced experience difficulty in breathing. As the air passages swell, these become constricted which makes it hard to breathe properly. Breathing difficulty is usually accompanied by chest tightness or pain.

Another symptom of asthma cold induced is cyanosis. This means that the body lacks oxygen which makes the asthmatic person cyanotic or has bluish face or lips. Decreased levels of consciousness is also another symptom of asthma cold induced. This is also a result of the decreasing oxygen levels in the body. Some people with asthma cold induced experience loss of consciousness if the asthma attack is not reversed immediately.

Like most people who have asthma, experiencing an attack makes them apprehensive. The same is true if the person has asthma cold induced. Since the asthmatic person starts experiencing breathing difficulty, he or she will start feeling apprehensive because of the thought that something is wrong.

These are the symptoms of asthma cold induced. In the case of asthma cold induced, does it mean that you have to stay indoors during winter months? The answer is no. You can still go outside during winter months as long as you take the necessary precautions to prevent an asthma attack.

To prevent an asthma attack, you can simply wear a scarf over your nose and mouth when you are outdoors. Exercising must only be done indoors or in a heated room. You must bring your anti-asthma medications with you at all times.

Asthma's Down the Pan

A staggering 5.4 million people suffer from asthma in the UK. Asthma is an illness that seems to belong to modern, Western society and its prevalence has been on the increase since the 1970's.

Although mortality rates from asthma have been on the decline this is only due to the fact that asthma is now better managed. The various treatments are much more effective in controlling its more extreme possibilities. However, asthma remains an illness that can have a devastating impact on individual lives.

Analysis highlights some significant facets about the illness:

• Half of all cases occur in children under 10 years old.

• In this age group it affects twice as many males as females.

• 60% of adults who suffer are female.

• If one parent has asthma the chance of their child developing asthma is approximately double that of children whose parents don't have asthma.

• Children born into households that use cleaners more are twice as likely to suffer persistent wheezing.

Currently, there is no clear culprit as to the cause of asthma. Many suspects have been proposed: pollution, smoking, modern living, central heating, house dust, exercise. None of these are the actual causes of asthma - they are either triggers to an asthma attack or create the environmental conditions conducive to an asthma attack. They are not the root cause of somebody having an asthmatic condition.

There is though a possible culprit with a degree of suspicion hanging over it; one that has previously been indirectly implicated but one that has never been closely scrutinised. As part of the interrogation I would like to look at a number of key questions.

What is the reason for somebody suffering from asthma?

A relatively recent argument as to the cause of asthma observes our increased use of cleaning materials and argues that our increasingly sterile homes mean that we cannot develop the immunity that we previously used to acquire through exposure to bacteria.

However, I would argue that the problem is much more direct than that.

In a nutshell, asthma arises because we put bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) down the toilet; we leave it to do its work, sometimes overnight, we then, too often, use the toilet without flushing it beforehand.

The mix of urine (containing ammonia) and bleach reacts to give off a small dose of Chloramines which we breathe in and which causes the damage to our lungs.

Repeated regularly the damage becomes significant.

Our damaged/weakened lungs become less hardy and more sensitive to our environment. Triggers that we would not previously have reacted to suddenly begin to affect us more. For some, exposure to these triggers leads to an asthma attack, the affected condition of their lungs making them more susceptible to attack from elements within the air that they breathe.

There does remain a question mark as to whether the lungs are actually damaged or whether they merely develop a heightened defensive system - in other words, they react more quickly to a perceived threat. This could be a significant finding, as it would determine the remedial route for those people who already suffer from asthma. If it is the former then the lungs need to undergo physical repair; if it is the latter then retraining or rehabilitation may suffice.

Why do some people suffer more than others? Why do some people suffer whereas others do not?

There are two basic reasons why there are different levels of suffering;

Firstly, people have different levels of exposure. Obviously, the greater the level of exposure then the higher the risk. Households use differing quantities of cleaning materials; different strengths of cleaning materials, different ways of using those cleaning products. Our levels of exposure varies.

It is also worth noting that, not only do we use more household cleaners, including bleach, but also our attitude to the physical task of cleaning has changed. We spend less time cleaning, believing instead that we can clean as effectively by throwing chemicals at the problem. We will, for instant, put the bleach down the toilet to clean it rather than actually cleaning it manually.

Secondly, we have different levels of sensitivity. The variation in the extent and the depth to which people suffer from asthma is due to our different body mechanisms. The lung damage will heighten an individual's level of asthma risk but they must have a pre-disposition to that sensitivity.

Pain, hunger, the cold, tiredness we all feel them differently. What might be a cold room for one person might be perfectly fine for somebody else; a night of sleeplessness might leave one person exhausted whereas somebody else may cope without feeling any different. Our lungs function similarly. The size, effectiveness and sensitivity of our lungs vary. Any lung damage effectively changes the height of the bar. It reduces their performance and, consequently, may well reduce the amount of exposure we need to a substance in order to trigger an asthma reaction.

We should also consider that an individual's diet may affect the amount of ammonia in their urine and therefore make them more at risk from asthma? We know that asparagus has a high ammonia content. Similarly, dehydration and bacterial infection (particularly in women) can increase ammonia levels.

What causes the lung damage?

Our liver converts ammonia in our bodies into urea which is then expelled in our urine. This ammonia in our urine when mixed with Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) produces Chloramines which when inhaled causes the damage to our lungs.

Of course, the dose we will be exposed to in our daily ablutions is minuscule yet it will still be damaging to us. Whatever we do, if we do it often enough, will have an impact.

It's like using a sun bed: too much, too often and you risk increasing your chances of developing skin cancer. Repeated exposure to Chloramines damages the functioning of our lungs.

Why is asthma so common in children?

Children's lungs are much smaller and more sensitive as they are still developing. They are therefore more vulnerable to any damage.

We must also consider their level of exposure to the Chloramines.

Many households leave the bleach to soak in the toilet overnight. In the morning, the first person up is six-year-old Tommy who dutifully goes to the toilet and thereby receives a shot of Chloramine.

Also, boys being smaller and standing directly over the toilet bowl receive a much higher Chloramine dose and therefore inhale more. This supports the evidence that in children more boys suffer from asthma than girls.

The damage is cumulative so, with age, lung damage becomes more common. As boys grow their nasal proximity to the Chloramine gas is reduced whereas for females, sitting on the toilet, they remain much closer. This may explain why, with age, more females develop asthma than males. It may also be of relevance that, generalising and stereotyping slightly, as women tend to do most of the toilet cleaning their potential levels of exposure are greater through doing this.

Are there any other sources of Chloramine exposure that cause lung damage?

