Asthma is a chronic lung condition with narrowed airways and inflammation. It can occur at any age, though mostly children are affected. If a child is diagnosed with asthma, it is important to treat it even if the child may feel good at most of the time. This is because even a mild asthma may result in changes to the airways that speed up and worsen the natural decrease in lung function that occurs as a person ages. An early treatment is also important in babies and small children because they may have more serious problems than adults due to their smaller bronchial tubes.

One review has noted that one-third of fatal asthma attacks occurred in children with mild asthma. Hence, even if a child’s asthma does not appear severe, a right plan has to be developed by working with the physician. Some experts suggest using the rule of two which states that young children should be treated with long-term medications for persistent asthma if they have symptoms more than 2 times a week or use more than 2 canisters of a quick-relief medication per year. Since asthma develops from a complex interaction of genetics, environmental factors, and the reaction of the immune system, no one plan will be effective for all children.

Medications like oral or injected corticosteroids may be used to get the child’s asthma under control before starting with daily medication. They can be taken to treat any sudden and severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. Inhaled corticosteroids like beclomethansone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, fluticasone propionate, budesonide and flunisolide are the preferred medications for long term treatment of asthma as they reduce the inflammation of the airways in the child. They have to be taken daily to keep the asthma under control and to prevent asthma attacks.

Short acting beta 2 agonists like albuterol and pirbuterol are medications that are used to relax the airways and allow the child to breathe easily, during asthma attacks. Apart from these medications, educating the child about asthma is more important. The more a child knows about asthma, the more likely it is to control symptoms and reduce the risk of asthma attack. Instructing the child on how to use a metered-dose inhaler or dry powder inhaler correctly can help him or her control the symptoms and avoid asthma attacks that can result in emergency care. An asthma action plan that contains directions to help the family and the child control asthma attacks at home has to be made. This helps to identify triggers that can be changed or avoided, be aware of the symptoms and know how to make quick deicisions about medication and treatment.

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The same medication that you use to treat your asthma could make you susceptible to other debilitating conditions. A certain ingredient that is present in some pills or tablets used to control asthma could weaken your bones, and actually encourage the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become fragile and easily broken– most often it affects the spine, wrists, upper arms, pelvis and hips. 30 million women over the age of 50 already have osteoporosis-there is a way to avoid becoming a part of that statistic.

There are several risk factors adding to the likeliness of developing osteoporosis; these include:

• gender
• family
• history
• race (Caucasians and Asians are those at highest risk)
• inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake
• low amounts of physical activity
• cigarette smoking
• low body weight
• excessive amounts of alcohol consumption
• taking cortisone-like medications (glucocorticosteroids) or seizure medications.

The reason that understanding osteoporosis is important for people with asthma is on account of the increased risk asthmatics have for loosing bone density.

Because asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs, it is treated with anti-imflammatory medications (with ingredients like glucocorticosteroids). Continual use of these sorts of medicines will cause some harmful side effects-like the thinning of bones and proneness to osteoporosis. Drugs like Medrol (generic name: Methylprednisolone), Prelone (generic name: Prednisolone/prednisolon), Deltasone (generic name: Prednisone) contain corticosteroids. Inhalers also contain this ingredient, but inhaling it doesn’t cause the same problems as consuming the drug orally.

How can you prevent asthma medication from causing osteoporosis?

• Make sure that your calcium intake is adequate for your age, gender and physical circumstance (i.e. pregnant, post menopausal, etc)
• Supplement your diet with appropriate amounts of vitamin D, but not excessive (400 International Units per day, unless otherwise directed by doctor)
• Exercise regularly, using weight-bearing exercises (walking, hiking, stair climbing, jogging, etc.)
• Avoid smoking and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol
• Explore different means of alleviating allergic asthma symptoms:

  1. Avoid allergens
  2. Utilize an asthma-safe air purifier
  3. See an Allergist about allergic immunotherapy

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There are many causes of asthma, and what may trigger an asthma attack for one person may be a trigger for another person. But there are some causes or triggers that seem to trigger asthma attacks more than others.

So what is causing asthma? Well, two of the biggest causes are environment and diet.

