Critical Information On Surviving Asthma Attacks

                    

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Asthma is such a horrifying disease because the "attacks" that accompany it are so devastating and frightening to the sufferer. Naturally, everything that can be done medically to stop these is of primary importance, but when you're gasping desperately for oxygen, the #1 priority is to relieve the temporary medical stress and breathe freely once again.

So, what is the best way to shorten the attack and lessen its severity?

1. Nothing makes symptoms worst than panic! So, as best he can, the asthma patient needs to remain peaceful and not get overly upset about his situation. Education, of course, is key to this because knowing that the attack isn't life-threatening makes it easier to bear. Planning a medical response for when this does occur is not only physically wise, but mentally reassuring, so talk with your health practitioner and keep your medication handy.

2. Most asthmatics rely on "preventers" to avoid or lessen the number and severity of attacks. However, once one begins the patient must rely on a "reliever" like Hydrocortisone, Medocromil or Cromolyn. These are fast-acting relievers and the patient should begin to feel relief from his symptoms in 10-20 minutes. These episodes can be brought on my such triggers as vigorous exercise or cold weather, and in those instances, in might be best to use the preventer before involvement in these situations. Naturally, this decision should depend upon a collaboration between the patient and his doctor or healer.

3. Since fear only exacerbates symptoms, it's important to know when or if the patient needs more medical assistance than provided by the reliever. A generally valid guideline is this:

* Use your reliever and wait for 30 minutes * If necessary, use it for a second time and wait a similar length of time * If your symptoms are still extreme, get help from a medical professional

Naturally, your situation might be more severe and need more prompt attention. Be sure to work out a plan before an attack, rather than trying to second guess yourself when you can't breathe.

4. Asthmatics sometimes suffer from "second wave" attacks. The symptoms ease or even disappear - and then hours or even a couple of days later they reappear, often in a more intense form. These are usually more serious than the initial attacks and when we consider the symptoms of an asthma attack, we can understand why this is so:

* The muscles in your throat can become extremely tight and rigid - and this is made even worse by panic or stress

* Your air tubes will enlarge and inflame, meaning that the passageways through which the air must pass become even smaller

* The body's normal mucus becomes much more 'sticky' and thick, thereby clogging the breathing tubes

In a second wave attack, these symptoms can be decidedly more severe, critically narrowing the passages through which our life-giving oxygen must pass. When this occurs, often the only viable treatment is quick admission to a hospital or treatment center. In a really severe case, the only answer may be a tracheotomy, where doctors make an incisive in the trachea so the patient can bypass the constricted areas and receive necessary oxygen directly.

Possessing the correct information about asthma can't always stop an attack once it's begun, but knowing that the distress absolutely will pass helps to reassure any panicked patient.

You need information about asthma to cope with asthma attacks and AsthmaAnswersOnline.com specializes in asthma supplies and knowledge.

Adult Asthma ? Life?s Not Over!

                    

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While some people develop asthma as children, and continue to suffer after they have grown up, there is another group of individuals that are not diagnosed, or do not appear to have asthma symptoms, until they are adults. There is also a third group of adults that may be diagnosed with adult asthma, and those are individuals that had asthma as a child, then seemed to have no asthma over their teens and early adult years, and then start experiencing the symptoms again when they reach their late forties or early fifties.

As we all know, asthma can be very serious if it is not closely monitored and certain precautions aren?t taken. When a person is diagnosed as suffering from asthma as a child, they get more used to following precautions early on in their life. These precautions become almost second nature and so are easily followed later in adulthood. However, when adult asthma occurs as something completely new, it can take a lot of getting used to.

Causes of Adult Asthma

There can be a variety of reasons why adult asthma may appear. One of the most common types of adult asthma is allergic asthma, brought on by a reaction to one, or several different allergens. But whatever type of adult asthma is diagnosed, the person affected must take certain precautions they never had to deal with while growing up. And they certainly can?t give in to the old saying that you can?t teach old dogs new tricks: they must follow these precautions or else their adult asthma can seriously harm them or take their life. The precautions they need to take depend on what kind of adult asthma they suffer from.

Consult Your Doctor

The first step in taking back control of your life is to determine what kind of adult asthma you suffer from, and for that you?ll need to make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you, after performing a series of tests, what kind of asthma you have as well, as what activities or things to avoid. For instance, if your adult asthma is caused by an allergy to animal (e.g. dog) dander, you?ll want to avoid being in enclosed areas with any dog. Your doctor will also prescribe you medicine, usually in the form of an inhaler.

Fortunately, adult asthma doesn?t mean your life is over. Adult asthma can be serious and it can, in fact, be life threatening if certain precautions aren?t taken. It may take some getting used to but by making a small, conscious effort, you can do what you need to do in order to prevent asthma from controlling your life.

Precautions You need to Take

Many persons are frightened of the words ?adult asthma?, but as long as you can make some small changes to your everyday life, there?s no reason why you can?t live as long and as normal a life as anyone without asthma. Obviously, you?ll have to stay away from any activities or things that trigger your asthma and, above all, take notice of your doctor. If your doctor prescribes medicine, take your medicine. If your doctor gives you an inhaler, make sure you have your inhaler with you at all times. These small things are not difficult to get used to, but they can make a huge difference to the quality of your life, from both a physical and psychological point of view ? you?ll find that you can soon start paying much more attention to enjoying your life and much less attention to your adult asthma.
Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about asthma, visit his website http://www.asthmaforthelayman.com

 

Inhalers - Are They The Guardian Angels Of Asthma Sufferers?