A similar chlorine based cleaning material is used in swimming pools. Again, the chlorine when combined with urine and sweat gives off a Chloramine gas which people then inhale. In a swimming pool any urine is substantially diluted. However, it is still there and repeated exposure can contribute to lung damage. Hence the reason why so many swimmers suffer from asthma.

How should we be seeking to cure asthma?

We firstly need to eliminate the cause of the problem by ensuring we do not unwittingly produce Chloramines and expose ourselves to them. This will prevent lung damage and make us less vulnerable to asthma.

In terms of corrective treatment and whether or not we can cure those people who already suffer from asthma we need treatments that either seek to strengthen the lungs or treatments that change the functioning of the lungs so that they are less reactive to asthma triggers. The defence mechanism of the lungs is set up to watch for a particular attack but if the trigger invasion comes through a different route it can remain unobserved. The lungs would then not go into defensive closure.

This Chloramine-inhalation theory as to the cause of asthma does require further investigation. Although there is a clear finger of suspicion it is not yet a water-tight case. We should be doing everything we can to bring this case to a close.

Natural Asthma Treatment - Home Remedies For Asthma

There are many things asthma sufferers can ingest to minimize asthmatic symptoms which can help eliminate the need for asthma drugs or medications. Here is a look at a few proven natural asthma treatments which you should try to incorporate into your daily asthma management plan.

Steam is a very effective home remedy natural treatment for asthma. Steam can be used in an instance of an asthma attack. Access to a steam room is best, alternatively, take a hot shower or simply pour boiling water into a bucket and place a towel over your head and lean over the bucket of boiling water. Add Eucalyptus into the bucket to clear mucus or unblock your nasal passages.

Spices are fantastic for their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Herbal teas are highly beneficial and are a simple solution in the treatment of asthma. Ginger, Liquorice root and Peppermint tea are very good home remedies for asthma. You can add lemon, garlic, cloves or turmeric into the tea for more anti inflammatory, natural asthma relieving potency. Also add honey for sweetness which is also very beneficial for asthma.

Probiotics such as those in yogurt, kefir and fermented vegetables are extremely beneficial for asthma and is a fantastic natural asthma remedy. Asthma is an auto-immune disease, so by boosting your immune system through the ingestion of probiotics, you can have dramatic relief from asthma.

Fresh air and a safe level of sun exposure are also simple measures you should take to manage asthma naturally. If you are feeling asthmatic symptoms coming on, perhaps just taking a walk outside in some fresh air and soaking up some healthy sunlight can help. Vitamin D from the sun is a powerful immune booster. Also light to moderate exercise can be a very helpful bronchodilator, opening up narrowed airways the same way as your rescue medications in a natural way. Other benefit to exercise is it is a great stress relief. Stress can contribute to asthma symptoms.

Black coffee or tea is another effective bronchodilator and can be used during a mild bout of asthma.

Ensure you are drinking enough water each day. The exact quantity of water you will need each day depends of the temperature and activity level. You should monitor the color of your urine. Ideally your urine should be as clear as possible. If it is a bright yellow color, this is a sign of dehydration.

Apple Cider Vinegar can be added to water for an alkalizing natural asthma treatment. Make sure you only use the unpasteurized unfiltered organic variety in which the mother is still alive. Pasteurization kills the mother which is a very important feature of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Asthma Attack

Asthma is a condition what affects the airways. The airways are small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. The symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing shortness of breath, and lightness of the chest. Asthma attack is triggered by smoking, air pollutants, colds and viral infections. The causes are family history of asthma, eczema or allergies, environmental pollution and smoking while one is pregnant.

An asthma attack comes when one is exposed to certain conditions that affect the lungs like when one is smoking or exposed to bad weather that do not favorable to the body like cold.

Polluted air, pollen, exercise or even sex that tends to exert pressure that is not normal because of a lot of energy being used. This causes the patient to fall short of breath. In the case of such asthma attacks one is able to use the various medications that are available to control them. These include inhalers such as relievers and preventions.

There are also therapies that are vital to manage this condition. Steroid tablets are used to base the condition. Different treatment measures are adhered to in certain conditions.

When one gets an asthma attack, the most important thing to do is to lessen the clothes of the person. You sit them up and do not lay them and let them use an inhaler. If there is no inhaler available, expose the patient to fresh air. Once the patient is able to breath without difficulty, and is free from the attack, make sure that you contact the doctor immediately.

Treat Asthma With Homeopathy For a Permanent Cure!

Incidence of asthma is growing day by day pertaining to increased urban pollution and hoards of instant foods leading to varied kinds of allergies. Well, today we hear the term asthma in a very small child too; rather many children today complain of difficulty in breathing and parents get stuck up in the Herculean task of protecting their children from allergic focuses. Let's discuss what asthma actually is and how homeopathy is effective in dealing with patients of asthma.

What is asthma?

Swelling and narrowing of bronchial tubes lead to smaller and constricted airways that results in difficulty in breathing, termed as asthma. The severity of asthma depends upon sensitivity of the bronchial tubes to various allergens. Sometimes, it is possible to define the allergens in a particular individual and in many, the source of allergy remains unknown. It is also termed as hyper-reactive lungs in people on the verge of asthma but who have not developed frank asthma.

What are hyper-reactive lungs?

As we said earlier, it is the susceptibility of an individual to catch infections and/or allergies. In some individuals there might be hyper-reactivity of bronchioles short of developing frank asthma. In children, such malady is termed as hyper-reactive airway disease (HRAD). Many of these children should receive milder modes of therapies like homeopathy in order to build stronger immunities and curb the nasty susceptibilities.

Causative factors and/or risk factors-

Exact cause of heightened susceptibility in some people leading to frequent asthmatic spells is unknown. But chronic airway inflammation, genetic factors, and immunologic factors are blamed for development of frank asthma. The risk factors include dust or pollen exposure, perfumes or strong smelly substances, molds, animal dung, excess cold etc. Also the emotional stress, anxiety, physical exercise etc are t be blamed as triggers in some.

Homeopathic Approach to asthma-

One thing is clear that some people catch asthmatic allergies and some don't. That is the reason why homeopathy believes in individualistic approach while treating asthma or any other disease for that matter. Homeopathy plays curative role in asthma, considered the homeopath chooses medicine based upon the constitution of the patient and does not suppress the asthma. It is a myth that homeopathy is slow acting and does not yield beneficial result in acute attack of asthma. Even in a child as young as 1 year with extremely wheezy chest, remedies like Antim tart, Ipecac, Lycopodium, Calcarea carb, Silica; etc if chosen depending upon symptom similarity can harmonize the breathing within no time.

What care should be taken while seeking homeopathic treatment?

