Asthma Attack - Learn What is Happening to You Before and During an Attack

An asthma attack is experienced by approximately 30,000 people every single day in the United States. What many people don't realize is that an average of eleven people die every day from asthma. The number of asthma cases continues to rise despite the billions of dollars being spent on asthma prescription medications.

What is asthma and what can cause you to have an asthma attack? Having asthma means that your airways or breathing tubes going to your lungs are extremely sensitive to one or more things. These things are known as your asthma triggers. They could be things like animal dander, smoke, paint fumes, dust mites, molds, pollen, certain foods, weather, weather changes, or other things like exercising, getting emotional, having a cold, gerd, etc.

Coming into contact with or even doing any of these triggers can cause some very nasty things to happen to your airways. This is the first step toward having an asthma attack. Here are the three nasty things that can happen:

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



• The muscles around the outsides of your airways start to get real tight. They are trying real hard to squeeze your airways shut. This makes your airways smaller, which means that there is even less room for air to get through to your lungs.



• The insides of your airways start to fill with what I call gunk or what others might call mucus or phlegm. This begins to plug up your already small airways which makes it even harder to breathe. Every time you cough, some of this gunk comes out.

Every asthma attack you have can be different. So sometimes those bad things happening to your airways can be very mild and other times they can be quite severe. They might also happen very slowly one time and then very quickly the next.

How long those things last can also be different every time. They might stop when you are no longer exposed to your triggers or they might last several days.

Once those things reach a certain severity you will then start to have what are called your typical asthma symptoms. These symptoms are the things that we associate with having an asthma attack and they are listed below:

• Coughing - with your now irritated and sensitive airways, you will be coughing quite a bit. And there will be gunk coming up when you do.



• Wheezing - this is sort of a whistling sound, usually when you breathe out. This is from your airways being much smaller than normal.



• Tightness in the chest - this can sometimes be painful also. It is from the muscles around your airways getting so tight.



• Shortness of breath - you just can't take a normal breath with your irritated airways.

When those 3 things happening to your airways are bad, then these asthma symptoms will also get bad. It is not unusual for them to get so bad that you can't breathe. If you have an inhaler, the medication will try to reduce the problems with our airways so that you can breathe more normally again.

Asthma symptoms are pretty much the same for all asthma types except for cough variant asthma. With this type of asthma, your only symptom will be a very bad cough. And this cough will be a dry cough with none of the gunk being present.

It can also be a very loud cough that is sometimes referred to as a barking cough. And the worst thing is that this cough can sometimes last for weeks. Because there are no other asthma symptoms present, this type of asthma often goes undiagnosed.

Knowing what is happening during an asthma attack should help you to keep from panicking. Getting stressed out can make your symptoms even worse. It is also important to do what you can to help someone else who is having an attack to try and stay as relaxed as possible.

In those rare cases when your inhaler isn't working like it usually does, you might be having an acute asthma attack. If that happens, then it is very important that you seek immediate medical attention. Don't wait and hope that it will get better. An acute asthma attack can be a life and death situation.

Asthma Affects Children and Adults

Children and adults who suffer from Asthma are becoming more and more common. Children are smaller and are more prone to many different types of diseases. The most prominent one for small children is asthma. As they grow older the symptoms of Asthma seems to lesson but it never goes away fully. Treatment and a good diagnoses from your doctor can help you determine if your child or you suffer from asthma. Out of 20 million people suffering from Asthma, 9 million of those are children. The scary part is that this number keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. It is something that should be watched for mostly in children and diagnosed early if possible.

Treatments can vary depending on the age of the person. We are all so different that the treatments have to be made specific to your needs. Allergy induced Asthma is the most common among adults, so if you or your child has bad allergies you may want to watch the pollen counts closely. You or your child could end up developing Asthma symptoms due to pollen. Since there is no good explanation of why Asthma continues to rise so fast, the best thing you can do is be aware of your surroundings. It is best to be watchful and alert to possible asthma triggers in your areas. Children are more likely to get Asthma than adults because of their small bodies and how vulnerable they are to pollens, air pollution and even insect bites. Adults have a larger body that gives them an advantage to help overcome many things. By having a bigger body mass, our bodies can absorb more pollutants that unfortunately our children cannot.