Environment

For many people where they live and work is a major source for their asthma problems. More specifically, what’s in where they live and work is what triggers their asthma attacks and causes their asthma symptoms to get worse.

Dust mites, pet dander, mold, and pollen are some of the causes in the home and in the workplace. While there isn’t a whole lot you can do to prevent these things in the workplace (except work from home), there are a few things you should do in your home.

First, you need to clean your house often. Be sure to clean with a HEPA vacuum so that you don’t just put all the bad stuff right back into the air. Also, any mold that you find in your home needs to be removed immediately. It’s best to hire someone to do it for you but if you do it then make sure you do it right.

Diet

One of the leading causes of asthma is diet. Sometimes a certain food triggers an asthma attack because you’re allergic to it and other times foods trigger an asthma attack because it naturally does something to your body such as causing your bronchial tubes to swell or causing your body to produce mucus.

Of course, not everyone has allergies to the same foods. It’s up to you to determine what you can and can’t eat. There are many ways to determine this. You can go to the doctor and have a series of scratch tests conducted. Or you could just keep a food journal and write everything you eat in it. Then compare that to how you feel and when you have asthma attacks.

There are also some food chemicals that seem to be more problematic than most other chemicals. These chemicals include benzoic acid, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulphites, sulphur dioxide, and tartrazine.

Find Your Causes

Sooner or later you’ll have to discover your asthma causes and triggers so that you can eliminate them. If you do that, you should be able to cure or at least make your asthma better.

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Asthma is sometimes referred to as Bronchial asthma. Doctors say that the two are no different, but one and the same. Bronchial asthma is an old term for a condition in which the bronchial tubes are constricted and inflamed, causing difficulty in breathing.

Most people who have bronchial asthma, have symptom-free periods of time marked by asthma attacks when exposed to external triggers known as stimuli. The primary symptom of bronchial asthma is coughing and shortness of breath, especially at night. But the symptoms are mostly mild making it unnoticeable for years. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of bronchial asthma has increased very much with most new cases being detected in urban areas where crowding and environmental conditions expose people to some common asthma triggers like dust mites, smoke, chemicals and other air pollutants.

Managing asthma includes relief medications, preventive medications, managing environment and daily monitoring and educating the patient and family members. Relief medications such as inhalers, short-acting beta-agonists, and anticholinergics used at the time of attacks, clear the mucus and enable proper breathing. Preventive medications such as corticosteroids tackle chronic inflammations. Environmental management begins with removing or reducing the triggers present around like removal of carpets, washing of bedspreads, pillow-covers in hot water on a weekly basis, use of synthetic mattresses and reducing the humidity. Daily monitoring of health is done by listening to the body. In severe cases of bronchial asthma, bronchial thermoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure is done using a flexible bronchoscope. Physicians treat small to medium airways with bronchial thermoplasty. This procedure reduces the smooth muscles in the airway which cause constriction and is considered a safe treatment for patients with moderate or severe asthma.

Traditional Indian and Chinese herbal treatment too is effective in bronchial asthma. Herbal tea made of Ajwain , Tulsi, Marica, Ginger etc and turmeric is highly beneficial in this condition. Foods like banana, cold milk, curd preparations, ice creams and cold drinks, refrigerated food items, oily, spicy and other kapha aggravating diets are to be avoided. Also direct exposure to cold air should be avoided. Along with this treatment, yoga treatment may be practiced everyday under the supervision of a yoga therapist. Acute condition is unresponsive to the usually effective therapy and necessitates care in an emergency room or hospital ward.

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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’s 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.

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Most of the teenagers who have asthma are also allergic to many things. The asthma can get severe even if the people with asthma are exposed to allergens of low grade. Allergies play an important role in asthma cased which are undiagnosed. Other factors that also trigger childhood asthma include upper respiratory infections like colds, second hand smoke, and certain climate conditions like cold air and due to emotional physical expressions like laughing, crying or yelling. However, it is not the end of the road for asthmatics as they can live active and healthy if they manage asthma properly by avoiding asthma triggers, regular intake of prescribed medications, being alert of the warnings and be aware of the ways to deal with an asthma attack.