It is known about homeopathy that it is a therapy without any side effects. That is certainly true but this should not make people use homeopathic remedies haphazardly. It is extremely important to understand the exact dosages and repetitions of medicines so that the patient feels good from within and does not just palliate his trouble. Homeopathic system of medicine believes in treating the person suffering from asthma and not just his asthma. So, careful consideration of his signs, symptoms, mental and emotional sphere related to asthma and otherwise are the tools those help the homeopathic physician to search the right remedy for his patient. But be rest assured that if you follow his regime scrupulously, you have to feel better and frequency of asthma spells reduce without a doubt!

Natural Cures for Asthma - What You Eat and Drink Can Make Asthma Better or Worse

There are many different causes and triggers for your asthma. Along with many causes there are also many solutions. Some of these solutions are actually quite natural. There are a variety of natural cures that seem to work for some people, though they may not work for everyone. Many of the natural cures for asthma involve ingesting foods and supplements.

What you eat and drink can be a great way to naturally cure your asthma. There are many foods out there that help to reduce the symptoms that cause asthma attacks.

Foods that are high in Vitamin C are great for helping to relieve from your asthma condition. Also, fatty fish and onions are great too. All of these foods have anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, they will help keep your air passages open.

Not only are asthma attacks caused by constricting airways but they are also caused by a build-up of mucus (known as mucus plugs). There are foods that will help reduce the amount of mucus in your air passages. Spicy herbs are great for this. These foods include chili, hot mustard, and garlic.

Magnesium is probably the best of all the supplements that can naturally cure asthma. More and more studies are showing that magnesium helps prevent asthma attacks. In fact, in many hospitals magnesium is actually one of the first things given intravenously (directly into the veins) to help stop severe asthma attacks. Taking 500 mg of magnesium a day has cured some people of their asthma.

Coffee has also been shown to help reduce the length and severity of asthma attacks. This is probably because the caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that causes the air ways to open up. However, make sure you drink the coffee black because any type of dairy product could trigger an allergy for your asthma.

Along these same lines, green tea has been shown to be another one of the many natural and effective cures for asthma. While it may not cure your asthma altogether, many people have found that if they drink it everyday, they have far less asthma attacks. Also, if you drink it when you feel an attack coming on, the green tea will often prevent the attack.

Of course what works for one person may not work for you. But almost everyone should be able to cure or at least treat their asthma naturally. The key is finding the cures that work for you.

Some of the best natural cures for asthma involve ingesting food, drink, or supplements. Some foods, drinks, and supplements that often cure or at least help asthma are foods with Vitamin C, fish oil, spicy foods, magnesium, coffee, and green tea.

Singular Asthma - Do You Know What it Is?

A chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing hard is known as asthma. It is an illness brought about by the inflammation of the air passages. Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath are some of the symptoms of asthma. Asthma is considered as a serious illness since it can actually put a person's life to danger. It is a good idea to give great amount of attention to people having asthma to prevent from numerous visits to the hospital and emergency room. You must follow and cooperate with the prescribed medications to prevent asthma attacks. To be able to have a normal life, you have to find out what triggers the attack to be able to stay away from it.

There is a prescribed drug known as singular asthma. It is used to avoid asthma and other possible nasal allergies that are triggered by runny nose and also due to exercising. This medication is available in the form of tablets and granules. It is recommended to take it before doing an exercise in order to block the receptors of leukotriene. With this, you will be able to prevent allergy attacks.

In order to keep up a stable blood level, one has to take the medication at a specific time of the day. The doctor's prescription should be followed to get the best results of this medication. When you are taking this medication, there are actually side effects that come along with it. Flu, stomach pain and tooth pain are some of the side effects. Although one good thing about it is that studies show that the use of these tablets is surely an effective way of preventing asthma attacks. People who make use of this tablet are proven to be less prone to asthma attacks. The dosage prescribed by the doctor will certainly depend on the age of the patient as well as the person's medical background.

These tablets should be placed in a cool place and should not be utilized as a replacement for inhalers. You have to keep in mind that singular asthma tablets do not relieve the attacks instead, they prevent it. This is the reason why there is a need to continue with the use of other medicines.

Gina Asthma

Gina stands for Global Initiative for Asthma. This is a project conducted in collaboration with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the World Health Organization (WHO). Gina Asthma tries to sensitize the condition. It also helps those who have the condition. This is by providing the medication and advice on how to treat the condition. The condition can be controlled or prevented.

There is no cure for asthma. Prevention measures can only be taken when one understands the condition personally. This is by knowing what triggers an attack in their individual cases and how to relieve the symptoms. The organization helps people with the condition understand what triggers the attacks. These can either be allergic reactions, weather conditions, air pollution, eczema, irritants at work places and family history of asthma.

Gina asthma holds seminars in different places to try put to light the condition. Workshops in different work places with Gina officials are also held. This is to help alleviate occupational asthma. The workshops also teach work mates on how to cope with colleagues who have the condition. This is by knowing how to make them as comfortable as they can possibly be in times of an attack.

As some asthma patients can be allergic to some products, other colleagues should be more sensitive in such cases. Gina asthma as an organization has come up with books, magazines and programmes that help asthma patients and those living with them. Other organizations mostly non governmental are also trying to help Gina asthma in their en devours.

7 Complications Leading to Barretts Esophagus

If GERD is not controlled by lifestyle changes and diet modifications, acid reflux disease could lead to serious problems for the sufferer.

In extreme cases, complications cause by the continuous presence of acid in the food pipe could eventually become the life-threatening condition known as Barretts Esophagus.

Constant burning and erosion of the walls of the esophagus is a chronic disease which might create a domino effect leading to a number of painful malady's.

Complications leading to Barrett's Esophagus

The first sign of this life-threatening cycle is a condition known as "esophagitis".

If this condition is not accurately diagnosed and treated, multiple problems could develop, including Barretts esophagus.

Here is a list of possible complications:

• Pain.
  
  Esophagitis is a painful condition that could lead to dysphagia. This condition makes it almost impossible to swallow.



• Scarring.
  
  Continuous onslaught of acids causes longitudinal scarring to the walls of the esophagus, particularly where it joins the stomach. This could cause the opening to pucker and shrink. This shrinkage creates a srticture thereby blocking the passage of food and making it difficult to swallow.



• Ulcers.
  
  Lesions known as ulcers form on the weakened walls of the esophagus causing further scarring. These scars also pucker and tend to shrink the lining, leading to the same condition described above.



• Bleeding.
  
  Ruptured ulcers can bleed profusely. On many occasions this bleeding has necessitated hospitalization followed by emergency blood transfusion.



• Asthma.
  
  Acid invasion triggers a nerve impulse that causes the airways to dilate. This can induce an asthma attack, which, if left unchecked, could result in ongoing chronic asthma.