                    

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Asthma inhalers have been genuine life savers. They are to asthmatics what anti-venom is to snake bites. An asthma inhaler is part of the management process and sufferers always have them at the ready if an attack is imminent.

The best known inhaler is a canister that delivers a metered dose. This is used by millions worldwide, from young to old and provides a welcome safety net for sufferers. Other types include a device which emits a powder when inhaled while asthma medication via a nebulizer is distributed as a mist.

How Do Inhalers Work?

The history of the asthma inhaler dates back to well over one hundred years. It has undergone a lot of improvements during that time but the basic principle has remained the same. It's only been recently that the compound used in these inhalers, CFC, is being switched over to halo carbons which in some variety of inhalers, is said to deliver a greater rate of absorption and potency.

During an asthma attack, the constriction of the muscles in the bronchial tubes makes it difficult to breathe. The action of a bronchodilator helps relax the muscles, opening up the airways thus enabling the sufferer to breathe a lot easier. In many cases, athletes who suffer from asthma will use their inhalers before and during sport. It was only recently during an Aussie Rules play-off game that one of the games star players was seen using his inhaler. The fact that he was playing sport at the elite level again emphasised the fact that asthma doesn't have to control your quality of life.

Doctors will also encourage sufferers to use their inhalers before going to bed at night and first thing in the morning, preferably when they wake up.

While broncodilators are appropriate for short term relief, corticosteroids provide relief long term. They act by preventing the bronchial tubes from re-constricting and is generally metered out in a powder form. For best results, the use of both is usually recommended by medical practitioners.

Using Inhalers Correctly Is Critical

Asthma inhalers require a little getting used to when first introduced to an asthmatic. While they look simple to use, timing is very important. During an attack, a sufferer doesn't have a lot of time to think about the situation and will react instinctively when reaching for his/her inhaler. The mouthpiece is simply placed in the mouth but as the button or tube is being pressed, the user is required to breathe in strongly in unison with the press down motion. This enables the medicine to reach the lungs and following it's release from the inhaler, the user will usually exhale just as strongly. Again, timing is critical during the exhale motion because if it happens too early, then valuable medicine is lost in the process.

Remember, while describing how to use an inhaler properly may seem a little trivial to some, to an asthma sufferer it's critical. The aim of the inhaler is to get them breathing normally again as quickly as possible. People sometimes forget that asthma is a killer and the trusty inhaler has been responsible for saving more than one life during it's inception.

Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Have you ever considered just how important asthma inhalers are to sufferers? Read latest asthma related news and views at http://www.asthmainfoline.com

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Asthma In Infants On The Increase According To The CDC

                    

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Sadly, asthma in infants, and children in general, is on the increase. The Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, GA, studied asthma between 1980 and 1998 and arrived at two alarming conclusions:

* The first is that asthma increased in infants by a whopping 138%

* In the early 1980s, the average age for the first recognition of asthma was the age of three to five years but by 1998, this age had decreased to only one year.

No one is certain why this trend is increasing, although there are numerous ideas that center around such factors as

1. Air quality
2. Exposure to second hand smoke
3. Nutritional deficiencies

But what is undeniable is that infant asthma is on the rise - perhaps a very steep rise.

Diagnosis of Infant Asthma

Obviously, diagnosis is more difficult in an infant asthma patient than any other. The sufferer cannot tell anyone that he is having difficulty breathing and cannot rest at night. Plus, a normal asthma test cannot be administered to a baby, obviously.

In infants and adults, asthma is the same - that is, the lungs are abnormally sensitive to stimuli that cause breathing difficulty. In infants, these "triggers" can be:

* Any kind of cold or respiratory inflammation
* Cold, wintry, freezing air
* Excessive excitement or over-stimulation
* Rapid temperature changes, such as those that occur in spring or autumn
* Classic allergens like pet fur and dander, dust, mold, insects
* Stress, which can be present in any life - even an infant's
* And, especially, exposure to cigarette smoke
* Lack of enough rest

It is the duty of parents to be alert to any sign of infant asthma, although most often this condition is discovered by accident. The concerned parent may take her child to the pediatrician believing that her baby has bronchitis, only to discovered that the true culprit is asthma.

There is good news, though, in the war against asthma in infants and the first positive note is that the child's life doesn't have to change much. Mom & Dad are the ones who will be responsible for regular doctor visits, schedules and any necessary medication.

Another positive note is that asthma deaths are extremely rare among babies. In fact, the older that patient is, the more the death rate increases. However, the death rate from asthma is low at any age. According to the American Lung Association, 154 children below the age of 15 dies in 2003, while 671 adults over the age of 85 died.

Asthma need not be a problem, even for an infant. With proper care and attention, it is a manageable annoyance rather than a crisis.

To learn more about asthma in kids and how you can best protect your tiny loved ones, check out AsthmaAnswersOnline.com which offers asthma facts to understand and control asthma symptoms.

How Altitude Affect Asthma

                    

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Asthma is a chronic condition where people have trouble breathing. These breathing problems are brought on by hyper-responsive airways, which become irritated during an asthma attack and constrict in response. This increases the resistance to airflow and allows less air to reach the lungs.

