The Ins and Outs of Asthma Treatment

Although asthma is defined as a chronic (i.e. long term) illness, it is not usually life threatening – and for most sufferers becomes more of an annoyance than a genuine threat to their well-being. As one of the most common non-life-threatening illnesses in the world, asthma is well studied by medical research scientists, and as a result there are several treatments available.

By far the best known asthma treatment is via medicine inhalation. The primary medicines used in inhalers are beta-2 agonists (for relieving an acute attack of asthma) and corticosteroids (for preventing attacks). These medications come in a variety of doses depending on the severity of the sufferers’ condition, and are inhaled directly in to the lungs using an inhaler (sometimes known as a ‘puffer’). As these treatments go directly to the source of the issue by entering the lungs immediately, they have long been proven to be the most effective asthma treatment.

Another option is steroid treatment, usually in tablet form. However, a course of steroids is usually only ever prescribed following a severe asthma attack – usually of the kind of severity that results in hospitalization The vast majority of sufferers will never need anything beyond their combination of inhalers to deal with their illness.

The concluding option is also only used in the case of a severe attack, though is an option during the attack rather than following it. Nebulizers create a mixture of water and air, through which one can inhale a purer form of the usual medication used in inhalers. Nebulizers tend to be carried on emergency calls and at hospitals, though some sufferers’ of extremely severe asthma may be offered one at home.

Asthma and Cough (Asthma Cough)

Today I would like to discuss a very distressing symptom that many Asthmatics experience, and that is coughing and being unable to take their inhalers.

This can sometimes occur in the winter time with the Asthmatic waking up in the middle of the night coughing or first thing in the morning. A sharp drop in the temperature of the room overnight can cause this; one way of combating the problem is to have a small heater on low in the bedroom each night, thus keeping the room at an even temperature. On saying that please making sure it is a heater that is completely safe and has a good energy rating.  Also make sure that the room has no draughts and that the curtains are closed, so the heat does not escape. We had to to do this for our daughter from when she was a baby.  Now married the practice still goes on!

However, there can be other causes for coughing, but firstly let’s look at what a cough is – A cough is a sudden, explosive exhalation of air. The function of a cough is to clear material from the airways. Coughing is a familiar but reasonable complicated reflex and is one way in which the lungs and airways are protected.

Coughing only occurs when the airways are irritated –

Respiratory infections, either bacterial or viral can irritate the airways and are a common cause of coughing.

Allergies are a big cause of irritation to the airways as well and may cause postnasal drip, in which nasal secretions drain down the back of the nose into the throat and sometimes into the trachea and other airways, where they produce irritation resulting in Coughing.  Many Asthmatics have continuous Post Nasal Drip.

Coughing may also result from gastroesophageal reflux, in which stomach or oesophageal contents flow backward from the oesophagus into the trachea and airways, producing irritation.

We would advise you see expert advice from Your Medical Practitioner/Respiratory Physician regarding the cause of your cough and a management plan tailored to suit you.

That’s all I have for you today on Asthma and Cough (Asthma Cough)

Until Next time,

I wish you and yours the best of Health!

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Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

Home Remedies To Soothe Asthma Irritation

While any asthma sufferer should always first and foremost rely on their inhalers and other medication to ease the condition, there are at-home remedies that can be tried. Please note these should be used in conjunction with formal medical treatment, not as a replacement. Ideally, try one of these methods if you have already used your medication and are still experiencing some discomfort.

– Steam

Many asthma sufferers will be well aware that cold air can exacerbate asthma, and the reverse is also true: you may find that warm air is soothing, and may reduce coughing and wheezing in between taking doses of medicine. Rather than directly inhaling steam, fill a bath tub with very hot water and then sit in the room for half an hour, inhaling deeply. This may just get rid of some irritation, and allow for a sufferer to be more comfortable until their next dose of prescribed medication.