• Lung damage.
  
  At the back of the throat, the gullet forks into two tubes; the trachea, which is the air-pipe leading to the lungs, and the esophagus, which is the food-pipe leading to the stomach.
  
  If the acid washes high enough, it could be aspirated into the trachea, reach the lungs, and cause inflammation and permanent damage.
  
  This could result in hoarseness, laryngitis, choking, coughing and difficulty in breathing.



• Barrett's esophagus.
  
  Finally, barretts esophagus. Due to the ongoing invasion of digestive fluids in the lower esophagus, the body might attempt a system of damage control, which could lead to the onset of cancer.

Dysplasia - The Seeds of Cancer

In order to withstand the onslaught of acid, the walls of the esophagus undergo a cellular change know as dysplasia, (sometimes referred to as metaplasia).

This is where the body replaces normal cells with precancerous abnormal cells resembling those of the stomach and intestinal lining.

This stage is known as 'low grade dysplasia'.

Although these rogue cells are more resistant to acid attack, in five to ten percent of patients, they eventually lose their tissue identity and revert back to a primitive form that grows rapidly without regulation.

The final stage is is 'high grade dysplasia', a condition known as 'carcinoma in situe'.

This particular form of cancer remains localized and does not invade past the basement membrane into tissue below the surface.

As a result, it can still be treated surgically, with few risks of it spreading to other parts of the body via a process known as "metastasis".

However, if left untreated, it eventually develops into a deadly form of invasive esophageal cancer that is almost always fatal.

We cannot overstress the following: Every one of these complications can easily be avoided by sensible and timely changes to your diet and lifestyle.

What Causes Summer Breathing Issues?

Every climate brings with it its own pleasures and pains. The winter brings with it colds and sniffles, while the pollen in the spring air brings on allergies. The summer too has its fair share of issues. Heat has a way of bringing on summer breathing issues. It is not an easy task to assess the difficulty of breathing. Similarly, it is very difficult to study the effects of heat and humidity on breathing problems as every person handles weather in a different manner. For instance, a person who lives in a tropical climate or near the ocean may be able to cope with heat very differently from a person who is more accustomed to living in colder regions.

The Triggers...

It is a fact that heat triggers asthma, heat stroke and stress. All of these can eventually result in shortness of breath. Let's take a look at how these various factors affect breathing:

• Asthma - Asthma is a chronic condition caused due to inflammation of the lungs. Heat and humidity are definite asthma triggers. This happens primarily because humidity is very conducive to the growth of airborne allergens such as molds and dust mites. Of course, heat is not the only cause of an asthma attack as high pressure, low and high temperatures and rainfall can also lead to an increase in asthma. However, if those who suffer from asthma undergo appropriate treatment, they can even go out and play football under the blazing sun.

• Stress - Humid and hot weather can be a stress trigger. Extreme heat also tends to sap the body of energy and increases stress levels. The body has to work harder to maintain its optimal temperature in the heat. What this also means is that it uses more energy to cool-off and ends up using more oxygen. Consequently shortness of breath follows. Panic attacks, anxiety and depression which are considered to be stress factors also cause breathing issues.

• Heat stroke - Extended exposure to hot and humid weather may lead to a heat stroke. Dizziness, seizure, headache, fatigue and disorientation are all heat stroke symptoms. They lead to an increased heart rate and summer breathing issues. In this particular case though, breathing difficulty is not directly related to heat exposure but is one of the numerous complications that might arise due to dehydration and heat stroke.

Precautionary Measures

Older people and young children are most prone to summer breathing issues. Drinking plenty of fluids and wearing light, cotton clothing helps the body maintain its temperature. Rigorous activity should be restricted to cooler periods of the day. Those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory issues should preferably stay indoors if there is a weather advisory of excessive heat. Meals should be light and non-spicy. Protein should also be consumed in a limited manner as it tends to produce more heat in the body.

Always keep the number of a 24-hour medical facility handy to be used in case of an emergency.

Critical Information On Surviving Asthma Attacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Effective Methods To Treat Your Asthma

Asthma can restrict your daily activities. It can also threat your life if you don't know how to control it. In this article, you will see some effective steps to keep your asthma under control. Follow these steps below to get your better life without asthma.

1. Use de-humidifier in your house

It's very important for you to use de-humidifier in your house to keep your house dry. Humid and moist air in your house can trigger your asthma attack. By using de-humidifier in your house, you will also prevent the mold to grow in your house. As you know, mold is also one of the common triggers for asthma.

2. Bring your medications along with you

You should always bring your medications with you because asthma attack can occur anytime in your life. Visit your doctor to discuss about the best medications for treating your asthma. Your doctor will give you better information about the medication and how to use it effectively. Make sure to get quick-relief drug, such as corticosteroids, from your doctor. You can also bring your inhaler to treat your asthma attack. Other drugs that can help you to treat your asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs.

3. Cover your mouth and nose when you go outside

You should cover your nose and mouth with mask or scarf to prevent any dust to come to your nasal system. Dust is one of the most common asthma triggers. In colder months, the scarf or mask that you use protects you from getting cold air from the environment. Cold air can actually trigger severe asthma attack. By covering your nose and mouth, you can avoid asthma attack during cold months.

4. Visit your doctor regularly

You have to visit your doctor more often to check your asthma condition. By doing so, you can prevent severe asthma attack in the future. Your doctor needs to evaluate your asthma condition before he gives you the right medicine for treating your asthma.

5. Get flu vaccination

If you have asthma problem, it very important to prevent any respiratory infections, such as cough, flu, or cold, because those infections can trigger severe asthma attack. Talk to your doctor to get a flu vaccination at least once a year.

You can use those simple tips to handle your asthma. There are actually many other treatments that you can use to treat your asthma. Always consult with your allergy doctor if you want to use new treatments to manage your asthma.

The Need for an Asthma Action Plan

For people who tend to have asthma anytime that there is condition that triggers it, there is always the need to make sure that prevention is done. There is no doubt that an asthma attack does not really bring about fatal results immediately. However, there have been cases also that did develop into worse conditions. If you are asthmatic, it would indeed be necessary for you to have an asthma action plan. It is through this that you would set up a systematic prevention system. At the same time, this action plan could eventually lead to the total elimination of any asthma attack in the future.

Introducing Better Prevention for Asthma

The very first reason why you would need an asthma action plan is for you to establish a better way for prevention. It is clear that one of the main causes why the condition recurs is that one who is prone to it has still not defined the best ways for avoiding it. With a plan in mind, however, you would be aware of what particular conditions, especially in the environment, that could trigger an attack. Of course, this would also require you to constantly remember the points mentioned in the plan when it comes to prevention.

