Asthma Signs And Symptoms

Getting desperate to breathe in the real sense?

Want to eat all that you crave for?

Want to do anything to get rid of a handicap-like inhalers and medicines?

Do not worry!

Here is a complete guide to free you from this trap FOREVER!

But first of all, let us join to gather the needed information about your problem Asthma!

Definition

Asthma is a chronic condition in which narrowing of the nasal or air passage causes periodic attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These changes occur with the changes in the environment, including weather, allergens (such as dog or cat dander or dust), foods, or respiratory infections (flu, colds). Asthma is also popularly known as Bronchial asthma, Exercise induced asthma - bronchial.

Causes of Asthma:

Asthma occurs due to several reasons, the most important ones being:

1. Inhaled allergens like pet dander, dust mites, cockroach allergens, molds, or pollens

2. Respiratory infections

3. Exercise

4. Cold air

5. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants

6. Stress

7. Food

8. Drug allergies

9. Aspirin and other NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications (NSAIDS)

10. An individual and/or family history of allergies such as Hay Fever (allergic rhinitis) or Eczema

11. strong emotions

Asthma attacks can last from minutes to days and become really dangerous if the flow of the air becomes severely restricted.

Recent researches show that asthma occurs in 3-5% of adults and 7-10% of children. Usually, half of the people with asthma develop this disease before age 10, and the rest before age 30. These symptoms can decrease over time, especially in children.

Asthma Symptoms:

Here are some of the most common asthma signs and symptoms you should always remember:

1. Shortness of breath

Your chest feels tight and you start feeling that you cannot catch your breath anymore or get all the air you need.

2. Frequent Coughing

If you cough very frequently every day or if this cough starts interrupting your sleep at night that won't quit, it could be a symptom of asthma.

3. Wheezing attacks

A whistling sound heard when a person with asthma is breathing. It happens when mucus causes the small passageways in your lungs called alveoli start to narrow. It happens all of a sudden and not constant. It may worsen at bedtime or early morning or by breathing cold air or by exercising.

4. Intercostal Retractions

These retractions stand for the inward movement of the muscles in the spaces between the ribs. The reduced pressure in the chest cavity is the reason for this pulling of the muscles. This is a sign of difficult breathing.

5. Tightness in the Chest

This can be quite threatening to the asthma sufferer. It gives the feeling of a steel band or a weight that is keeping your lungs from fully expanding as your breathe in.

6. Pallor or Cyanosis

Pallor is a whitish color and cyanosis is a bluish color in the lips and face. If either one of these is followed with severe shortness of breath, are danger signs of asthma attack. You need to get help right away if you notice this symptom.

7. Anxiety or Discomfort

A feeling of intense fear and uneasiness occurs when you find it difficult to breathe. If your anxiety is accompanied by short of breath and / or pallor or cyanosis, then undoubtedly, its time to get emergency help.

8. Fast pulse rate

If you find that your pulse is running extremely fast and you are sweating badly, then do not waste even a single moment and visit your doctor.

If you notice any of these symptoms in you or any of your near and dear ones on a regular or ongoing basis, then you might consult a doctor about whether you have asthma. And if already an asthma sufferer then do not waste time and immediately visit your doctor. Your doctor will diagnose your symptoms.

Skin Allergy Definition, Causes and Symptoms

What is a skin allergy? A skin allergy is a reaction caused by a substance that comes in contact with the skin, thus a skin allergy. Some types of contact skin allergies are dermatitis, eczema and hives. Contact dermatitis develops when the skin comes in contact with something that a person is allergic to. A reaction to skin allergies may cause a redness or even swelling, stinging, burning or blisters and yes, itching.

Skin Allergies are one of the most prevalent causes of skin conditions. Generally, they are caused by an immune system which becomes hypersensitive after exposure to certain substances which it recognizes as harmful. As a result of this exposure, the body's immune system releases huge amounts of antibodies to combat these "supposedly" harmful substances. The release of these immune cells may then cause an adverse reaction in other cells within the body.

The major symptom of skin allergy are hives, rashes, swelling, itching which may includes one or more physical signs like dry skin and it results in cracking of the skin. The hands, face, arms and neck are the common areas affected by skin allergies as are exposed usually every day.

Hives are red bumps or welts that form on the top layer of skin. Usually they will appear in a small area first, but they can then spread. You will find that the hives can appear on the face, arms, neck, or all over the body. The nature of hives is to be itchy. This means that food allergies cause itching skin in humans. Often the skin may appear itchy before the actual hives or reddened patches of skin will appear.

Common symptoms of allergies include redness and itchiness of the eyes, wheezing or other breathing problems, skin rashes or hives. Some people with severe allergies might even experience anaphylaxis or death in extreme exposure situations. There are many common allergies from which many people suffer. Animal dander (particularly from cats), pollen, dust mites and certain medications can all be causes of allergies. Some individuals are also allergic to certain foods or even whole food groups.

Something to keep in mind with the skin reaction as a result of food allergies is that irritating the area or becoming stressed over the issue can cause the skin reaction to be more pronounced. In other words if you become stressed you can actually psychologically induce hives. It is a reaction of too much chemical in your body as a result of stress. This means that for those with a food allergy they can cause the hives to become worse than they would normally be.