– Sit Up

When we are feeling unwell, there is a natural tendency to want to curl up in bed. However, this can have a detrimental effect on asthma sufferers, as being horizontal makes it more difficult to get air in to your lungs – especially if you lay on your back. To ease this, sit up regularly and extend your torso in a stretch while breathing deeply.

– Cover Your Mouth

If you are finding the very act of breathing is making your asthma uncomfortable, try breathing through a cloth or cotton wool. For reasons unknown, this sometimes has the effect of calming asthma irritation down.

–Caffiene

A good strong cup coffee also helps as caffeine opens the airways

Do I or Don’t I? Symptoms and Signs of Asthma

When my daughter was a baby it was very easy for me to get a diagnosis of Asthma from the medical fraternity, in fact they came to me after I had her in hospital as she was so bad and was in a humicrib.  However, others I know have been a little apprehensive to seek medical advice regarding getting a diagnosis as they have been unsure of what Asthma Symptoms are.

On saying that – I urge anyone, not to wait, if you are uneasy about how you are feeling, or how your child/baby is, go to the Doctors and talk to them, it may or may not be Asthma, and it could be something else.

Asthma is a respiratory – lung – based disease, effectively caused by inflammation of the linings of the tubes in the lungs. This, in turn, means the tubes (the medical term is the “bronchi”) are narrowed, making it harder for sufferers to breathe comfortably.

So what are the symptoms of Asthma?

The most common asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing – Coughing from asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
• Wheezing – Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
• Chest tightness – This may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
• Shortness of breath- Some people who have asthma say they can’t catch their breath or they feel out of breath or they cannot breath out correctly i.e. feel you can’t get air out of your lungs.
• If you suffer from allergies you may have all the above plus – persistent runny nose, dark circles under your eyes or itchy, inflamed skin

A lung function test done along with a medical history (including type and frequency of your symptoms) and physical exam, is not only the best way to diagnose asthma in my opinion it is the only way for a proper diagnosis.  Self diagnosis is not the way to go, as Asthma is different for each person. Some of the factors listed may not affect you. Other factors that do affect you may not be on the list!

Another question who may ask is why are lung function tests performed and is the test horrible and frightening?

A lung function test (also called pulmonary function tests, or PFTs for short) is performed to evaluate how well your lungs work, basically it determines how much air your  can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and how well your lungs put oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. For most lung tests (meaning most common one performed) you breathe into a mouthpiece attached to a recording device (Spiro meter). The information collected by the Spiro meter is then printed out on a chart called a Spiro gram.

Is it frightening – NO – not at all!

A visit to your Doctor, who will in turn send you to a Respiratory Physician, is the only way to go.

Until Next time,

I wish you and yours the best of Health!

P.S. I highly recommend the following eBooks –

Asthma and Allergy Cure – Drug Free – Natural Asthma Treatment Breakthrough Is 100% Safe, Effective, Proven & Guaranteed. Click Here!

Allergy Relief Revealed – Click Here!

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Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

Tips For An Asthma|Allergy Friendly Home

Asthma is an illness that is easily exacerbated, as sufferers are particularly sensitive to the allergens in their environment, especially in and around their home.  These allergens are in the form of dust, dust mites, cleaning products, pet hair, and pollens from particular plants in the garden.

All these things add up to make an asthma and allergy sufferers life a living hell… … however, things can be done that will dramatically cut down on these major irritants.

When my daughter was diagnosed with Asthma and we found through allergy tests she was hypo-sensitive to so many things, we looked around at what could be done.

One thing she was very allergic to was our beautiful Persian cross cat Fluffy.  It was Fluffy’s fur she was allergic to, so the decision had to be made to re-home our darling cat as she was very much an indoor puss!   Luckily, she found a home with a lovely pensioner lady who had to have her cat put down, as it had cancer.  She was heart-broken and when I told her about our predicament and how for the sake of our baby’s health we had to re-home our beloved cat, she took her on.  This was not a step we took lightly – it broke our hearts – believe me we checked out thoroughly the new home Fluffy was going to and went and visited several times just to make sure she had adjusted to her new environment.