Some people who suffer from asthma will be affected by altitude, whether in an airplane or simply at a higher elevation. If you are in relatively good health and your asthma is under control, however, you shouldn't have any serious problems with altitude, provided the ascent is not too fast. In some cases, asthma medication may need to be adjusted to cope with the altitude change.

If the conditions are very cold, inhalers may not work properly because the pressurization can be affected. If this is the case, warm them somehow prior to using them.

One of the reasons that higher altitudes can aggravate asthma is because the air is quite often drier and colder. If your asthma is often triggered by cold, higher altitudes could contribute to that.

If the higher altitude is reached by climbing - say hiking up a mountain - the exercise may also trigger asthma for some people. This is not exactly due to altitude, but this can add to the problem when combined with the changes in air and temperature at higher altitudes.

Some people may find that higher altitudes can actually improve their asthma. If a person's asthma is triggered by dust mites, altitude may help because dust mites are not able to survive in the colder temperatures.

If you are flying somewhere that is at a higher elevation, keep in mind that you won't have a chance to acclimatize yourself for the change. If this is the case, you should discuss it with your doctor to be sure you are prepared.

Jackson Sperry writes about adult asthma and childhood asthma problems on the Asthma Explained website. For more helpful information about dealing with asthma, visit http://www.asthmaexplained.net

Spotlight on Asthma

                    

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Asthma ? What is it and how can it be treated?

Asthma is characterised by episodic attacks of wheezing and breathlessness, whereby the airways of the lungs are constricted by muscular spasm surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs). There is tightness in the chest which develops before the wheezing. The difficulty with respiration and wheezing is generally worse on expiration, but an individual assessment would need to determine between the effects of both inspiration and expiration on the patient. As the wheezing develops there is breathlessness.Often sticky mucus or phlegm is produced. The severity of attacks are variable with some being mild with only wheezing whilst others develop with severe breathlessness.

According to Dr Stephen Gascoigne there is a rapid pulse which can be quite high. At a level of 120 beats per minute it indicates a severe attack and at 140 per minute a life threatening situation. On average 1,500 people die from asthma each year in the UK alone and at least a third of those are under the age of 65.

Asthma is divided conventionally into extrinsic and intrinsic types. Extrinsic asthma is usually first seen in childhood and there is often a family history of allergies. Worryingly the UK has the highest prevalence of severe wheeze in children aged 13-14 years worldwide. The spasms that characterize an acute attack are not the cause of the disorder, but a result of chronic inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways to certain stimuli. An attack may be triggered if a susceptible individual is exposed to an allergen or irritants. Common asthma provoking allergens include animal dander, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, environmental pollutants, feathers, food additives such as sulphites, fumes, mould, and tobacco smoke, but any kind of allergen can precipitate an asthma attack in a susceptible individual. This ?atopic? group may also have other conditions such as eczema, hay fever or migraine

The intrinsic asthma, a less common form of the disease, generally appears during adulthood and is often associated with other respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or sinusitis, and tends to appear during upper respiratory viral infections. This group are usually vulnerable to changes in weather, exercise, emotional stress, and other factors relating to inner feelings.

Asthma specialists speculate that rising levels of environmental pollution lead to a higher incidence of asthma. Within a generation in the industrialised West we have gone from dealing with up to 300 chemicals daily, absorbed through the skin, the air we breathe and ingested, to some 30,000 on a daily basis, (asthma is uncommon in developing countries). In the last decade, the number of Americans with asthma has increased by one third.

With increased deterioration in the immune system is it any wonder that here in the UK alone 8 million people have been diagnosed with asthma. Respiratory disease is the most common illness responsible for an emergency admission to hospital. Asthma epidemics related to atmospheric contamination, in which dust and chemical particulate matter are abundant, and on the increase, especially within enclosed environments.

The main aim in conventional medicine is to prevent wheezing to minimise long-term lung damage. Therefore, medical practitioners are keen to use treatments regularly and long-term in an attempt to achieve this result. Dr Gascoigne states that corticosteroids are increasingly likely to be used as a first choice. The estimated cost of treatment to the NHS is a staggering ?850 million per year.

Conventional treatments in order of severity include:

Bronchodilators as inhalers or oral
Sodium cromoglycate
Corticosteroids inhaled, or oral
Bronchodilator as nebulised or injected
Corticosteroid as injected.

According to the National Asthma Campaign many people are turning to complementary medicine and various therapies to seek relief. A good example of a complementary therapy is Buteyko a breathing technique developed by the Russian scientist Konstantin Buteyko. His theory that asthma is caused by hyperventilation led him to devise a system of breathing exercises designed to reduce breathing rate and depth. Similarly, pranayama yoga has been used to treat asthma in eastern societies for centuries. Preliminary research suggests that Buteyko improved asthma symptoms, and the respondents on the program were able to cut their use of their reliever inhalers by up to two puffs a day.

Acupuncture may also prove helpful in addition to homoeopathy, and nutritional counseling. On a nutritional note, many asthmatics find it beneficial to avoid mucus and phlegm forming foods either on a temporary or permanent basis. Also eliminate any yeast and fungal infections, as Candida, (a type of yeast which can mutate to the fungal version called Candida Albicans), loves warm moist places such as the lungs.