Eczema the most common skin problem is triggered by allergies. Similarly hives are caused by allergies. It is important to learn about allergies so that we can care for our skin. Most of us have different ideas about allergy. Some of us do not believe in allergy while some of us think that they suffer from allergy with every substance. Most of us are allergic to something. Most of these allergies are harmless but some like eczema can cause lot of distress and skin problems.

What Is Asthma, How Is It Diagnosed And What Treatments Are Available?

Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in the UK, affecting around five million people. The technical definition of asthma is a reversible airways disease which causes difficulty breathing. The word reversible is important and means that treatment can usually alleviate the symptoms and this separates it from other lung problems like Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis (which are now called COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

Asthma is a problem for many people because even mild symptoms can get in the way of exercise and it may mean carrying an inhaler around at all times. When more serious, asthma can be life threatening and needs to be monitored carefully. Although asthma is not curable it is "reversible" and therefore is almost always controllable given the right treatment. It is quite possible for a person with asthma to lead a completely normal life with the right combination of treatment.

For reasons that are not fully understood, asthma is on the increase and, in fact, the number of asthmatics has risen at least five fold in the last 25 years in the UK. Part of this increase may be due to doctors diagnosing it more often when perhaps in the past it was misdiagnosed. The increase is also thought to be related to increased levels of air pollution but this has not yet been categorically proven. The causes of asthma are not fully understood, although it seems both a genetic predisposition and environmental factors are involved.

What we do know is that during an asthma attack, the airways in the lungs become constricted, inflamed and there is an excess of mucus. This makes it much more difficult for the asthmatic to breath deeply in or out, causing a shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthmatic episodes can be triggered by many different factors including allergies (to fur, pollen etc.), exercise, viral chest infections, the inhalation of cold air and stress.

Treatment of asthma has advanced a lot over recent years. People living with asthma use either one, or a combination of inhalers (what some asthmatics call "puffers") which deliver a carefully measured dose of medication in the form of a spray or powder which is inhaled into the lungs. Anti-asthma drugs can be divided into "relievers" which are used just before or during an attack, and "preventers" which are used on a daily basis and help to suppress inflammation and reduce swelling in the lining of the airways.

It's important to remember that asthma is a common condition that can be mild or severe but in most cases can be controlled with medication, meaning that the vast majority of asthmatics can lead a normal life.

Daily Precautions For Asthma Patients

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system and may turn even fatal at times. It is therefore important for the asthma patients to take proper care and precautions regularly. Asthma patients suffer from attacks that enforce the system to breathe with difficulty. Wheezing, choking, gasping for breath and suffocation are the symptoms of asthmatic attack.

The attacks may last up to several minutes and leave a person thoroughly exhausted. There can be severe organ damage due to problem in respiration during the asthma attack. Also the system may suffer from lack of oxygen for a longer duration of time. It is therefore imperative to exercise proper caution and avoid the onset of an attack to the extent possible.

Some easily followed precautions everyday may keep an asthmatic without suffering an attack. These precautions are:

1. An asthmatic needs to follow routines. This is because it is generally seen that people do not suffer the agony of an asthmatic attack if they continue to live their life in a regular way. The problem arises mainly when the people go out of their way and break all the routines. The system thus gets unnecessarily pressured and reacts badly by manifesting the symptoms of the disease in the oddest of ways and without many warning signs. Sometimes the body does give the warning signs but the person may ignore them completely.

2. Daily morning walk does wonders to the system. But in the case of asthma patients the benefit from early morning exercise is enhanced manifold. This is because the early morning is the time when the air is pure and at its best. Exercising the lungs with the early morning air does wonders to the asthmatic lungs and respiratory tract.

3. Daily morning exercise schedule needs to be followed religiously in case of an asthma patient. Not only does this help in exercising the whole system but it also makes a person live a more disciplined and regularised life. This is because if a person gets into the habit of getting up early, in all probability he would try and sleep early too and his routine will automatically be set and fixed.

4. The daily diet of an asthma patient should be kept simple and nutritious. He should take care of not eating heavy meals as they would tax the system unnecessarily. Care should be taken to keep the meals small and frequent if need be, rather than consuming standard heavy meals at set hours. Also the food should be cooked with less oil and spices to keep it easily digestible. The diet should be mainly vegetarian with less of fats and carbohydrates. Sweets should best be avoided at night time. Dinner should be consumed at least two hours before sleeping so that the stomach is almost empty before sleeping. Dietary intake of fruits and vegetables should be enhanced. Snacks should be mainly in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables only and fatty, oily and salty or sweet snacks should be avoided completely.

5. Asthma patients should avoid smoking completely. Smoking fills the system with many toxins and the respiratory system gets flooded with them. These toxins are major irritants to the respiratory tract and create an undue pressure on the system that may be too much for an asthmatic to handle. An asthmatic may get more bronchial spasms and is more likely to be affected with respiratory infections if he continues to smoke.

6. An asthmatic person should also not indulge in drinking too much. This is because drinking causes a person to lose sense and become more prone to breaking disciplines of routine and diets. An asthmatic may become careless with his diet and may tend to overeat to counteract the influence of alcohol if he indulges in drinking too much.

7. Asthma patient's surroundings should be kept neat and tidy. As far as possible clutter should be completely avoided to steer clear of dust induced allergies that may create an attack. Clutter in the surroundings inhabits several mites and allergy causing organisms. It is therefore necessary that the furniture and other stuff should be arranged in such a way, which allows proper dusting and cleaning on a daily basis.