Reducing Asthma Attacks

It may be impossible for you to absolutely get rid of asthma at the soonest. One of the reasons for this is that your body may still need to adapt to environmental conditions before it could learn not to trigger asthma. However, with an asthma action plan, you could effectively reduce the possible episodes. This means that there would be times when you would not have attacks in situations when you would normally have one. In fact, if your plan is really good, the reduction could go a long way and may ultimately render you absolutely free of the condition.

Work or School Absences Avoided

The problem with asthma is when it attacks it virtually stops you from going ahead with an activity. It is in this sense that the said condition could deprive you of the opportunity to excel in work or in school. Apparently, when you have asthma, you certainly could not go to school or to report for work. As a result, the damage that it creates could become serious. The effects on your work or on your schooling, if you happen to be a student, are the reasons why would need to have an asthma action plan.

Less Medical Expenses

Finally, if you have an asthma action plan, you would be able to reduce the instances of going to the hospital or seeing the doctor. It is clear that whenever you do get an attack, you should try to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Of course, this would require you to spend money for professional fees and medications. The result could be bad for your budget. However, if you do have a plan and if you make it a point to follow it, you could drastically reduce the medical expenses.

If You Live With a Smoker, You're a Smoker Too!

I have several patients who are nonsmokers. So they think. They don't actively put a cigarette to their lips and smoke it, but if they're living with someone, or are consistently around someone who smokes in their presence, I make a note in their chart as, second hand smoker.

That's right. Did you know that second hand smokers are continuously exposed to about 25% of their smoking spouse/friend's smoke? This percentage can make a significant difference in risk factors for lung cancer, and other pulmonary diseases. With this percentage, every time someone smokes around you it's as if you, too, are actively smoking a few cigarettes a day!

It's estimated that there are 125 million second hand smokers in the United States! If you're like some of my patients who believe they are at lower risk for disease because they don't actually put a cigarette up to their lips to smoke, I'd like to share with you some of the surprising facts about second-hand, and even third-hand, smoke.

What Does Second Hand Smoke Do?

There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette tobacco and its smoke! Of these, 250 are known to be harmful to your health and 50 of them are already known carcinogens! The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that the concentrations of these chemicals are potentially greater in second hand smoke than smoking a cigarette itself! Here's what happens every time you are exposed to cigarette smoke, second or first hand:

• Destabilizes your heart and lung function: Breathing in smoke even for a short while, can put you at increased risk for heart and lung disease. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has deemed that smoking definitively causes lung cancer.
• Increases Risk for Heart Attack or Asthma Attack: Your heart gets less oxygen when you breathe in smoke. This can trigger an asthma attack or a heart attack.
• Second Hand Smoke Increases SIDS risk: Infants exposed to second hand smoke are more likely to die of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) than previously thought.
• Second Hand Smoke Puts Children At Risk: Children who inhale second hand smoke consistently have a much higher risk for pneumonia and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It can also cause chronic ear infections like otitis media.
• Causes Physical and Mental Growth Impairment in Children: Kids develop more slowly physically and mentally around second hand smoke. An adult can get up and walk out of a room when someone is smoking, a baby/young child cannot. They are the most vulnerable to the effects of "forced" smoke exposure.
• Causes Your Blood Platelets To Stick Together: Even short exposures to second hand smoke can cause your blood platelets to become sticky. This damages your blood vessels and decreases coronary blood flow reserves.
• Second Hand Smoke Affects Twice: Nonsmokers near someone else smoking breathes in second hand smoke twice. Once from the burning tip of the cigarette, and twice when the smoker exhales. They get all the toxic effects of smoking twice.
• Increases Risk for Gingivitis: If your significant other is a smoker, they are at high likelihood of getting gingivitis, a chronic inflammatory condition of their gums. This condition can also be passed to you during kissing! Smoking changes the pH of the mouth by decreasing saliva and drying out the mouth tissues. This sets the stage for gingivitis to occur. Smoking also depletes Vitamin C in the body, which helps prevent gingivitis and other inflammatory conditions.

What Is Third Hand Smoke?

People fail to realize that the environment they smoke in also absorbs smoke and all its toxins. These include things like couches, clothes, carpets, the smoker's hair, etc. Nonsmokers, especially very young children, such as crawling infants, can absorb these toxins through their skin after touching them or putting them in their mouth. For example, a young child who both plays with his smoker-mother's hair while they breast feed gets exposed to third hand smoke twice. Crawling around on carpets also exposes them, or playing on couches and chairs.

Third hand smoke contains chemicals, heavy metals and carcinogens such as:

1. Hydrogen cyanide
2. Butane
3. Toluene
4. Polorium-216

How To Protect From Second and Third-Hand Smoke

Simple enough, you just need to stay away from people who are smoking. Here are a few examples of how:

• Smoking Ban In Public Places: Fortunately, now, most public places in the United States have recently instituted a ban on smoking in restaurants, nightclubs, businesses, public transport, etc, exposure to second hand smoke will decrease significantly.
• Just Say NO. If you're married to, or otherwise live with a smoker, or who have friends who constantly want to smoke around you, especially in a car, ask them to quit for both your sakes! Educate them on the dangers of second and third hand smoke. Have them refrain from smoking in the house or the car. You might ask them to change their clothes, take a shower, wash their hair, and brush their teeth every time they smoke too. That ought to make them think twice about continuing to smoke around you!
• Public Housing: Unfortunately, smoking has not been banned in public housing. If you live in an apartment building or attached condominium, remember that smoke can travel through wall electrical sockets; heat and AC vent systems, doors, etc. Consider moving out if you do not want to be exposed to smoke from someone you don't know and can't see smoking!
• Protect a Child: If you know someone who smokes around a young child, please ask them to stop, and tell them about the dangers of exposing children, especially infants who must either just lay in cribs, or sit in car seats, and be exposed to their parents smoke constantly. There is a movement to make this issue considered child abuse enforceable by law.

As I tell my patient's in no uncertain terms, smoking is a nasty habit that can cause a lot of illness. It seems kind of crazy, when you think about how much money people spend a week, month, or year, to put their own and other people's health at risk by buying and smoking cigarettes. However, you don't have to be the passive victim of a smoker, you DO have the right to not be exposed to toxic chemicals and noxious smoke. Just get as far away from it as possible.

Acid Reflux Symptoms In Kids - Protect Your Child's Health

Acid reflux symptoms in kids are commonly disregarded as simple health problems that most children go through. However, it is only fair to warn parents that these symptoms might be something much worse that require immediate treatment.

Also, it is never a good idea to ignore your child when they show acid reflux symptoms. Even it is just an uncomfortable feeling since most adults experienced it during their lifetime, this might cause serious problem in kids since their bodies aren't fully developed yet.