Next thing we did was to take up all our fitted carpets and have timber floors (a great decision it made the home look more spacious and light!) We also got a very good vacuum cleaner which was a Dyson. Knowing what to look for in a vacuum is integral because not all vacuum cleaners are created equally.

We really investigated all vacuum cleaners and the Dyson
came out on top. When looking for a machine you need one that captures dust and does not blow it back into the air, we found that
Dyson
vacuums reduce allergen particles due to its bagless operation and filters. Plus they last a lifetime!!

So daily I used it on the wooden floors and twice a week I used it on the upholstery, curtains, mattresses and pillows. One thing I will remind everyone, when vacuuming is don’t forget the spots you can’t see, such as those behind furniture, out of sight may be out of mind, however, dust in these spots are still present.

A lot of work you might say, well yes and no, when you think vacuuming regularly can drastically reduce allergy triggers in the home which will lower the dependence on medications you or your child has to take it’s a no brainer decision really.

So what else can you do around your home to help?

Mould and Mildew –

The vast majority of people will keep a clean house, but it is essential that if you do see mould – particularly mildew – building up around window frames or on ceilings, that you remove it.

Mould and Mildew can make an asthma and allergy sufferers very sick as the particles of bacteria get in to the air and are subsequently breathed in to the lungs causing untold irritation.

Clean with tea-tree oil and warm water for a thorough result.

And then there are those –

Household Cleaners –

Any cleaning product that uses harsh chemicals is to be avoided if you’re looking to create an asthma/allergy friendly home. Read the label. Cleaning supplies can sometimes increase allergen levels. Reading the label to identify hazardous chemicals is important when looking for cleaning supplies, wherever possible, substitute natural ingredients – such as the aforementioned tea tree oil or an old staple such as white vinegar – for chemical-mix products.  Avoid bleach wherever possible. I have listed a few things below to help you.

White Vinegar: use to clean windows and glass for a streak-free finish, and to tackle stubborn stains. Ideal for showers – yes tiles and glass.

Bi-Card Soda: A wonderful all-purpose cleaner to be used wherever you previously may have used bleach.

Tea tree oil: a natural anti-bacterial substance, tea tree oil works well anywhere you wish to rid yourself of germs.

Bees wax: better, and cheaper, than conventional furniture polish.

By switching to these products, you’ll not only save money but will vastly improve the air quality for anyone suffering from asthma. Everyone wins!

There is a great eBook I would recommend for everyone, it has recipes for 100% natural products – go and check it out – The What For and How To “Blenders Delight” Everyday Aromatherapy Recipe Guide is a TOP SELLER – and has  Jam-packed 64 pages filled with Superior content.

Gardens:

You need to have plants and trees that are pollinated by birds and insects rather than by the wind (release their seeds into the air) Plus can do the following –

-      Weed regularly.

-      Replace lawn with bricked or paved areas.

-      Avoid rye grass.

-      Replace mulch with pebbles or gravel.

Until Next time

I wish you and yours the best of Health!

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http://twitter.com/BestAsthmaInfo

Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

The Link Between Asthma and Allergies

I believe that this is a very important link.

Understanding medicine is a complex business that requires years of study, often to prove beyond a shadow of doubt things that sufferers of illnesses have long accepted as fact.

I know from hard evidence that allergies play a big role in asthma.  My daughter is allergic to cats – getting near a cat causes asthma attacks so bad, she can be hospitalized.  Plus she is allergic to other things that can trigger attacks. So let’s explore further …

Over recent years Asthma and allergic diseases have increased dramatically. In fact Australia has the second highest prevalence of asthma in the world; 1 in 4 children, 1 in 7 teenagers and 1 in 10 adults. The reasons for this are unclear. However, we do know that according to 2005 stats:

Around 4 in 10 Australians had allergic disease and more than 8 in 10 Australians with asthma had positive allergy test results.

Now that is only in Australia – what would the stats be worldwide??

So What Exactly is an Allergy?