8. Asthma patients may have difficulty with the atmospheric pollution also. It is very important to assess whether the patient may be allergic to any particular kind of allergen present in the atmosphere around his place of dwelling or occupation. Sometimes certain professions support the excessive usage of one kind of toxin or the other, in which case a change in profession or occupational conditions may remain to be the only option.

9. Asthmatics should also be very careful of not getting mentally excited too much. This is because the mental aggravation may lead to appearance of asthmatic symptoms in patients. On a daily basis it is better not to accumulate taking decisions, whether in the personal life or in the professional life. The work should also be handled as far as possible on a daily basis to avoid excess stress and anxiety.

10. In order to manage asthma it is very necessary to accept the disease and the limitations attached with it in one's daily life. If proper discipline is maintained a patient can have a long and problem free life.

Asthma Breathing

Asthma breathing is important for every asthmatic patient. This is because the condition affects the breathing system of a patient. The airways that transport air in and out of the lungs get blocked because of swelling. This hence causes the patient not to breath with ease. Breathing therefore is important and can be made easier by avoiding the causes of asthma.

Symptoms that cause asthma breathing may include, tightening of chest, heavy breathing, wheezing and coughing. These conditions are usually triggered by various exposure of situations and circumstances. These may include the weather, viral infections, smoking among others.

Asthma breathing can either be mild or severe. One is advised to take preventative measures. These could include medications such as inhalers and tablets. Inhalers are of different types that help to prevent an attack. There are two types of inhalers, preventers and relievers. The preventer inhalers prevent an attack while the relievers help relieve the patient during an attack. Therapies can also be used to improve the condition of the patient. They however vary from one patient to another in relation to the seriousness of the condition.

The breathing is important because if ignored, a severe asthma can turn out to be chronic. In the instance of a patient knowing what triggers their condition, asthma breathing could be controlled and brought to a normal rate. The breathing then eases the flow of air in and out of the lungs. The breathing is a strong indicator of how serious the condition is. Therefore, necessary measures should always be a matter of priority in every patient.

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.

Asthma - Definition, Cause and Triggering Factors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smoking and air pollution.

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

House dust mites.

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

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

What Are the Main Causes of Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that leads to inflammation and obstruction in the airways and causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Hundreds of thousands of people are killed by this disease worldwide each year and children are particularly at risk. Let's have a brief look at some of the causes of asthma.

Tobacco smoke is one of the environmental causes of asthma and is one of the major reasons for death occurring due to wheezing, respiratory infections, and asthma. Parents, especially mothers, who are smokers are not just damaging their own lungs but also increasing the risk of asthma in their children.

If you are an asthma sufferer, you are most likely an allergy sufferer too. Antibodies in the blood are triggered due to allergic reactions which cause inflammation in the airways and asthma. There are various allergens in the environment that can trigger these allergic reactions.

People spend much of their time indoors and there are various biological allergens present inside the house. These include dust mites which are tiny animals that live in house dust. Dust mites are found in all houses; however, some houses have huge numbers of these insects. Besides cleanliness, the amount of moisture present indoors is a major reason for their presence. They are also found more often in temperate climates and normal altitudes. Dust mites eat the dust from our skin and then leave droppings which contain left-over enzymes used to digest the skin dust. These enzymes are the main triggers of asthma and allergic diseases.

If you have pets in the house, you are constantly exposed to animal dander and hair. Proteins in skin flakes, urine, feces, saliva, and hair of animals, especially cats, are tiny particles that float in the air and land on any body part that can come in contact with your nose and mouth. This protein is the reason why dander is considered to be a potent allergen.

The presence of molds and mildew is also a common cause of an asthma attack. If the air circulation in the house is poor or it is not receiving enough sunlight, growth of molds and mildew is highly likely, especially if there is continuous dampness or wetness in the house. Mold spores tend to float in the air and cause allergic reactions in the residents.

High level of humidity in the indoor air increases the presence of these allergens and increases your risk of getting an asthma attack. The best way to reduce asthma attacks is to reduce your exposure to these indoor irritants. Maintaining good air circulation, allowing sunlight to come into the house, and using products that can help control the high level of moisture in the air is the best solution for this.

Define Asthma

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

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

1) Vary from person to person.

2) Vary from episode to episode.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COPD - Definition, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

What does COPD mean? COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It encompasses two types of disease processes namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Quite often, people who suffer from COPD show a combination of features of both disease processes. In lay person's term, COPD means persistent lung disease with features of airway narrowing. To be more specific, bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchi or the larger airways of the lungs whereas emphysema means destruction to the smaller airways and alveoli or airsacs of the lungs. Thus COPD is commonly used to describe chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

Is COPD a common condition? It is one of the commonest conditions that require hospital admission during period of flare-ups. According to one epidemiology study in the US, approximately eight million people have chronic bronchitis whereas 2 million people have emphysema. As we can see, chronic bronchitis is more common than emphysema.