Protect your child by familiarizing yourself with acid reflux symptoms in kids so you would know when it is time to take them to the doctor and have them checked out.

Change in Eating Habits

Heartburn or the burning sensation in their chest is already a symptom you need to watch out for. It might be serious when your child suddenly shows a in their eating habits that might eventually make the problem worst or even result to more serious complications.

In most cases, children who suffer from acid reflux tend to have a change in their eating habits. They would start to pick their food, favorites meals left uneaten, or a simple loss of appetite. This sudden change in their eating habits will eventually lead to weight loss.

There are also some children who would start developing trigger foods that will cause them a lot of heartburn every after each meal. Aside from heartburn, trigger foods might also cause them to suffer from abdominal pains, choking, vomiting, or even nausea.

Breathing Problems

Another acid reflux symptoms in kids you need to watch out for is the developing problems in their respiratory system. They might suddenly have an asthma attack without any probable cause, choking, wheezing, or even a lot of coughing. Backflow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus will eventually cause inflammation or infection in the throat or along the airway causing these symptoms to appear.

Other symptoms you might notice are shortness of breath during physical activities or nighttime coughing causing a change in sleeping patterns.

Taking them to the Doctor

If the above symptoms appear on your child then it would be safe to say that they are suffering from acid reflux or something much worst. It is advisable to spirit them away to your doctor to have them checked out to discover the extent of the problem.

There are two ways to find out if these are really symptoms of reflux. A simple laboratory test will allow the doctor to find out if it is really acid reflux or other health problems that needs to be addressed.

If the above test yields negative then the doctor would go for upper endoscopy to check out the extent of the damage on your child's esophagus, as well as making a probe on their stomach.

Treating GERD in Kids

Once it is determined that your child is suffering from GERD, the initial recommendation from your doctor would be to let your child take medications to combat the problem. These medications would come in the form of acid blockers to stop acid production, acid suppressors or antacids to counter excess acids from overflowing.

However, using medications will only temporarily solve the problem since the effects of the drugs usually wear off after a few hours.

It is more advisable to utilize prevention methods to ensure that reflux symptoms in kids will never happen again. It might be necessary to control your child's food intake by making sure that they eat the right food, like foods that are rich in alkaline to counteract the excess acid in their stomach.

Asthma Triggers - All Hot and Bothered

An asthma trigger is anything that brings on the symptoms of asthma; it does not cause the asthma itself, but because asthma sufferers have sensitive airways, it causes an attack. Everyone's asthma is different and may have several triggers. An important aspect of controlling asthma is avoiding triggers. There are a lot of well known common triggers, some asthma triggers are obvious in as much as they would probably cause some form of reaction from anyone. For example: extremely cold air, cigarette smoke or bonfire smoke, but there are also some that are not known.

So the first step in managing our daughter's asthma was to understand the various asthma triggers that affected her. My daughter's asthma triggers appear to be mainly:

(1) Emotions such as over excitement or stress
(2) Most cats, guinea pigs, some dogs and other furry/feathery animals, but not her pet rats.
(3) House dust.
(4) Common cold and flu viruses.
(5) Hayfever.
(6) Heat - hot weather or an over hot house

Now we have identified the triggers we can take precautions to avoid them. As well as being common sense, this is now recommended in a number of published guidelines on asthma care. All of the measures we take aim at giving the best possible quality of life, so we can avoid heavy medication regimes. One medication we do rely on is the reliever inhaler, as this seems to neutralise all but the most extreme triggers. This should be taken each day, but my daughter sometimes forgets, even on days when it is known that triggers will be experienced, for example cold air in winter. So part of the asthma management is to gently remind her it needs to be taken each day to prevent having to resort to heavier medication to sort out an asthma attack if it should have taken hold. As with most things relating to asthma it is worth discussing the options, on a regular basis, with your doctor and/or asthma nurse.

Knowing what the triggers are, and therefore when they are likely to be contacted, leads to being able to control these situation with the preventer and have less reliance on reactive medication.

Multiple triggers can cause other complications. The effects of one can mask the affects of others so it can be difficult to identify exactly what has triggered an asthma attack. Sometimes the link is obvious, for example when symptoms start within minutes of coming into contact but some reactions are not so obvious. In my daughter's case it took some analyzing to realise it was the animal's bedding and not the animal itself that caused the reaction. This is why she gets on OK with her pet rats, which share her bedroom; but has to keep away from her sister's guinea pigs, which live in the conservatory.

Because we live right next to a town centre park, it was almost inevitable that we would get a dog sooner or later. Our daughter is definitely allergic to most cats, but dogs do not seem to bother her, in themselves. However there is still the concern that the extra dust and air borne debris a dog would cause could well be an issue. There are a number of dogs that, although not completely hypoallergenic, are less likely to affect than other dogs. These include the Poodle, Schnauzer, most hairless dogs (Yuk) and somewhere near the top of the list is the Weimaraner. Which is just as well, because this is the only breed of dog my wife would entertain owning. So that's how we ended up with Spook.

Most people find they are sensitive to a number of different triggers. It can therefore be difficult to identify them individually as several may be contacted in one day. In my daughter's case the summer is an obvious problem time as she suffers from Hayfever, very hot days add to the situation, especially as this will also cause more dust and airborne particles in general around the house and outside.

Sometimes these triggers are obvious, but other times it is not so clear and this is when the other inhaler and even the nebuliser needs to be used. This is usually when triggers have come in combinations or have not been identified early enough. It is difficult to tell how hot is too hot, how dusty is too dusty and, because it is very personal, what someone's emotional state is and whether they are feeling stressful.

Having a child with asthma, it is important to constantly monitor and manage the medical regime and the lifestyle triggers. As there is no cure for asthma it is important to keep control of it. Prevention is better than having to deal with an attack. But it is also important to know what to do in the case of an attack. As the child matures, they will get to understand their condition and be able to discuss it directly with their asthma nurse. But as children do forget and their priorities in life change, it is also necessary to monitor them too.

Hopefully this will then prevent everyone from getting hot and bothered.

How to Get Rid of Asthma Forever Using This Effective Way

Asthma, being a chronic disease; meaning long lasting and recurring has no cure, so in a manner of speaking you cannot get rid of it. Technological advances in the field of medicine have so far only produced better working drugs and developed more effective therapies that deal with the problem but not a cure, at least not at the moment. While this might sound terrible, there are actually a lot of people in the world right now who have this condition but are enjoying their lives without the fear of having an attack or flare ups. How is this possible you say? This is all possible by controlling the condition. Control is the nearest thing that asthmatics will ever come to a cure.