An exciting new discovery in the field of Natural Medicine comes from the bark of the rare African Gum tree, Funtumia Elastica. It was used by a local healer to help many of the tribe?s people who came to her with chest and allergy problems. The secret has been passed on to her grandson Jerry Yamoa- hence its name ?Yamoa?.

Dr Nyjon Eccles of the Chiron Clinic in London suggests that Yamoa has some kind of immune modulatory action. That is, it readjusts the immune system, like turning up a thermostat, so that it is not so sensitive and no longer over-reacts to the usual triggers. Dr Eccles has successfully treated both asthma and hayfever with this remarkable natural product. The extrinsic asthma group are more likely to respond as this typical testimonial shows.

Ms K.B, London, Age 28

KB suffered mild asthma and hayfever symptoms with swollen red eyes and also difficulty in breathing. Her asthma limited her ability to walk long distances. She had mild attacks of asthma 3 times a day necessitating the use of inhaled ventolin each time. Dust would trigger both her hayfever and her asthma. She took her first month?s course of Yamoa 4 years ago and has taken it each season since as a preventative. She no longer has hayfever or asthma symptoms, and is able to walk long distances without shortness of breath.

No side effects have been observed over many years on hundreds of patients using Yamoa. It is now available as vegicaps taken twice a day for adults and children aged 10 and older, and half a capsule twice a day emptied into a little juice for children less than 10. Two months treatment is recommended, it is important to stress however, with no change to prescribed medication unless under medical supervision. Continued small-scale trials will seek to determine the exact mechanism of action but already it appears to offer some degree of relief for many asthma sufferers.

As we can see, asthma appears to be a disease which is growing year on year in the modern industrialised West, so we face a continued challenge to come up with safe effective treatments. After all it was the late Comedian George Burns who said, ?The secret to a long life is to keep breathing???

Stephen Guy-Clarke has been a passionate practitioner of natural medicine for twelve years. He graduated in Acupuncture at the Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian in 1994 and has a special interest in nutrition. Stephen has lectured and written on a number of health related topics including Asthma, ?Light, the future of Medicine? and ?You are what you absorb ? The case for proper nutrition.

For anyone interested in learning more about Yamoa please go to http://www.herbal-factory.com/product.php?id=88 and http://www.beatingcholesterol.com

Asthma In Kids: An Increasing Epidemic

                    

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Many believe that the majority of asthma cases are confined to adults, but this is definitely an incorrect assumption. because asthma in kids has become increasingly common in the last 20 years. We are uncertain as to why this is so, but it is an undoubted fact that in the United States alone there are 5,000,000+ children beneath the age of 18 who suffer from asthmic symptoms.

In a recent study (2004) it was discovered that the #1 cause of absenteeism in school is asthma, accounting for a whopping 14,000,000 lost days in school. According to the American Lung Association, four million kids below the age of 18 had an asthma attack during this year.

Anyone, at any age, can manifest asthmatic symptoms - even infants - but most often symptoms manifest themselves around the young age of five.

Who Is Most Vulnerable To An Asthma Attack?

1. Boys are more likely than girls to be sick in earlier childhood

2. Children of African American descent are more vulnerable than Caucasians, Hispanics or Asians

3. And, not surprisingly, children in our increasingly polluted cities are more vulnerable than kids in the less-crowded suburbs and rural areas

Symptoms Of Childhood Asthma

Childhood asthma is like adult asthma in that the symptoms are generally the same:

* Inflammation in the airways
* Coughing
* Difficulty in breathing
* Wheezing
* Rapid breathing
* Shortness of breath
* Symptoms that worsen at night
* Tightness in the chest

There is a special problem with childhood asthma that doesn't apply to adults and that is that children are much less inclined to take care of themselves and thus the parental role is critical. Some kids are simply too young to assume this responsibility while those who are older may have various reasons for neglecting the necessary treatment. For instance, they may dislike being seen as "different" from their classmates or they may be too busy with sports and other activities to monitor their breathing. Thus, an asthma attack that could have been avoided, or at least reduced in severity, is allowed to emerge.

Parents must ensure that:

1. Their child understands and is educated about their asthmatic condition

2. Medications are ingested on a medical schedule

3. And mom and dad can do much to reassure the child so that he doesn't become panicked and afraid, thus worsening his condition.

Without monitoring, childhood asthma may seriously affect a child's general health in a very negative way, possibly even resulting in hospitalization. Asthma in kids must be taken seriously!

To learn more about asthma in kids and how you can best protect your little ones, check out AsthmaAnswersOnline.com which offers helpful asthma facts.

Natural Asthma Remedies For Alternative Asthma Treatment

                    

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Natural asthma treatment versus conventional medical science:

The medicines for asthma often involves the use of an inhaler and/or a nebulizer, which can bring instant relief of asthma symptoms. What if the medicine causes unwanted side effects? Those who are allergic to asthma medicines find themselves in a predicament. There are a number of reportedly effective natural asthma remedies. Of course, since the FDA does not endorse these, it may take more time to be accepted by the general public. The point is, that you do have choices if you are willing to try them.