What are the causes of COPD? Smoking. Smoking is the number 1 cause of COPD. More than 90 percent of COPDs are caused by smoking, cigarette or otherwise. About 30 percent of long term smokers will eventually show symptoms of COPD of varying degrees. Other causes include air pollution and inherited enzyme deficiency namely alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

How does smoking cause COPD? Smoking inadvertently damages the lining of the airways. As with any other part of the body in response to injury, inflammation occurs. Inflammation stimulates the damaged lining to secrete mucus in an abnormal amount and also causes the airway to constrict (narrow).

What are the symptoms of COPD? The two main symptoms are cough and breathlessness. COPD sufferers commonly complain about breathlessness and cough that develop gradually over a long period of time. The cough that COPD sufferer gets are usually productive which means they commonly cough up phlegm. The cough usually comes and goes initially but tends to become persistent as time passes. Breathlessness is usually intermittent and only occurs with exertion in the beginning, however if you continue to smoke, the breathlessness persists even when you are at rest, this can be quite distressing! Other symptoms are chronic sputum production, where you constantly cough up phlegm all day and recurrent chest infection. People with COPD are more prone to chest infection for obvious reasons, as the lining in the lung looses its normal defense mechanism against intruding bugs.

COPD sounds like asthma, are they any different? Yes. Both COPD and asthma cause similar symptoms, however, they are different in certain ways. COPD causes permanent damage to the airways. The obstruction is 'fixed', hence it is irreversible in general terms. However, airway narrowing in asthma is intermittent and reverses quite easily with medication. Having said that, both COPD and asthma is common, people who suffer COPD can have an asthmatic component and vice versa.

What tests are needed to diagnose COPD? A test called spirometry is often performed to diagnose COPD. Bronchodilators (drugs that cause the airway to dilate) are usually added to confirm the diagnosis. If the test result does not show improvement with bronchodilators, then COPD is very likely.

What are the treatments of COPD? First of all. Stop smoking. This cannot be stressed enough. Smoking cessation is the first thing you have to do if you want to get better. As the underlying mechanism of COPD is irreversible, medications are used with an aim to slow down it's progress. Drugs that are commonly used to treat COPD include short-acting bronchodilator inhalers (i.e. salbutamol), long-acting bronchodilator inhalers (i.e. tiotropium), steroid inhalers and tablets are all available drugs for treatment of COPD. Again, no treatment is more important that stop smoking. Lung transplant is the last option and should be reserved for people with severe COPD.

Short Definition of Asthma

There are a lot of children and adults who always experience difficulty of breathing. This can get worst of not treated immediately. It is important to know the simple and short definition of asthma. This is actually an inflammation disorder wherein the passage or air from the mouth into the lungs is blocked. This is the reason why the person experience chest tightness, wheezing, coughing and dizziness. Actually, airway is the primary thing that you should be focusing.

Keep in mind that a person who has difficulty of breathing has difficulty in coping with the situation, some even became disoriented because there is no longer enough oxygen that is circulating inside the brain. If you have a family member which has difficulty in breathing, the first thing that you will be doing is to place the person into an upright position.

Expansion of the lungs should be adequate so that air can pass easily. Tell the person to do deep breathing exercise. In here, the person will be inhaling through his nose and exhaling through the mouth.

For children most especially infants, they rely on a nebulizer machine because it is very easy to use. Unlike with adults wherein you can give them instructions that they can follow. This short definition of asthma may be simple but reliable.

You should know the initial things that you should do if in case you experience having any respiratory problems. In fact, the interventions are very common and usually done by the people who have respiratory problems.

The Definition of Chronic Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the lungs where the there is widespread inflammation or saddening narrowing of the bronchial tubes.

Asthma currently can be divided into 4 types according to the National Institute of Health. The 4 types are mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent. Asthma sufferers that fall into the severe persistent range category have chronic asthma.

So let's talk about the peak flow rate. For mild intermittent and mild persistent asthma, their peak flow rate is more than 80 percent of normal. Moderate persistent is between 60 to 80 percent. Chronic asthma has a peak flow rate of below 60 percent. Chronic asthma is a severe form of asthma.

The symptoms for this type of asthma also differ from the other three categories. Unlike people who fall into the first three categories, people that suffer from this type of asthma have daily recurrent symptoms of asthma which is characterized by breathlessness, sudden tightness of the chest and wheezing sounds. Sometimes wheezing sounds cannot be heard at all if the bronchial tubes have been almost sealed completely and air can't even pass through the lungs.

Many people that suffer from this type of asthma have been hospitalized before with the required assistance of a respirator. Whereby people suffering from mild and moderate asthma can reverse their symptoms on inhaled medications alone, asthmatics requires the need of preventive medication like oral corticosteroid courses.

Even the inhaler that severe asthmatics use is different. Asthma sufferer sometimes requires the need of nebulizers. A nebulizer is a device that is used to rapidly deliver aerosol medication containing beta adrenergic agonist. Unlike a metered dose inhaler (MDI), a nebulizer does not require good inhaling techniques and all it requires is normal breathing. A nebulizer also delivers a greater quantity of medication compared to a MDI. However, a nebulizer is more expensive than a MDI.

The treatment strategy for chronic asthma differs from age to age. The purpose of a treatment strategy so that the sufferer can lead a normal lifestyle and make the lungs function properly. Most physicians will usually take a step by step approach to treat severe asthma.

First step is to always to control the symptoms and to stabilize the lungs. This will often require a high dosage of inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonist. After the patient condition has stabilized, the next step will to be slowly reduced the dosage of the medication used so as to reduce the side effects of the medication.