Having control over your asthma will allow you to live your life to the fullest without the fear of having an attack. But make no mistake; achieving total control over your condition will take months or even years to achieve. A lot of people have tried and failed due to lack of commitment to programs and impatience. So by now you know what it will take for you in order to succeed, perseverance and patience. You will need these two virtues if you want to achieve total control over your asthma.

There is actually no secret in order to achieve it and what is more, the rules are already known and very simple to follow. First; you will need to know all of your triggers. There are medical procedures that you can safely take in order to know more about what causes your flare-ups situational wise and environmental wise. By knowing most of your triggers you will be able to prevent any of your attacks from happening in the first place. This will also give you a clearer idea on how to deal with situation in where you know that you are going to be exposed to a particular allergen.

Second would be to participate actively in your treatment process, try keeping an asthma diary where you can put all of your attacks or flare-up including important information like, what, when, where and how long the episode was. Giving this information to your doctor will allow them to formulate better working medication regimen and therapies for you.

Third would not to depend everything on medication to feel better. This is not saying that you should abandon your medication or lessen your intake. This just means that you should also look for other ways in order to strengthen you body. This can mean exercises and eating healthy foods that will give you more stamina and resistance in warding off other diseases that might complicate your condition. Asthma indeed has no cure, but achieving control will give you freedom to live your life any way you want without fear of flare-ups or attacks in the future.

Asthmatics Breathe Heavy All the Time

In 1968 The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a large study in which breathing and blood gases of a group of asthmatics were investigated. The researchers found that all 101 tested patients had chronic hyperventilation (over-breathing). Those asthmatics who had a light or moderate degree of the disease breathed about 15 l of air per min or 2.5 times more than the official medical norm, which is 6 l/min.

More recently, in 1995, American researchers from the Mayo Clinic and Foundation (Rochester) confirmed the same average value (about 15 l/min) for another group of patients diagnosed with asthma (Johnson et al, 1995). This study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Finally, medical professionals from Mater Hospital in Brisbane (Australia) tested 39 asthmatics and found 14 l/min (Bowler et al, 1998), as it was reported in the Medical Journal of Australia.

In fact, there is no a single publication that found a single asthmatic who breathes normally. They all breathe heavy 24/7.

What are the effects of heavy breathing?

We remove too much CO2 from our lungs and our lungs become CO2-deficient. Do we need CO2?

Clinical Science published an article in 1968 titled The mechanism of bronchoconstriction due to hypocapnia in man ("hypocapnia" means abnormally low CO2 concentrations). In the article, Dr. Sterling explained that CO2 deficiency causes an excited state of the cholinergic nerve. Since this nerve is responsible for the state of the smooth muscles in bronchi, its excited state leads to the constriction of air passages. Hence, when we over-breathe, our air passages become constricted.

What about modern textbooks on physiology? One states, "Agents that tend to dilate airways include increased PaCO2 (hypoventilation or inspired CO2)," (p.545, R. Berne & M. Levy, 1998). This textbook directly claims that slowing down breathing (hypoventilation) or increased CO2 level dilates airways. Moreover, CO2 is suggested as the chief chemical substance that promotes this effect.

What about the asthma-ventilation connection? Russian physiologist Dr. Buteyko, MD proposed this link in the 1950's (his first official publication was published in 1964), when he discovered the central role of over breathing in the development and degree of asthma. (He and his colleagues also found that asthma patients got immediate relief from their asthma attack symptoms, if they practiced reduced breathing or breathing less).

Dr. Herxheimer independently suggested that low CO2 was the cause of bronchial asthma in 1946 and 1952 (Herxheimer, 1946; 1952).

How do asthma and asthma attacks develop?

Let us consider the possible mechanism suggested by Dr. Buteyko. Low CO2 values in the bronchi cause chronic constriction of airways (that happens in all people). In addition to this direct effect, chronic hyperventilation makes immune reactions abnormal. The immune system of asthmatics becomes too sensitive in relation to intruders from outside (coming with air or food), but weakens the responses to various pathogens, like viruses and bacteria. (That makes sense since hyperventilation is a defensive reaction and a part of the fight-or-flight response. Hyperventilation then should mean a state of increased alertness and emergency for the whole organism, the immune system included.)

The immune system of asthmatics becomes hypersensitive and seemingly innocent events like breathing cold air or inhaling dust particles can trigger an inflammatory response in bronchi, excessive production of mucus, a sense of anxiety or panic, more hyperventilation, and further constrictions of airways. This is a genetic component of asthma.

As a result, enlarged must cells and mucus make air passages narrower (or even block some of them) creating a feeling of suffocation and causing asthma attacks. During an attack, an asthmatic may try to clear the mucus by coughing it out, but that further reduces CO2 concentrations in the lungs and makes air passages narrower.

Clearly, asthma is the disease of heavy breathers. Asthma symptoms are possible only when one breathes at least 3-4 times the norm. Asthmatics have big breathing at rest and even bigger and heavier during acute stages. If an asthmatic slows down and normalizes their breathing, so that they breathe 6 l/min, they would not experience their symptoms and medication would be unnecessary.

The medical self-oxygenation therapy (how to increase body oxygenation and CO2 stores by breathing less) is practiced by hundreds of health and medical practitioners in Russia and other countries. It proved its efficiency for asthma in many trials. The therapy is known as the Buteyko breathing method.

For more information about the Buteyko self-oxygenation therapy, asthma trials, clinical effects of the Buteyko method, visit my website Normalbreathing.com: Breathing Problems Solved.

Instant Relief For Asthma Symptoms - Naturally

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asthma Classifications

There's two main ways that asthma is classified, by the severity of the problems and by the triggers of the attacks. Severity of asthma is broken down into three main categories. There's mild or intermediate asthma which is defined as less than two asthma occurrences a week. Thirty percent of asthma sufferers fall into this category. Another thirty percent fall into the persistent category, which is two or more attacks a week.

Then, the majority of asthma sufferers, forty percent of them fall into the moderate or severe category. These are people who have daily, even constant problems with asthma. There's many triggers of asthma and many people will actually have more than one trigger of their attacks. Allergy asthma is the most common trigger of asthma. It affects more than fifty percent of the people with asthma. It's caused by an allergic reaction to something like dust, mold, pet dander or even the foods you eat. When the person comes in contact with their allergic trigger, the airways can become irritated and inflamed. The result is an asthma attack.

Another category is Non-allergic asthma. It's when a person has problems breathing because non-allergy related airborne contaminants. This includes smoke from cigarettes, air pollution, etc. The body's reaction non-allergic triggers is similar to that of allergy related triggers. The breathing tube that allows air in and out of the lungs becomes irritated, so they constrict, fill with excess amounts of mucus and make it difficult to breathe.