An Allergy occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances in the environment that do not bother most people.

These substances are known as allergens and are found in house dust mites, pets, pollen, molds and foods.

These people who are allergic to such things are said to be atopic and may have a genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases. When atopic people are exposed to allergens they can develop an immune reaction that leads to allergic inflammation (redness and swelling).

This can then cause symptoms in the:

• nose and/or eyes – allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis (hay fever)
• skin – eczema, hives
• Lungs – Asthma

So what Role does Allergies play in Asthma?

Most people with asthma are atopic meaning they suffer from allergies and allergens may be that VERY important trigger factor that can make their Asthma worse.

Let us look at a couple of examples – I know causes attacks.

When a person -

• vacuums or dusts as this causes house dust mite allergens to become airborne
• visit a house where a cat lives (as in the case with my daughter)
• Is outdoors when there are high levels of pollen in the air.
• visits cities with high pollution levels

Then unfortunately, there can be what I would call – Occupational Asthma Triggers –

• health care workers allergic to things like hand sanitizers, gloves etc
• Bakers allergic to flour dust.
• Builders allergic to concrete
• Waitresses allergic to coffee beans

The list can go on.

Some Asthma triggers you cannot control, however, exposure to some allergic triggers can be reduced or just plain avoided, after all improved control of your asthma must be paramount.

If you or a family member suffers from Asthma, you should have a good management plan and be working with your Specialist Physician to minimize attacks – many of these Physicians may even ask that the sufferer undergo some allergy tests so a clearer picture of asthma triggers can be known.

Until Next Time

I wish you and your family the best of health!

I recommend these products (Click Here)

Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

Exercise-Induced Asthma

There is great debate among the medical community on the issue of “Exercise-Induced Asthma”. This is a type of asthma attack that occurs at a particular time; namely, during or after exercise.

Exercise-induced asthma is caused by airway narrowing brought on by vigorous exercise. The symptoms are a wheeze, breathlessness, cough and/or chest tightness — which may start during exercise but in many cases can start up to 10 minutes after exercise.

Why it happens is not very clear however, the most common school of thought is that it may involve loss of heat and water from the airways as they try to warm and moisten the incoming air.

Exercise induced Asthma is problem no matter what your age, and is quiet common in children, and I would urge you to work with your respiratory physician and take his/her advice on how you manage this condition, as everyone is an individual.

The benefits of exercise are not to be understated, everyone should exercise everyday, and children are no exception.  The fitter you are the better you are, the more manageable the asthma.  In fact, exercise improves your heart and lung fitness which is vitally important.

Asthma Council advises the following strategies to help prevent Exercise Induced Asthma

• warm up before you exercise;  (Everyone should do this even though they do not have Asthma)
• keep as fit as possible;  (Again, everyone should heed this)
• exercise in an environment that is warm and humid;
• avoid exercising in environments where the air contains a lot of allergens
• Breathe through the nose or consider using a mask.

Again I urge you to consult with a physician so you can get the best exercise/sport plan possible for you or your child. .Many, many elite athletes and other celebrities have asthma, they have not let it stop them doing what they want – if you or your children feel discouraged because you have asthma, why not Google “Celebrities who have asthma” or “Athletes who have asthma” and be inspired!

I have recommended some books (see link – Exercise Induced Asthma) that I Guarantee will be a great help to you and your family.  They should be on everyone’s shelf!

Until next time

I wish your and your family the best of health!

exercise induced asthma

How To Cope With An Asthma Attack: Sufferers

As anyone with asthma will know, worrying about suffering an asthma attack (medically known as an “acute exacerbation” of asthma) is something that prevails throughout life and can sometime limit what a person does.  For example I know one person who will get an asthma attack if they go anywhere near fireworks, so to go and view fireworks displays in person is a big NO!

One would hope that an asthma sufferer has a well managed care plan given by a Respiratory Physician.

So what does happen in an Asthma Attack?