Asthma Definition

Asthma is a disease that affects the respiratory system. This system is in charge of breathing in the human body. It is the second most important system in the body after the heart. The airways that carry air in and out of the lungs swell when irritated and therefore cannot carry air as required and this brings about the shortage of air. This will result in the symptoms of asthma being seen.

These symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of chest and heavy breathing. These symptoms of asthma are usually triggered by different conditions that one is exposed to. They are animals, fungi, molds, emotions, vigorous exercise, sex, hormones, house dust mites and air pollution. These conditions when exposed to one, reacts to it and thus causing the symptoms of asthma that lead to an attack.

Therefore, it is important to avoid what triggers asthma in one's case as they vary from person to person. Asthma definition can be characterized by its causes which include hereditary, eczema, allergy, smoking and environmental pollution. These are the major causes. Some like smoking and environmental pollution can be avoided. Asthma is a disease that affects all ages from infants, children, adults and old people. This disease is wide spread throughout and cannot be said to dominate only a particular part of the world.

Asthma can turn out to be a fatal disease if not controlled. There are various categories of asthma such as mild, severe, and chronic. Most cases begin as mild but tend to progress, this could be due to lack of proper treatment or could also be unavoidable. Asthma is a disease that does not have a permanent cure. Treatment available is only to control the condition and enable the patients to live comfortably with this situation and reduce chances of it getting worse.

Asthma Attack Treatment

Asthma attack treatment is a condition whereby an asthma patient gets a sudden bout of an asthmatic condition. This condition is usually triggered by different sorts of situations. These are called the causes that trigger an asthmatic condition. These causes differ from person to person. They include weather, viral infections, cold, fungi, molds, animals, among others. A patient should be able to know what affects or triggers his condition and take precautions.

Once one has been able to identify the causes of their asthmatic condition, treatment can be administered. The various forms of treatment available include, tablets, inhalers and therapy. Asthma attack treatment are different; preventer inhaler and reliever inhalers are used to give relieve during an attack. This helps by relaxing the airways and allowing a free flow of air into and out of the lungs.

Preventer inhaler is used for prevention purposes and is therefore not used during the attack. It is however used on a frequent basis as it is not known when the attack may occur. This inhaler is used as a mode of reducing the chances of an asthmatic attack. This is because an attack can turn out to be very serious and can end up being fatal.

Asthma attack treatment tablets are vast and also include relievers, preventers that help the swelling of the airways to go down so that air can flow in and out freely. These various forms of steroid tablets that have different combination of ingredients. To work for the different kinds of asthma attack treatments for various forms of groups of people. Other forms of treatment are therapy given to ease the muscle that transport the air for much more effective breathing. Breathing machines are also used as a mode of treatment for this.

Acute Asthma Attack - Symptoms And Management

There have been many victims of acute asthma attack and the intensity of these attacks can be frightening. Asthma is a chronic disease that has many sufferers around the world. Respiratory impairment occurs due to the fact that the airways are inflamed and narrow. There is bronchial constriction and mucus may also cause further discomfort. The body is unable to ventilate the air sacs in the lungs which may cause distress. The patients suffer from shortness of breath and may also have wheezing. A person is said to suffer from an acute asthma attack when the symptoms flare up necessitating medical intervention most of the time.

Symptoms Of Acute Asthma Attack

• rapid breathing
  
  


• physical exhaustion
  
  


• difficulty in talking
  
  


• wheezing (which is quiet)
  
  


• coughing
  
  


• marked recession
  
  


• paradoxical pulse where the pulse is strong during expiration and weak during inhalation
  
  


• constriction and pain in the chest
  
  


• turning blue due to lack of oxygen
  
  


• lack of consciousness
  
  


• numbness in limbs
  
  


• sweating of the palms
  
  


• feet may turn icy
  
  


• peak respiratory flow is less than 50% of the mean value
  
  

These patients can avoid acute asthma attack by paying attention to the signs and symptoms that indicate that their condition is not improving. Many people have made the mistake of neglecting to get medical aid as the wheezing and the gulping appears to have got better. If this occurs with lips turning blue and lack of consciousness, the condition is very serious demanding immediate medical intervention in order to avoid death.

People suffering from asthma may prevent acute attacks by making sure they take the necessary medication to prevent the situation from aggravating. They can make use of a peak flow meter to monitor their condition. It is required that they get their baseline measurement by inhaling and then exhaling into the meter when they are feeling fit. If their peak flow measurement is 50%-80% lesser than their baseline peak flow measurement, it may indicate they are at risk of an acute asthma attack if they do not take immediate action. If the peak flow reading is lesser than 50% of their normal reading it is time they sought medical intervention as a severe attack can become life threatening in some cases.

It will help if patients carry a card or wear a medical alert bracelet that can be useful if medical intervention is needed. The patients need to have worked out a plan on what has to be done during an attack. The patients may also keep a card with the name of their physician, his number as well as the number of an ambulance, and the relative or friend who has to be contacted. If the inhaled reliever is not working, it is time you sought immediate medical help. Make it a point to inform them that you have an acute asthma attack and are not responding to treatment. Till help arrives continue to use the reliever taking 6-8 puffs every 5-6 minutes. Make sure to use a spacer as it will be of great help. The best way to manage asthma and to prevent an acute asthma attack is to monitor the symptoms, take medication promptly and ensure that the condition does not get aggravated.

