Peak Flow Meter – Best Asthma Info

Today I want to write about something very important, something that I know and guarantee will help you the asthma sufferer or your suffering asthmatic child.  Today I write about a “Peak Flow Meter”.  A Peak Flow meter helped me care correctly for my asthmatic daughter, and today she is a grown woman caring for herself, however, she still uses it twice a day!

What is a Peak Flow Meter?

A peak flow meter is a device measuring air flowing out of the lungs, called peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and is used to measure whether a person’s asthma is under control.  This is done by the person with asthma forcefully blowing into the device.

A Peak Flow Meter, when correctly used, can reveal narrowing of the airways well in advance of an asthma attack. You can then take action – this device is paramount and should be incorporated in your asthma management plan (In my opinion)

Used mainly by persons with moderate to severe and persistent asthma, peak flow meters can help determine:

• What is going on in your airways rather than just guessing by the way you feel.
• You can find out if your treatment is having the effect it should on your asthma.
• You will know whether you need to change your treatment.
• Your doctor will be able to see how well you have been.
• What triggers the asthma attack (such as exercise-induced asthma
• When to seek emergency medical care.

You can get them from most good pharmacies or your Respiratory Physician can prescribe one for you.

Peak Flow Meters come in several different makes of and two different types known as low and standard range.

Standard range peak flow meters are suitable for both adults and children.

Low range peak flow meters are designed for adults and children with severely impaired function of the lungs.

It doesn’t really matter who makes it, they all do the same thing and that is measure your expiration rate = “Breath Out” = how hard and quickly you blow air out of your lungs.

If you have a child with Asthma you would need to check with its Respiratory Physician that your child is old enough to use a peak flow meter, as sometimes they can get a bit confused with sucking in their inhaler and blowing into the Peak Flow Meter.  On saying that each child is different, and I feel that if a child is say 4-5 years and over, and can understand the difference then a peak flow meter maybe suitable.

If you do have a Peak Flow Meter added to Asthma Plan, you will need to keep an Asthma Diary, and take daily readings, as one reading will not be enough.  An asthma Diary is so important, as you can chart each day and see whether you asthma is being properly controlled, also when visiting your Doctor it gives him a more information to help you or your child.

I will not go into detail here about how to use a Peak Flow Meter, as I feel your pharmacist or your physician is the person to teach you CORRECTLY how to use one and take correct readings by using the physical product.

Until Next time,

I wish you and yours the best of Health!

P.S. Is Asthma Draining The Life Out of You?

My daughter and I are ¾ of the way through reading an interesting book – we also got as a bonus 7 other books (thank god we are avid readers!) Take a Look

P.P.S Peak Flow Meters can also be obtained from – Peak Flow Meter

P.P.S. Both my daughter and I use Dust Mite and Allergy Control Pillow Encasement - We have found these are amazing and my daughter reckons, by using them, she has never had a coughing fit or sneezing attack when in bed!

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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.

The Causes of Asthma

The exact causes of asthma are unknown; there is no direct chain of events that effects every single sufferer. There is some evidence that asthma is a genetic condition, as people inherit the tendency towards inflamed airways – the primary problem associated with asthma. If a child’s parents both have asthma, they are statistically more likely to suffer from the illness themselves – but this is not always the case. Similarly, a child can have asthma even if there is no genetic history of it in their family. It really does seem to be the luck of the draw.

People who suffer from asthma are more likely to have allergies, particularly to dust mites and hay fever But again, this is not a certain link: lots of people who have hay fever do not have asthma, for example, just as lots of people who have asthma do not have hay fever

There are no known substances that are thought to actively ’cause’ asthma – though certain things, such as chemicals, allergens and smoke are known to exacerbate an existing condition.

It is natural when you, or someone you know, is diagnosed with asthma to question why it has happened. Unfortunately, asthma is one of the many illnesses that simply do not have a specific and clear-cut cause for why they have occurred. Learning to accept that sometimes, quite genuinely, these things do just happen is an important part of coming to terms with their asthma diagnosis.

Finally, if you are a parent and are concerned about passing asthma on to your children, this is by no means a certainty, so try not to fret.

Asthma Questions: The Hygiene Hypothesis

Question: I’ve heard something called the “hygiene hypothesis” being referenced when discussing asthma. What is this?

Answer:

The “hygiene hypothesis” is a school of thought presented by certain medical studies, discovered during investigations in to why asthma is seemingly on the rise. While by no means a new condition, cases of asthma have been steadily rising since records began. Certain medical studies have tried to find out why this is, and along with environmental factors, the hygiene hypothesis has been suggested for this rise in cases.

“Hygiene hypothesis” is the term used to describe the fact that, as a species, we are far more hygienic than we have ever been. Most households use strong cleaning products, and young children are not as exposed to dirt and bacteria as they were in the 1950s and 1960s. While this cannot really be seen as a bad things, some studies have suggested that it may have contributed to a rise in asthma cases.

Bacteria in the air, when inhaled, is aggravating – and can cause temporary inflammation of the lungs. This usually manifests itself in coughing. Young children in the earlier parts of the 20th century would have had daily exposure to bacteria due to less rigorous hygiene and cleaning standards; as a result, the bronchi of their lungs would appear irritated. The body would then learn how to deal with this, and calm the bronchi down.

Asthma can essentially be described as a irritation of the bronchi. As children nowadays are not exposed to the same levels of bacteria, their bodies do not learn to ‘calm’ the bronchi in their early life. This, some suggest, has lead to a larger number of asthma cases, as when presented with bacteria now, the body is not as well-versed in how to react.

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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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.