There is a great consensus among the parents whether their children would outgrow asthma as they grow up. But the truth is it depends from child to child. While some children experience improvement in their teens others see asthma becoming even more severe. But almost half of the children who have asthma outgrow asthma as they grow although some symptoms may come back later.

Many parents have questions like whether their children can take part in sport activities. The answer is both yes and no. Some kids may get an asthma attack when they participate in exercises like running. But with proper management a teenager suffering from asthma can actively participate in sports. Special aerobic exercises can improve airway function. This strengthens the breathing muscles. Some of the ways that one can participate in sports is to follow the regimen of stretching the muscles prior to and after exercising, nose-breathe instead of breathing through the mouth and make sure that humidified air passes through the airways. Also parents should make sure that the adolescent has taken all prescribed medication supposed to be taken before they begin exercising. Carrying a reliever is a must for asthmatic teens which would come handy if asthma attack occurs. Asthmatic teenagers should make sure that they wear something over their mouth and nose to stop cold air from entering.

It is not easy for adolescent teens to attend school when they have asthma but it is not difficult also at the same time if proper coordination is made among the teenager, doctor, family and school employees. It is a good idea to consult teachers, nurses and other pertaining employees of the school and let them know that the teenager has asthma and may have special requirements. Also, let the school management know on medications the teenager regularly takes and how to help the teenager when an attack occurs. The school staff should be asked to treat the teen normally once the attack subsides. The physical education coach should also be informed about the condition so that he/she can let the kid stretch the muscles before any exercises or to deal with asthma attack induced due to exercises.

Also, before admitting the teenager to a new school care must be taken to check the quality of air, irritants and allergens if any present in the school. The school staff should take considerations to avoid symptoms which could hamper the energy level kids. Also asthmatic teens should be assured from time to time that they are no different from others and asthma in any way does not slow them down, They need this emotional confidence otherwise they may have personality problems.

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You may be wondering what the cause of asthma is, especially if you are keen to reduce the severity and frequency of your attacks. Asthma is a respiratory condition that can have an impact on the quality of your life. With an asthma attack, you feel weakened considerably and may not be able to function normally. However, instead of feeling helpless, find ways to better deal with it and to take responsibility for your own health.

You must first realize that not all asthma is the same, in finding out what the cause of asthma is. Several different types of asthma have different triggers.

- Allergic asthma is when the symptoms are triggered by allergens that the sufferer comes into contact with. Some of the most common triggers in allergic asthma are dust, pollen, pet dander, etc. An avoidance or reduced exposure to these triggers can help substantially. Most children who are diagnosed with asthma suffer from allergic asthma. Smoking during pregnancy and while children are young can make them more vulnerable to allergic asthma.

- Exercise-induced asthma is when your asthma symptoms only occur during strenuous exercise. This asthma is due to the fact that the lungs lose their moisture and heat during times of strenuous activity. Coughing is the most common symptom observed with this type of asthma, although there may be more severe symptoms.

- Intrinsic asthma is when the symptoms are not linked to a particular allergy. Some of the triggers in intrinsic asthma are perfume, smoke and cold air, cleaning fumes, an upper respiratory infection, and GERD or gastroesophageal reflux. Patients who begin having allergy symptoms after the age of 40 most often suffer from intrinsic asthma.

- Occupational asthma occurs when you begin having asthma symptoms due to being in contact with dust, fumes, chemicals, or other irritants over a long period of time at work. This makes working very difficult. You may want to change your working environment for the sake of your health.

- Nocturnal asthma occurs when you suffer from allergy symptoms while sleeping. It can be triggered by bedding allergens or other allergens located in your bedroom, GERD, or a decrease in the temperature of the bedroom.

It is important that you learn more about your cause of asthma to determine how best to control or avoid your triggers. It is possible to lead a more normal life, free of the many miserable allergy symptoms, if you learn how to best take care of yourself.

Evelyn Lim publishes free tips on Natural Allergy Treatment. An allergy sufferer, she shares research about how best to keep symptoms under control. Visit her site right away for more information and news at http://www.Allergy-Attacks.com

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