Asthma Attack Symptoms

The symptoms of asthma vary greatly among individuals; and at times, attacks can vary, even for the same person. Your ability to recognize the early signs and symptoms that initially appear prior to an attack is critical if you wish to avoid an emergency room visit. When you notice these signs, you should heed the advice of your Doctor and follow a professionally directed action plan.

Before a full-blown asthma attack, there are usually early signs and symptoms you should be able to easily recognize. Irritation of the nose and throat, thirst, and the increased need to urinate are all common symptoms that may occur before an asthma attack. Each person has his or her own peculiar pattern of early symptoms, and most often, these symptoms progress to a severe respiratory distress episode if not properly treated.

The classic symptoms of an actual attack include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Wheezing when exhaling is very common during an attack. Often the attack begins with wheezing and rapid breathing and, as respiratory airways constrict and tighten, all breathing muscles become visibly active.

Some people first experience this chest tightness or pain. Chest pain occurs in about 75% of asthmatics; it can be very severe and its intensity is unrelated to the severity of the attack itself. The neck muscles may tense and talking may become difficult or impossible. The end of an attack is often marked by a cough that produces a thick, stringy mucus. After an acute attack, inflammation can persist for a few days up to several weeks. This inflammation is most often left untreated since it is usually symptomless. But, it is this asymptomatic inflammation that must be treated in order to prevent long term respiratory damage or relapse.

The most common asthmatic symptoms are:

Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

If you experience breathlessness after laughing or speaking long sentences, you could have asthma. In rare instances, you may find that you feel the need to inhale before you have finished breathing out.

Wheezing

This is the whistling sound sometimes heard when you breathe. It indicates airway narrowing and it could be present on inhalation or exhalation. (Please recognize that not all asthmatics wheeze and not all wheezing indicates an asthmatic condition.)

Exercise induced breathlessness

If physical exertion (playing a sport, walking up a flight of stairs, rapid physical exertion, etc.) makes you short of breath, then this could be an indication of asthma.

Tight chested feeling

This sensation feels like a tight band across your chest - like an elastic band or a heavy weight resting on your chest. Your ability to fully inhale is limited and, in advanced situations, painful. Sometimes this tightness is exacerbated in cold weather.

Excessive mucus production

Gurgling or rattling during inhalation or exhalation plus coughing up a lot of white frothy mucus is common in asthmatic individuals. Sometimes this mucous will be thick in consistency and yellow or green in color.

Cough

A recurring, irritating cough is frequently a sign of asthma. This persistent cough usually occurs in the cool air, at night, or after exercise.

Chest pain

When air is trapped in the airways due to inflammation, the surrounding membrane stretches, and causes pain. Advanced cases can often lead to complicated situations involving conditions similar to emphysema.

Nasal Congestion and drainage Nasal congestion and a runny nose are often accompanying features of asthma. Rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) is often called asthma of the nose.

Disturbed Sleep Patterns

An inability to sleep due to snoring or repeated awakening during the night could be an asthma symptom. Other conditions also display this condition, so this symptom alone should not be considered conclusive.

Lethargy

Feeling very tired is quite usual for asthmatics. It is often the result of interrupted sleep patterns, diminished oxygen supply to the blood and availability to the body tissues, plus the build up of muscular lactic acid which results in generalized muscle fatigue.

The Early Warning Signs:

Even mild asthmatics can have severe attacks and therefore it is important to recognize the early signs so that you can take appropriate action.

• Your reliever (puffer) is no longer as effective and you need to use it more frequently than every 3-4 hours.


• The wheeze improves or even disappears but there is no improvement in your ability to breathe.


• You have real difficulty in speaking complete sentences without stopping to take a breath.


• You start to turn a blue to gray color, especially around the lips and fingertips. This is a condition called cyanosis and indicates that you have insufficient oxygen levels in your circulating blood.


• You become anxious to the point of being frightened.


• Thinking clearly becomes difficult.


• Every breath becomes increasingly difficult.

The best advice we could possibly give you is, Never ignore an asthma attack in the hope that it will get better or go away. If problems persist, seek qualified medical attention and follow a professionally directed recovery and treatment plan.

Asthmatic Care For Asthmatic Children

If you are caring for someone you love who suffers from asthma and especially if that someone is your child, you undoubtedly understand what it is like to live with the anxiety of knowing that at some point something will trigger an attack. It is not an 'if' situation. And while you personally may be doing all that you can to learn about and improve their circumstances, it is important to remember that you can only go so far. Some circumstances will be beyond your control, despite all the preparations you make ahead of time on asthmatic care.

When your child starts to go to school and looks to act more independently it will become apparent that he or she will have to take more responsibility for his or her health and condition. However, as a parent most of the responsibility falls upon you to care and to help your child to learn on how to manage his or her asthma.

Before you can effectively care for your child, it is very important for you to understand what happen to his or her body during an asthma attack. Your doctor will be the best person to explain to you all you need to know about asthma, asthmatic care and what you can do to help your asthmatic child. With this knowledge in mind, you are better prepared to cope and manage your child's asthma.