As a overall statement, Mother Nature has provided a cure for every disease known to mankind. Sometimes, humans underestimate the force of Mother Nature and proportionately overestimate their capacity to intervene. It is true that modern science has achieved the capacity for miraculous results. However, it is still far behind the breathtaking power of nature. One of the most popular natural remedies is homeopathy. This can be given over many years without any fear of having any harmful reactions. There are also a number of herbs that can be used as an alternative asthma treatment. However, their ability will be proportionate to the capability of the person who specializes in herbal medicines.

Hypnosis and acupuncture are also viable natural treatments. Though they cannot be labelled strictly as natural asthma remedies, they can provide natural long-term relief to both children and adults. The only thing that one must consider in this case of trying out a hypnotherapy session is the certification of the hypnotist. You will find hypnosis listed under natural cure for asthma and many find it a good alternative. The success of this method of treatment depends upon the therapist and the patient?s state of mind.

Some find acupuncture a very effective method to treat asthma. This medical care involves stimulating of internal chemical reaction with the application of needles at particular nerve points. There is acupuncture, which involves needles to stimulate chemical reactions within the body to correct the existing imbalances. Many people reported that acupuncture is extremely helpful. One should be very careful however regarding the sterilization of the needles. A possible option is to to carry your own set with you, which can be thrown away after each session. For those who are squeamish about the use of needles, one can choose the use of acupressure, which acts on the same concept; however, instead of needles (puncturing of the skin) it uses pressure. This form of treatment is considered much safer than acupuncture.

Another supposedly effective alternative remedy for asthma is yoga. Yoga is an ancient science originating from India, whereby one does some particular exercises (the positions of which are called asanas) by which the problems inside the body and mind can be cured. Some people find it highly effective, while the strange body positions that the yoga involves horrify some people. It depends upon you if you would like to choose this type of any other natural cure for asthma.

How do you choose the right alternative asthma treatment for you? Before making up your mind, it would be good if you do your own research and judge for yourself. The best method to find out what could be the best choice for you is by asking friends and relatives. Another good manner of gathering accurate information is the utilization of the internet. Do some research and find out the merits and demerits of all the alternative remedies for asthma that you are interested in. One vital thing is to ensure is that none of the methods of treatment have any adverse effects that could act detrimentally against your asthma instead of alleviating symptoms. It would be better if you consult a doctor before you embark on any ?unconventional course of action? with the proposed natural asthma remedy. Most family doctors have a good and up-to-date knowledge of the best available options.

Note to Publishers: You may freely republish this article as is, without editing or modification, and all links must be kept live. The author, Gregory De Villiers, writes on a variety of health and wellness topics. Visit http://www.free-asthma-remedies.com for more information on asthma treatment and alternative asthma remedies.

The Link Between Asthma And Acid Reflux

                    

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Asthma is a chronic lung disorder that causes difficulty breathing. Those suffering from it have higher sensitivity - or even hyper-sensitivity - in their airways. When having an asthma attack, this sensitivity causes the airway to become irritated. It reacts by constricting itself, leading to less air being able to get through and difficult breathing.

There has been some research that indicates that asthma symptoms can be worsened by a condition known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is more commonly known as acid reflux. This condition causes stomach acid to rise up into the throat which can lead to further irritation, and more pronounced asthma symptoms.

There have also been studies that have shown evidence that asthma sufferers are more prone to developing GERD. This may be due partly to the additional pressure in the chest during an asthma attack, which may force stomach acid up in the wrong direction.

It has not been shown that acid reflux is a contributing factor in developing asthma, however. If that were the case, treating the GERD should also show positive results on asthma but the two are not linked this way. It would appear that one can make the other more pronounced but is not the direct cause.

If you do suffer from both conditions, however, treating one can often ease the effects of the other. If you think you might be dealing with a combination of asthma and acid reflux, the best thing is to consult with your doctor. They can run some tests to give you a thorough diagnosis, and prescribe the best treatment method for your particular situation.

Jackson Sperry covers topics such as asthma symptoms, asthma treatments and causes of asthma for the Asthma Explained website. For more helpful information, visit http://www.asthmaexplained.net

Asthma Symptom: Can You Really Recognize The Signs?

                    

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The best way to deal with asthma is by actually trying to prevent the asthma attack. You can do that only by first of all recognizing the asthma symptoms. If you are able to recognize the signs from the early stages of the asthma attack, it will be easier for you to re-arrange your life and to begin immediate treatment. You do not want to have a sudden asthma attack and not know why it happens and not know what to do to stop it.

Prevention and early intervention are the best treatment for asthma. Therefore, knowing what are the main characteristics of asthma might clearly indicate to you that you are on the way to having an asthma attack. Those signs may be different from one individual to another, but the main signs are common. They should be easily recognized and taken care of immediately through the right medication.

There are a number of lighter asthma symptoms that you can experience in early stages of asthma. You can notice a change in the breathing or you can experience a disturbing cough, a strong headache or sudden sneezing. The overall condition of your body seems to fail you and you might turn from an active and happy person into a moody and ever tired person. You can have trouble sleeping well at night and you will find it impossible to do any kind of physical exercise, all because of the asthma symptom.

The lighter forms of the asthma don't last long and they can happen once or twice a week. The medium level of the asthma symptoms includes also nocturne symptoms, several times a month, and the severe form of the asthma symptoms requires hospitalization. This is the worst level of asthma: the suffering person will have to endure severe coughing and dispnaea while doing light activities such as walking, the lack of oxygen causes tightness and a pain in the chest, and the posture seems hunched.