Between 70% and 80% of adults and children suffer from seasonal allergies. That number continues to rise every year due to many different factors. One factor is our world's air pollution. Take diesel exhaust for example. Many of the particle emissions from diesel exhaust have been found to cause cancer. When the drugs were made for inhalers, scientists tested many particulate sizes to find out what would be the best size for the inhalers to use, so the medications could reach into the deepest parts of your lungs. The size they found to be the most effective was 2.5 microns. The size of particulates that come from diesel engine exhaust as you can guess is exactly 2.5 microns. What this means is the particles from diesel exhaust is going to the deepest parts of your lungs. With so many toxins and chemicals on our planet, our bodies are in a constant state of battle to clean up and get rid of these toxins. The bad part is that our bodies are losing this battle.

We are bombarded daily with many different types of chemicals and toxins. These toxins play a large role in the contributing factors surrounding who gets Asthma. If there was a way to remove these toxins and metals from our bodies would you take it? I believe with the removal of these toxins, the problems of asthma affecting more and more young children could start to lower, instead of the constant rising asthma statistic problem we have today. The problems we face today are only going to get worse because we continue to manufacture products and chemicals that pollute the air we breath and the water we drink. There are ways we can fight this growing problem and that is to take something natural that can take out all the bad that we take in each day. Then and only then can our bodies heal themselves.

How Asthma Attack is Provoked?

Most attacks of asthma, though frightening and uncomfortable, are usually mild and subside within a few minutes with simple treatment. At times though, they can go on for hours. Some attacks are serious - and the sufferer may feel that he is suffocating. Struggling to expel air only makes it more difficult to breathe, and the panic that can seize a patient who is fighting to breathe only makes things worse. In an effort to take in more air, the asthma sufferer may sit upright, or stand. His labored breathing can often be heard some distance away.

The majority of those suffering from episodes of asthma are children. The condition can begin as early as the first year of life. Both boys and girls can suffer from the disease. Most asthmatics can have their ailment controlled by medication. They can participate in normal activities and sports, taking a dose of their treatment just before beginning a game or a period of physical exercise to prevent an attack. The unlucky ones are those who do not get proper treatment and support: Their asthma may be allowed to become magnified into a physical and mental burden, even hindering their normal development.

It is interesting to consider exactly how an attack is provoked. People with asthma are said to have "sensitive" bronchi. Their lung tissues react far more than they should to various stimuli. The stimulus may be an allergen (a name given to any substance that excites an allergic reaction). On the other hand, it may be a non-allergic factor such as an infection, physical exercise or even a blast of cold air. An episode of asthma can be triggered off by a cat, by cigarette smoke or even by air that has been polluted by dust or aerosol spray. Sensitivity to animal fur and similar allergens is more likely to show up in those who have inherited an allergic tendency.

Worry and fear of an attack can contribute to bringing one on; so can undue excitement and emotion. But it is certainly not correct to label asthma an emotional or psychological disorder.

Does Asthma and Exercise Help to Reduce Attacks

Asthma is such a common condition that I think most of know someone or know of someone who suffers from this awful condition. I remember one lad back from my high school days that used to have asthma attacks during physical education. I often used to wonder why they had him exercise if it was only going to make him suffer. I've since found out that contrary to popular belief, a careful exercise plan is actually recognized as a beneficial part of any asthma treatment plan. Let me explain.

Asthma and exercise actually have a unique relationship but it's very important to understand this relationship and how the two relate. It's true, asthma and exercise don't always go cap in hand which is why it is crucial to understand why it is that physical activity can bring on an attack. Whenever we physically exert ourselves, we increase our body's need for more oxygen and consequently this makes our breathing considerably harder and faster. We've all overexerted ourselves at one time or another and therefore know those awful feelings of breathlessness, tightening of the chest, and in some cases, heavy panting. All of these are symptoms of a typical asthma attack.

After reading the above you may still be wondering what possible benefits there are for the asthma sufferer to exercise at all. Well, it's a known fact that the asthma sufferer who exercises frequently actually reports having fewer attacks than when they did not exercise. The reason for this is simple. Physical exercise improves overall physical health and whenever we're in good physical shape, out body's cope much better with any complaints and illnesses that challenge us, including asthma.