The majority of asthmatics have what is called exercise induced asthma. EIA is triggered by running, playing sports or other forms of vigorous activity. It can start within five minutes of starting to exercise or sometimes not even until after the activity is done. The high volumes of air rush in and out of the lungs cause the airway tube to become inflamed. It's not long before the tubes become constricted and the breathing problems start. Is your work place the cause of your breathing problems? Then you could fall into the occupational asthma category. The cause of the trigger could be anything from powerful chemicals to some other airborne irritant. When these chemicals are breathed in, the airway tubes react by fill with excess amounts of mucus, constricting and eventually turning into an asthma attack.

Coughing Up Phlegm? Help!

When you cough and it is accompanied with mucus or sputum (phlegm) it is a sign that you have a infection in your lungs. Coughing up mucus can be caused by different things such as allergies, common cold, bacterial infections or the cause of smoking. Coughing phlegm most commonly occurs in the mornings.

The reason why people are coughing up mucus could be divided into two main categories. Lets look at some information below to see what might be responsible for that problem.

Different infections and viruses

People who complain about mucus build up in the morning usually suffer from viral or some bacterial infections such as the common cold or influenza. If these viruses find a way to your throat or nasal passages the bacteria start to produce a large amount of mucus. That usually happens during the night when you aren't drinking anything or clearing your throat. That is the reason when one wakes up and needs to cough up all that build up phlegm.

Bronchitis, allergies or asthma are conditions where the body builds a lot of mucus. When your airways are inflamed by a virus it's commonly referred to as bronchitis. If you inhale particles which cause allergic reaction such as dust, toxic fumes or some chemicals it can cause the airways to swell up. Asthma attack can also be triggered by this. Other reasons why one might have mucus in their lungs are different viral conditions such as strep throat, sinusitis or lung infections.

Ones own fault

Smoking is one of the most common reasons why people cough up phlegm. People who smoke a lot usually cough up phlegm that is brown and looks disgusting. Even after you quit smoking you will still cough up that brown substance for a while. It is normal because the body tries to get rid of all the bad toxins that the smoking has caused. People who have recently quit smoking sometimes cough up black mucus, because the body is getting rid of the tar that you get from smoking.

Another dangerous vice is alcohol. Alcohol dries your membranes and because of that the membranes counter-actively start to produce a large amount of mucus to fight the dryness.

There are some effective ways to make things better: the first and the most important rule is to stay well-hydrated at all times. Fluid intake helps loosening phlegm and makes it easier to cough it out. Another good advice is to gargle with warm salt water

Surprisingly food is one of the causes that will make you cough up phlegm. There are certain food groups that are suggested for people to avoid to help with the mucus problem. One of the most known foods that cause the problem the most are dairy products. Even eating meat could cause the problem and specially fried greasy foods.

Home Remedies For Asthma

Home remedies for asthma are probably not used as much as they should be.

Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult. It's caused when airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. It's hard to breathe and it triggers coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Home remedies for asthma should be discovered and used diligently.

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects 20 million Americans, and includes almost 1 in 10 children.

During an asthma attack, the airways in the lung's (bronchioles) become inflamed. When this happens, they contract and become lined with excessive amounts of mucous. This then restricts the airflow, making it very difficult to breathe. There are several home remedies for asthma that can be implemented to help relieve this mucous buildup.

For some people, asthma is not a major problem, but for others, it's a very serious and scary issue that interferes with daily living and could lead to a life threatening asthma attack.

Most doctors believe that asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. I believe home remedies for asthma are the best answer in strengthening not only your lungs, but also your total immune system.

These attacks are triggered by pollution or some environmental irritant like change in air temperature or humidity, stress, allergies, cigarette smoke, cleaning agents, or other toxins.

Your bodies first line of defense is your immune system. Specialized cells and organs help your body recognize and respond to foreign invaders. Your immune system even has its own circulatory system, called the lymphatic system, to help "filter" out these attackers.

If your immune system can't do its job, the problems that follow can be serious. A weakened immune system is evidenced by allergies and asthma.

When an immune system gets so weakened, that the normal germs, bacteria, viruses, etc. that we're all exposed to can tear our health down, we are at serious risk.

Chronic asthma can be a frightening condition which often requires vigilance to prevent and minimize the occurrence of acute attacks. The standard conventional Western medicine usually only treats symptoms. I always prefer homeopathic or naturalistic treatment.

While many asthma attacks are relatively mild and can be treated at home, some can be quite severe and may even require hospitalization.

A doctor can do a physical examination and non-invasive lung functioning test to determine if you or your child has asthma.

Your physician may also examine the skin and ask if there is a history of hives, eczema or skin-related allergies, since there is a common link between skin reactions and chronic asthma. If a diagnosis is confirmed, it is important to discuss different treatment options with your doctor and explore home remedies for asthma, rather than just accepting the doctors prescribed drugs.

Remember, there are always side effects with pharmaceuticals.

It is so critical to have strong and healthy immune system. Strengthening the immune system should negate the need for taking antibiotics and help avoid unnecessary medications.

Natural remedies have been used for thousands of years to help promote a healthy immune system, so that the body works at its best ability to ward off disease and infection.

Herbs like Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceous, Inula helenium, and Withania somnifera are known to be effective for their antiviral, anti fungal and antibacterial properties, as well as their excellent ability to strengthen the immune system.

These herbs work as a tonic for the immune system and are recommended to help prevent and aid recovery from illness or infection.

Home Remedies For Asthma Foods

Magnesium has been shown to improve asthma sufferers' ability to breathe. Foods containing magnesium include whole grains, green leafy vegetables, almonds, cashews, peanuts, beet greens, spinach, wheat bran, Brazil nuts, soybean flour, pumpkin and squash seeds, bran cereals, bananas, chocolate and agar seaweed.

Spices containing magnesium include basil, celery seed, sage, coriander, cumin seed, tarragon and marjoram.

Asthma sufferers tend to have low levels of selenium in their bodies. Selenium combines with proteins in the body to form selenoproteins, or antioxidant enzymes, that play a huge role in the immune system.

Fresh vitamin C rich fruits given to children with asthma was shown to be effective in reducing asthmatic wheezing.

Part of a healthy diet should include, fruits rich in vitamin C, including papayas, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, tangerines, mangoes and guavas.

Broccoli, cabbage greens, bell peppers, potatoes with skin and raw spinach are also some vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin C.

Apples, parsley, onions, tea, red wine, dark berries, cherries, citrus fruits, and olive oil contain quercetin, an antioxidant and flavonoid.

Quercetin is anti-inflammatory and acts as an antihistamine in the body, inhibiting cells from releasing histamines. There is no scientific evidence as yet that quercetin can help reduce symptoms of asthma, but it's being studied as a treatment for asthma.