Many toxins that affect the airways by overwhelming the other neutralizers of the body cause asthma. Extremely irritating, those toxins damage the delicate structure of the airway tissues, and therefore, causing the abundant secretion, the edema and the spasms ? the main parts of the asthma attacks. The negative influence of the common factors that produce asthma (like pollen, the Acadians, animal dandruff, cockroaches and their remains, the cigarette smoke, the domestic sprays, the gas, the perfume, the physical exercises).

Each year, thousands of new asthmatic people are diagnosed, especially children. Their best option is to take care of their disease, to control it in the most efficient way in order to minimize the asthma symptoms and the effects that could change their lives.

Have you heard the latest about Alternative Asthma Medicine? Visit the Asthma Symptom Site today for comprehensive and up to date help and advice on all Asthma issues. Clive thoroughly recommends this site so make sure you check it out today here: - http://www.asthmasymptomonline.com

Aloe - It Is Used Internally To Combat Poor Appetite, Asthma

                    

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Aloe Vera information and how it is used as a herb in alternative herbal treatments to treat ailments and problems such as healing wounds, for skin rejuvenation, acting as a laxative and reducing skin irritation and relieving sun burn.

Although we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.

Botanical Classification: Family Aloeceae

Genus and specie: Aloe vera - Aloe barbadensis

Other names:

Barbados, Cape, Curaiao, Socotrine, and Zanzibar aloe

Description of the herb aloe vera:

Aloe vera is a clump forming perennial with rosettes of thick, fleshy, spiky, gray-green leaves, young specimens being red spotted and the plant bears yellow tubular flowers in summer.

Parts used:

The slimy inside of the leave is used (also referred to as gel) as well as a juice extracted from the pulpy inside and a yellow bitter laxative principle which is an exudate from the leaf which is dried to a crystalline substance.

To prevent any confusion, herewith a summary of uses:

Aloe vera gel:

This is the naturally occurring and undiluted gel obtained by stripping away the outer layer of the leaf.

Aloe vera concentrate or extract:

This is the product obtained when removing the water from the gel

Aloe vera juice:

This is a drink for internal use that consist of at least 50% of the pulped aloe gel.

Aloe vera latex or bitter principle:

This is a bitter yellow liquid derived from the pericyclic tubules of the rind of the aloe and which primary constituent is aloin.

Properties:

It is a bitter herb with anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient, anti fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, and is useful in the eradication of parasites and stimulating the uterus.

It contains a host of compounds that are biologically active and includes anthraquinones, saccharides and prostaglandins as well as other constituents.

Anthraquinones:

The anthraquinones contained in aloe, which has the purging and laxative action on the digestive system includes aloin (barbaloin), isobarloin, anthranol, aloetic acid, anthracene, ester of cinnamic acid, aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanoic acid, ethereal oil as well as resistannol.

Saccharides:

It contains various saccharides including glycoprotein, mucopolysaccharide and polysaccharides such as galactose, xylose, arabinose, acetylated mannose as well as the remarkable acemannan.

Prostaglandins and fatty acids:

The conversion of fatty acids to prostaglandins are rare but the major unsaturated fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid can be converted to 1-series prostaglandins and have a very effective influence on reducing inflammation, allergy as well as helping platelet aggregation (blood clotting at wound sites) as well as wound healing.

Other constituents:

It furthermore contains enzymes (oxidase, amylase, catalase, lipase and alkaline phosphatase) amino acids (lysine, threonine, valine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine) vitamins (vitamin b1, B2, B6, C, E, folic acid, choline and beta carotene) minerals (calcium, sodium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, copper and chromium as well as other miscellaneous compounds such as cholesterol, triglycerides, steroids, uric acid, lignins, beta-sitosterol, gibberellin and salicylic acid.

Therapeutic uses:

Internal use:

The herb is used internally to combat most digestive problems, including:

constipation, poor appetite, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome as well as - asthma, diabetes, immune system enhancement, peptic ulcers

Studies have also shown that when aloe is taken internally it can stimulate and regulate various components of the immune system by stopping the inflammation and blood supply of tumors and also showed interesting results in preventing carcinogenic compounds from entering the liver and is combined in some cancer treatments.

The juice of the inner leave can be used for its anti-inflammatory effect it has on Crohn's disease but the laxative and bitter principle of aloe must NOT be used by people suffering from Crohn's disease as it causes griping and cramping.

It contains aloemannan which stimulates the growth of healthy kidney cells and helps to slow the formation of kidney stones.

The juice can be used very successfully to treat heartburn as well as ulcers and to sooth the lining of the digestive tract. It is not that effective to treat stress induced ulcers, but can be used for peptic ulcers caused by excess acid, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as alcohol use.

The oral use of aloe has produced good results in patients suffering from asthma when the asthma sufferers were not dependant on corticosteroids for treatment.

The exude from the leaves are used as a strong purgative and stimulant laxative but can cause griping and has an abortifacient effect and should not be used in pregnancy.

The bitter principle in aloe exudate which cause the laxative effect is preferable to use than that of cascara and senna, as aloe draws less fluid into the large intestine and are less likely to cause electrolyte imbalance than the other two.