This doesn't mean that the asthma sufferer should fly out the door after reading this and attempt a 4 minute mile, as asthma and exercise require the correct planning. Remember, we're all different so it's unwise to generalize here. Any asthma sufferer that wants to include regular exercise into their treatment plan should first consult their doctor about the various types of exercise. Also, and this is very important, before embarking on any new exercise regime, an asthma sufferer should be certain that they are already managing their asthma in the correct way on a daily basis.

It probably goes without saying but it's crucial that when getting into an asthma and exercise program of action that the sufferer has the appropriate medical equipment at hand at all times, including their inhalers. It's a good idea to have a simply check list so that you are certain to pack what you need prior to your workout.

It's always a good idea to be mindful of how you are feeling during the workout and it's also important to stop the moment you feel any symptoms coming on. Taking care or yourself is paramount when doing any asthma and exercise fitness plan, and an understanding how 'your' asthma and exercise work together is a must.

Remember, fit and healthy sufferers of asthma have less attacks generally than those that do little or no regular exercise, but as mentioned earlier, consult your doctor first so that you can work out a plan specifically for you.

How to Treat Someone Having an Asthma Attack

Most people try to be totally free of asthma signs or symptoms the majority of the time, most people can achieve this, provided they follow the right medical advice.

Asthma is one of the worst conditions anyone could ever have, it effects your number one tool that enable you to survive and that is your breathing. Asthma attacks can happen at anytime due to a number of reasons, such as environmental conditions, stress and general asthma triggers.

You could be out with your friends when one of their children have an attack. Are you aware of how to deal with these situations? If you are able to provide the right asthma treatment, it might possibly save someone's life.

Here are key points you should know.

The worst thing you could do is put someone on their back during an asthma attack. You should always make the person feel as comfortable as possible when they are having an asthma attack. Try calm the persons breathing down while they are having an asthma attack.

Most asthma patients know what they need to do to deal with an attack. You should always take the time and ask them how they feel. Ask if they have an inhaler on them and if they know where it is.

If they don't have an asthma inhaler on them, calm them down and ask if you should call anyone they know. Most asthmatics will have an inhaler on them as well as a card on what you should do in case they have an attack.

An asthma attack can temporarily prevent the patient from being able to talk to you. This is the primary reason why asthma cards are so important to carry around with you. If there is such a card, just do as it says.

Aid them in using their inhaler. An inhaler is designed to deliver the right specific dose of asthma medication. These inhalers are created to help anyone feel better a lot faster. Medication is so important during an asthma attack, if the patient doesn't have his or her inhaler available, most doctors say that it is OK to use someone else's inhaler or asthma medication. You should always try your best to use the right medication

Always wait a few minutes before you use the inhaler again. Position the mouthpiece of the inhaler between the patient's lips. You should have him or her breathe in when they are about to take in the medication. Wait for several seconds before you deliver another puff. Let the person tell you they need more medication. A spacer helps the person take the medication in a different form. This device will fit in between the asthma inhaler and the persons mouth.

If there is no spacer, then simply design your own one, take a magazine and roll it up. You should never leave a person after giving them their medication, always sit with them and help them out. Try notice if you see their breathing improve. If it appears that they are not responding to the medication within ten minutes, call an ambulance.

While you await medical help, try give them some more medication. The treatment will be there to help the person breathe better. Stay as calm as possible. If you stay calm then the person having the attack will remain calm. If he panics, it will worsen the asthma attack and make it far more difficult for him to breathe.

Always make the person feel calm. This is the most important aspect. Learning these asthma treatment solutions concepts will let you deal more effectively with many emergency situations.

How to Deal With an Asthma Attack

Experiencing a severe asthma attack can be scary for anyone. If you have been experiencing them or you know someone who is, the best course of action is to call for medical assistance immediately. There are several ways in which you can prepare for such an occasion in case you find yourself in that situation. The following should not be taken as actual medical advice.