As a start, it is vitally important for you to seek out and take note of anything that seems to create discomfort for your child and try to eliminate these irritants from him or her. It may be necessary to consistently explain the cause and effect to you little ones to make him or her understand your action. As an example, some children can be extremely reactive to pet dander and dust mites. While you may be able to create a hypo-allergenic environment in your home, it will be necessary to help your child understand the reaction that follows being close to certain animals - no matter how lovable they may be.

Foods can be an issue for many asthmatics children and it will be helpful, if they are too young to remember all the details, carry with them a list of foods that need to avoid.

Another important issue in your care of asthmatic children is that if they require inhalers, make sure that they have it with them at all times. Especially, of course, their blue puffer inhaler, that has the rescue medicine and that may be required during an asthma attack. Along with this, it is good to have in place an "asthma action plan" which detailed down what symptoms to watch for, what they mean, how to adjust the medicine in line with the symptoms, and when the symptoms become serious enough to call 911. If possible, have this information printed and laminated on a card so that they can carry it with them at all time.

Your child will need to learn how to properly use the inhaler. If they have any difficulty in getting the hang of it, you, your doctor or a trained asthma specialist should teach them how to use the inhaler effectively.

Ultimately it is good to realize that children can be wonderfully adaptable. When parents demonstrate a calm and sometimes matter-of-fact forthrightness, children will then often respond calmly and reassured as well. This can be so important especially when an attack is under way.

Pillows Types and Their Differences

When searching for pillows, you will find that there are so many styles to choose from that you may get overwhelmed. Pillow styles range anywhere from body pillows, neck pillows and even sleep disorder pillows that help with sleep disorders like sleep apnea. There are pillows that address snoring, injuries, side sleeper pillows, pillows for stomach sleepers and so on.

With chiropractic and orthopedic specialists continuously warning us about taking care of our spinal cord, more and more people are taking to heart the seriousness of taking care of our bodies. This would happen to be while we are in the most susceptible time of not knowing when weare hurting our bodies...when we are sleeping. When discussing these issues with a specialist, pillows are the first thing that we are told to choose wisely. When it comes to traditional pillows, a back sleeper is best suited with a firm pillow, and a stomach sleeper is best suited with a softer pillow. Making the best choice of pillows for these two types of sleepers, are two totally different styles from one another.

The most popular pillow nowadays is memory foam. These pillows form to fit the persons head, and adjust itself as the person changes position. Memory foam pillows seemed to have worked miracles in some cases. They have even been linked to reducing snoring. They correctly align the neck and back, allowing the airway to fully open. This way oxygen passes in and out of your nose and mouth, actually reducing snoring. People who have bought memory pillows rant and rave on how they enjoy sleeping much more and that they feel much more rested too. What makes these pillows different than the other types of pillows is that they are made for all sleeping types. They create a perfect spine alignment, no matter which way he or she sleeps. They can range from moderate prices to very expensive. They have become so popular that this is why you can find various sizes and brands in your local stores.

Orthopedic pillows, also recognized as a memory foam pillow, again, are specifically designed for all types of sleepers. They come with gaps to put your arms and shoulders underneath or to put your arms over the pillow for side sleepers. They are specialized for sleepers who are prone to allowing their head to be pointing upwards while sleeping, which causes strain on your neck and back. These pillows also provide firmness and spine balance to the 'face up' type of sleepers. While also being ideal for the toss and turning sleepers.

Another wonderful thing about these contour pillows is that they are hypoallergenic, they are an easy to wash material for allergic or asthmatic people, and they do not absorb smell or warm up the head during summer time, like synthetic fiber pillows do.

Even though these special contour pillows are in a higher price range than what other normal pillows are, you get the benefits from them actually helping you sleep. Plus they are protecting you from spinal injuries that occur while you are asleep and also provide help for sleep disorders and allergies. If you have ever heard that statement 'you get what you pay for', well this could not be any truer than with choosing the correct pillow. A cheap lumpy pillow will only do damage in the long run, hurting you more than helping you.

Tired? Cold Hands and Feet? Do Contrast Hydrotherapy in Your Shower

Waking up tired and expecting to be revived in minutes does not seem realistic; especially for those who aren't addicted to the most common drug: caffeine.

Want to wake up without caffeine? Or just wake up in general?

Take a Contrast Shower. That will do it. Not only will it wake you up, but it will wake others in the house as you let out a wail once the cold water hits you.

It's not that bad.

How did I stumble across this crazy natural treatment for fatigue and lethary? It was prescribed to me by my naturopathic medical doctor years ago. I did it and it worked amazingly.

Who cannot take a contrast shower? If you are asthmatic, have active autoimmune disease, inflammation, cardiovascular issues, pregnant, temperature insensitive, weak feeling or otherwise do not feel that you should, do not take a contrast shower. Seek the advice of your physician if you have any questions about the safety of this procedure.

How does one take a contrast shower:

• Drag out of bed


• Get into the shower and turn the water as hot as you like. Hotter the better as the blood flow is stronger - obviously don't burn yourself. Hot water for about 3 minutes.


• You may wash during this time - may as well as you're likely late to work.


• At the 3 minute mark, I turn the water up higher for a brief moment until I'm just begging for a cool down. Then turn the nob.


• Turn the shower all the way to cold for 30 seconds


• Then turn it back to as hot as you can for another 3 minutes.