In a study where volunteers ate 120 grams of parboiled aloe for lunch and supper a marked decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides and sugar was found, while in another test using aloe extract, it reduced fasting blood-sugar dramatically which is probably due to the stimulating effect it has on the pancreas to produce more insulin.

External use:

Aloe is used externally for the treatment of:

skin irritation, burns, scalds, sunburn, wounds, eczema, psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, ulcers, stimulate cell regeneration

The gel can be applied directly to the skin as a softening agent.

For burns and other wounds aloe is particularly effective as it activates the macrophages which fights bacterial infection while at the same time increasing circulation to the area which results in accelerated healing.

The enzymes - carboxypeptidase and bradykininase are both involved to reduce swelling, itching, reducing inflammation as well as pain.

Studies confirmed that wounds treated with aloe heal far faster than other wounds not so treated - both for traumatic as well as surgical wounds. This may be due to the fact that it contains not only vitamin E and C as well as zinc but the polysaccharides also reduce inflammation and stimulate the fibroblast and epidermal growth and repair process.

The juice is also effective for the treatment of minor wounds and insect bites by forming a "natural plaster" over the wound.

It has good astringent qualities and is usually combined with other ingredients, to make an excellent, soothing treatments for the skin and can also be used with great success on hemorrhoids (piles).

In studies it also showed a marked result in producing remission in skin cancers and its superb anti-oxidant effect is effective to help prevent skin damage from x-rays and other forms of radiation.

When applied regularly to psoriasis great results are achieved and also relieve the pain and inflammation of eczema.

When people with frostbite was treated with a cream containing aloe, the incidence of tissue loss and amputation was reduced.

Aloe-emodin which is one of the ingredients not only has a laxative effect, but is also involved in killing the herpes virus which causes cold sores and shingles.

Aromatherapy and essential oil use:

Aromatherapists use aloe vera by infusing the plant material into a base oil, such as almond or apricot kernel oil.

This macerated oil exhibits astringent, emollient, anti fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

The oil is combined in massage therapy for its healing and rejuvenating properties.

Safety precautions and warnings:

Pregnant and breast feeding women should not use aloe latex (the laxative part) internally, although the topical application of aloe to the skin has no effect on pregnant or breastfeeding women.

People suffering from problematic hemorrhoids, ulcers, diverticulosis, colitis, Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel syndrome should consult a medical practitioner or trusted herbalist before taking aloe internally.

Extreme care should be taken with the administration of aloe laxatives, as this can cause severe digestive upsets.

When used topically, some individuals may have an allergic reaction and a skin patch test (behind the ear or on the forearm) is advised before use.

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: www.12234455.co.za

Facing Asthma With Asthma Exercise

                    

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Asthma is a journey ? a daily dose of unpredictability and a balancing act required to prevent attacks. For those who suffer from asthma, there is no end to the exploration of treatments that can possibly alleviate ? and maybe even prevent ? symptoms. Most have found a way to combine traditional medicine with a more holistic mind/body approach; the result is a very individual approach to a very individual disease.

One such natural approach that asthmatics are using in conjunction with traditional medical treatment is asthma exercise. Asthma exercise can encompass any form of exercise that brings about improvement in overall health thus lessening the effects of asthma.

Experts believe that exercise triggers the opening of bronchial tubes; the result can be extended relief from the irritated and constricted airways of those suffering from asthma attacks.

Some asthmatics turn to aerobics for their forms of asthma exercise. Walking, dancing, and any other exercise where your heart rate is increased can be healthy for your overall health and can go a long way towards lessening your symptoms of asthma.

Others concentrate on those exercises that establish a mind/body connection. Yoga can be an excellent asthma exercise; allowing your body and your mind to relax in unison. Additionally, yoga uses breathing patterns as a component of the exercise itself. Those who practice yoga must learn to hold certain postures while focusing on deep and cleansing breaths. This can be an enormously helpful asthma exercise for those who suffer from this respiratory system disease.

Get online for access to a multitude of resources developed for the asthma sufferer. Updates on asthma treatments, guides to keeping you healthy, and an online community of support will keep you feeling proactive and positive about managing your disease. Find out what asthma exercise has made improvements in the lives of other asthmatics. Try them out experimentally and take careful mental notes on what asthma exercise made you feel well and what was less successful.

Asthma exercise can be a fantastic tool that you can use to keep control of your symptoms. But nothing replaces the guidance of a medical professional in keeping you healthy. Be sure to check with your doctor before embarking on any new exercise program.

With proper medical supervision and a commitment to improved overall health, you are likely to see an improvement ? and maybe cessation ? of many of your asthma symptoms. Asthma exercise can leave you feeling happy, healthy, and in control

For easy to understand, in depth information about asthma visit our ezGuide 2 Asthma.

Asthma: Emphysema vs Asthma

                    

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In the past emphysema has been seen as a death sentence. Your doctor or specialist may have explained to you that this condition is progressive, and will eventually stop you from breathing at all. You may have been told that new drugs are becoming available all the time, and new research is happening.

If you are youngish, then you may have been told there is a chance for a lung transplant later. Some doctors will simply say to make the most of the rest of your life while you still can.

While this is pretty good advice to follow anyway, there are some really interesting other things to know about. There is a theory that smoking causes emphysema. There are literally thousands of people who have emphysema, but have never smoked ? ever. They have never been exposed to even passive in any dose; they have the same condition as a 'two-packs-a-day-for-thirty-years' smoker.