During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten, or “spasm” (like when you make a fist), the lining inside the airways swells or thickens and gets clogged with lots of thick mucous. This unfortunately has the effect of making the airways much skinnier than usual so it is harder to move air in and out of the air sacs. Thus making it harder to breathe!

During an asthma attack, it is harder to breathe out than it is to breathe in. This means that during an asthma attack, it takes much longer to breathe out than it does to breathe in.

But what to do, if and when an attack happens, firstly one must keep in mind that when an attack hits, dealing with it effectively is an absolute essential. While the vast majority of the work will be done by your prescribed medication, there are things you can do to shorten and hopefully cease an attack:

Many people do take their Inhalers when they start to feel their chest tighten – thus preventing an acute episode, but if one does happen -

Remain Calm.

No one is disputing that asthma attacks – no matter how familiar they are – are frightening. It is a natural human instinct to want to be able to breathe and when an asthma attack prevents this, we naturally panic.

However, this can actually may an attack worse. A side effect of panic itself is shortness of breath – something that you don’t need when you’re already suffering an asthma attack and finding it hard to breath out.

Try and keep calm throughout, wherever possible.

– Don’t Snatch For Breath.

As part of the panic response, we are inclined to ’snatch’ for breath – that is, short and sharp breaths that do not actually meet our oxygen needs. As these breaths do not actually help an attack, all they can do is increase panic – and you don’t want that.

– Use Your Medication

That’s what it’s there for. As soon as you feel an attack coming on, reach for your inhalers or any other medical equipment you have to relieve an attack. Always keep your inhalers with you where-ever you go.  If possible always have spares available.

Please do not forget if you are at all worried call the emergency ambulance number for the country you live in.

I would highly recommend FUNCTIONAL FITNESS COPD & ASTHMA which is available from our.  It has 5 star RAVE REVIEWS and I believe is an awesome additional tool for the asthmatic to help with overall fitness no matter what age!

Why not take a look and read about why it has been getting 5 star rave reviews!

Until Next Time

I wish you and your family the best of health!

Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

How To Cope With An Asthma Attack: Non Sufferer

If you, as a non-sufferer, have ever witnessed an asthma suffering enduring an asthma attack, you will know how terrifying an experience it can be and is it any wonder – never have experienced an attack yourself, it is only natural for you to imagine the worst and panic.

So, if you have a friend or family member who is prone to asthma attacks you must be armed and ready to help them and yourself, should an attack happen when you are around.

Firstly, let me say – YOU must – KEEP CALM,

Secondly let me say you must – KEEP CALM

Thirdly let me say – KEEP CALM

Why are we emphasising this?

Well …Keeping Calm. – This may sound obvious, but it is VITALLY important.  Asthma attacks are often very distressing for the sufferer (and those watching) and any anxiety or panic can actually make an attack worse. So if they see you panic – they may panic thinking things are a lot worse than they really are and will make the attack worse. Therefore, if you are with someone when they suffer an attack, it is essential that you keep calm, don’t panic AND reassure them.

The next step is – Look for Their Inhalers.

Most asthmatics have the very tools they need to quell an attack close at hand: their inhalers.

Asthmatics tend to keep these handy, so if you are going to the home of an asthmatic or going out in public with them, ask them where their inhalers are located – so you can grab them at short notice.

Monitor the Situation – In rare instances, you may need to call for medical assistance if someone you know is suffering from an asthma attack. Call for emergency help if any of the following occur:

- Inhalers and other medications do not seem to be helping.

- The sufferer loses consciousness.

- The sufferer cannot use their medication and thus the attack is continuing for longer than it should.

Just be alert, aware and calm.

The vast majority of situations will need no outside help at all, and will pass without incident.  HOWEVER, if the breathing does not settle down, call the emergency ambulance number for whatever country you live in.

There is an amazing book found in our store called The Inflammation Syndrome which I highly recommend you read

Until Next time,

I wish for you and your family “Good Health”

Disclaimer

It is important to note that information contained in this post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner.

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