• Then repeat cold for 30 seconds


• Then hot for 3 minutes


• Then end with cold for 30 seconds.


• Basically 3 sets of 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

That's it! You're done! How do you think it sounds? You going to do it?!

Let me say a bit more.

When you get really hot water on you for 3 minutes, you do crave cold. I recommend that you have something colorful in the shower to stare at while you're getting blasted with cold water. Reminds me of the tropics. Or close your eyes while in the cold water part and imagine you're walking down the beach gazing at palm trees.

An easy way to ease into the cold part is to only put your head into the water. Once your head has adjusted, let the water go down your back. Ease into it. You'll get it.

When you finish with cold for the last time, you end up extremely hot and sweating. This is a good sign that you did the procedure correctly. Why do you sweat? Your body does not want you cold. When ending with cold for 30 seconds, your surface temperature gets cold because the blood rushes away. As soon as you stop the cold, your blood comes screaming back in to warm you. This sudden rush of blood makes you hot.

The trick is not keeping the cold on for too long and making sure you have the hot water on long enough. If you have the cold water on for say 1 minute and hot water on for 1 minute, you're going to be cold. So make sure you do the 3 sets of 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

If you want, do what I do - just do one set. I don't have time every day for a 10 minute procedure so I cut it short. I still feel super charged afterwards.

Enjoy it! It really does make you feel refreshed, full of energy and hot as heck after you are done.

I'll get into the mechanics of hot cold showers and also why they are beneficial - besides just feeling good afterwards.

An important note that needs to be addressed is what hot water does to chlorine. Chlorine is a gas and when hot becomes very volatile. Chlorine is a lung-irritant and destroys proteins. Proteins are everywhere - your hair, eyes, skin, inside you. I say inside you as one typical shower in chlorinated water is equivalent to drinking 8 cups of chlorinated water. If you are asthmatic, have acne, winter skin, dry eyes, dandruff, eczema or other skin conditions, I highly recommend getting a shower chlorine filter [http://www.healthegoods.com/shower_water_filter_new_wave_enviro_products.htm].

Questions, ask the med student!

In health,

Ben

(c) 2005 Benjamin Lynch of HealthE Goods

Danger In Dust Mite

Dust mites are a microscopic relative of spiders that live in our furniture and carpet. They thrive in our bedrooms because of the heat and warmth we give off. Dust mites feed off our dead skin cells. Unfortunately their droppings have a protein that many people are allergic to. Dust Mite does most of their attacking at night while you are asleep.

Studies show that over 45% of homes in the United States have concentrations of dust mites that are considered to be dangerous enough to cause asthmatic conditions. Ten percent of American today have asthma which is the leading cause of children missing school. Dust mites are possible the number one cause of asthma problems in the home.

Dust mite live about six weeks and female dust mites lay between 60 to 80 eggs during their lifetime. Dust mites have no natural predator so they just keep multiplying. A full size mattress has approximately two million dust mites in it. In one gram of dust from a carpet, a little over 10,000 mites were found. Old pillow may have as much as 10% of their weight made up of dead dust mites and droppings. Makes you think, huh?

Walk into a dusty room and one is bound to sneeze. It is probably the mildest form of allergic reaction to dust. People with pre-disposed ailments rhinitis, also known as hay fever, will react more severely to dusty conditions. Sometimes a fairly clean environment can also trigger off allergic reactions. It is simply because there are house mites dead and alive, present in the environment. According to Dr M. Nadchatram, the former head of studying sticks and mites division at the Institute mites are hardly visible to the naked eye. They are white in color and are not parasitic.

Although the existence of mites was discovered centuries ago, the relationship between mites and house dust allergies was only established in 1964 by western and Japanese. They found that mites were responsible for triggering off bronchial asthma allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis and other allergic related ailments like sinusitis. "Today, allergies caused by house dust are regarded as the most important after pollen induced allergies. Eighty percent of house dust allergies are said to be mite-induced," says Dr Nadchatram. In Malaysia, the skin clinic of the General Hospital have been conducting joint research on house dust mites and its association with respiratory allergies. Dr Nadchatram himself has been actively involved in research related to house dust mites not only in Malaysia but also in Singapore when he was lecturing at the National University of Singapore and then in Hawaii where he went to do his research fellowship in studying sticks and mites.

Studies have shown that the infestation level of mites is higher in the tropical region. The tropical climate has no sudden temperature changes and is humid - these two factors are favorable for mites, enabling them to live longer and reproduce on a larger scale. Can effective housekeeping reduce the mites' population? One important factor to remember is that both dead and live mites are allergenic.

Regular vacuuming is strongly recommended. Air conditioning the bed room is also important in controlling the mites' population. "Sweeping is not effective in removing fine particles of dust which include mite eggs and faeces." says Dr Nadchatram. "Sweeping actually causes the mites to be air bone and tribute within the house." Therefore, sweeping should be followed by mopping the floor with a detergent or vacuuming. "One other effective way of eliminating house mites is by employing in the age old practice of sunning carpets, bed linen and mattresses followed all dust containing dust mites."

When you have allergies it is important to be very selective when looking for the right pillow. Cotton pillows tend to collect dust mites rapidly - a big no-no for those with allergies. Instead, look for OCA Water Pillow. It can anti dust mites and provides you a healthier life.

By keeping to these methods, housewife would be keeping dust and mites at bay.