Having relief medication on hand is critical if you or someone around you is experiencing an asthma attack. Should the asthma sufferer have a reliever, find it and give it to the him or her to use. They will know how many puffs to take. The victim should be positioned so nothing will affect their breathing while having an asthma attack. They should not be lying down and it helps to loosen their clothes.

To be further prepared for the possibility of an attack, it's important to know what the symptoms of one are. Being able to identify them will signal what is supposed to be done and how the treatment should be given. Some of the symptoms include breathing problems while exercising, excess coughing during the night, short breath and congestion, and severe wheezing following exercise.

An asthma attack has several stages that will occur. First, there are pre-attack preparations involving medical consultations. The medical expert will know the specific asthma condition to care for and how to manage it.

The post attack stage is about what medication worked and what didn't. When another asthma attack occurs, the necessary adjustments will be made to treat it better. Because the symptoms and triggers will vary from case to case, extensive study is required for asthma diagnosis. Attacks range from manageable to fatal. Knowing the diagnosis, symptoms, and triggers will allow you to deal with asthma attacks the right way.

Prevent Asthma Attacks Occurring in the Home - Controlling Asthma Naturally and Effectively

There are many ways that asthma can be treated, most of which require prescribed or over-the-counter medication. However, as the saying goes, "prevention is better than cure" and being able to prevent asthma attacks occurring in the home, is a much more effective way of controlling your asthma problem.

If you are concerned about your reliance on medication to relieve your problem, then you will be pleased to know that there are several simple ways of controlling asthma naturally and effectively that could make a big impact on your life.

It might seem an over-simplification to say that the most effective way to control the incidence of asthma attacks is to control the triggers (allergens) that cause them, but it really is that simple. In fact, avoiding or controlling the triggers that lead to asthma attacks should be a priority in the home of any asthma sufferer.

As most asthma triggers are tiny airborne particles or chemicals that we breathe in, then obviously the most effective way to control them is to remove or eliminate the source. So how do we achieve this? Let's briefly consider some of the most common ways.

Air filters - should be equipped with special HEPA filters that are designed to remove even the tiniest particles which most allergens are.

Dust Mites - or rather their droppings are a potent trigger for your asthma. Removing them is not a simple task as they are found everywhere - carpets, curtains, upholstered furniture, soft furnishings, bedding and particularly mattresses. Try to remove all dust either with a damp cloth or clean with a powerful vacuum cleaner which is equipped with a HEPA filter. Wash bedclothes in hot water and cover bedding and mattresses with specially designed, impermeable covers.

Cockroaches - employ the services of a professional company that can eliminate cockroaches completely.

Mold - mold spores are a trigger for asthma attacks, so ensure that places which can be damp, such as bathrooms and basements, are kept well ventilated and as dry as possible. Remove all signs of mould immediately.

Humidity - although humidity itself does not trigger asthma it does have a major effect on such things as mold and dust mites. Install a de-humidifier and aim to keep the humidity at a level below 50%.

Pets - pet dander is a well known cause of asthma but getting rid of your pet is probably a step too far for most people. Wash your pet regularly and limit the places that they are allowed to go to and in particular, your bedroom. Also, try to keep them away from your favourite chair or sofa.

Chemicals - if you know that a certain cleaning agents or personal care product contains a chemical allergen that affects you, then obviously do not use them.

Smoking - even second hand smoke will trigger asthma attacks so no one should be allowed to smoke in the home. Better still encourage everyone to stop smoking permanently.

Stress - high stress levels can trigger asthma attacks so make some positive changes to your lifestyle that will help to reduce stress levels.

The above briefly highlights some of the more common ways that you can prevent asthma attacks occurring in the home. Find out what specifically triggers your asthma attacks and then investigate further as to how you can effectively control your asthma, by dealing with the cause.

While you can certainly prevent asthma attacks occurring in the home, by taking positive steps to eliminate the triggers, you are still likely to suffer the occasional asthma attack, particularly when you are away from home. So what do you do if you are one of the ever growing band of people, who are very concerned about taking drug based medication?

Fortunately, the world is becoming increasingly aware that totally natural based products and treatments provide equally effective results as the more familiar, drug based medications. Moreover, they do not produce the adverse and sometimes dangerous side effects, caused by these drugs, which are reported on an almost daily basis.