Other people have what scientists describe as alpha antitrypsin deficiency, which is a genetic code that produces less of an enzyme that is needed in your lungs than 'normal' people. The interesting thing is that in the vast majority of these cases, the emphysemic condition is not seen until later in life ? even though the genetic pattern that says there should be emphysema has been there since birth.

What is the missing factor that explains what is going on?

The Missing Factor

The missing factor is the depth of breathing of each person. The only difference between asthma and emphysema is where it occurs in your breathing system. Very simply put, asthma happens in the airpipes [called 'bronchi'], whereas emphysema occurs in the bulb-like sacs at the end of the airpipes called 'alveoli'. Asthma is restriction of airflow by either squeezing the airpipes with special muscles, or blocking it up with sticky mucus, or both. Emphysema is the clogging up of the alveoli at the end of the airpipes with mucus.

The restriction of breathing in both conditions has the same cause.

Your body is try to restrict the airflow to prevent further loss of carbon dioxide [CO2]. From other articles written on Asthma you will know that if you lose too much CO2, then your body will not work, and you will die. The restriction of your airflow in asthma and emphysema is simply your body's way of forcing you to stop losing so much CO2.

Smoking

Smoking is a double whammy for emphysema. The deep breathing associated with smoking causes the loss of more CO2, which induces your mucus factories [special glands that produce mucus or 'phlegm'] to increase their output. Added to this is the effect of bringing foreign particles into your lungs. This also causes an increase in mucus production [to clean up the bits of tar and debris]. The effect is a huge increase in mucus and it is no wonder that alveoli [and bronchi] clog up.

An additional effect of bringing all of this cigarette muck into your lungs is to increase the chance of your lung cells mutating and giving you cancer. The other effect of smoking [while we are bashing this silly habit!] is that it introduces hot, dry air to your lungs. Your lungs are wet and sloppy and they function best this way. When they dry out or are heat affected they are easily damaged, and more likely to become cancerous or infected.

To conclude my tirade on smoking if you are addicted to nicotine, then find another way to get it into your body. If you must do this via your lungs then use a similar device to what marijuana or opium smokers use a pipe or 'bong'. This drags the smoke filled air through water which 'washes' it a little, and cools it a lot. The amount of gunk that gets into your lungs is decreased and you can actually see it in the foul smelling water that is left. Of course to use these devices you have to breathe very deeply, so you will still lose CO2, and still probably get emphysema but you may have a lower chance of getting cancer of the lungs, lips, mouth or throat.

If you must continue to smoke, then at least bear in mind the lessons contained in this article. You will be able to reduce the symptoms of emphysema if you follow this breathing model because you will be stopping one of the factors that produce the symptoms. The other will still exist, and you will continue to do damage until you stop.

For more information on Asthma and the Buteyko Breathing Method visit out website. If you are looking for music to help you meditate and control your asthma Meditation Music

What Is Occupational Asthma

                    

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Asthma is a condition in which a person's airways become constricted to the point where air is unable to pass through easily. This causes a reduction in the amount of air they can take in, which in turn can lead to a number of other problems. Occupational asthma is brought on by environmental conditions in a person's occupation or workplace.

Some of the most common asthma triggers found in the workplace include vapors, fumes, dust and mists. Exposure to these things can cause asthma-like symptoms, which can develop into full-blown asthma if left untreated - even if the person has never had any sort of asthma problem in the past.

For those who already suffer from asthma, workplace conditions can make the problem much more severe and lead to further complications in the long term.

There are steps that can be taken to minimize or avoid occupational asthma entirely. Proper ventilation is one of the most important factors. If the exposure to the potential triggers can be minimized - or avoided altogether - the problem can be avoided in the first place.

Proper protective equipment is also important. This can include breathing equipment and other protective clothing which can help to avoid contact with the triggers, again helping to avoid the problem in the first place.

Because occupational asthma can develop over a period of time, it is often too late to avoid it once the symptoms appear. Being proactive about protecting oneself against the potential allergens and triggers in the workplace, while perhaps requiring a bit more effort, will be well worth the additional work in the long run.

Jackson Sperry writes about various forms of asthma relief and other related topics for the Asthma Explained website. For more helpful information, visit www.asthmaexplained.net

Asthma: Blocked Nose, Post Nasal Drip, Itchy Nose or Eyes

                    

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There is only one way to get asthma or a blocked nose and that is because you are breathing like an elephant. You are not an elephant, and your body will try to stop you from breathing so much.

Your nose may block up, and make your lungs get wheezy, and you may feel stuff in your lungs and want to cough.

If your child nose becomes completely blocked, then the Steps exercise should be done until it is clear enough to breathe through. Usually only one set is needed. The key is to ensure that breathing is only through the nose after the steps [like a mouse].

If the breathing is elephant-like ? the nose will just block up again. If it does, then repeat the steps. If it is only partially blocked, then ask the child to just breath like a mouse, and try to make it clear. With practice they will soon be able to unblock nose with just breathing.

If the symptoms of asthma occur, tightness, wheeze or cough occur ? remember the elephant and the mouse. Reinforce the statement with your child that the only way to get asthma is to first breathe like an........ [Elephant]. To make it go away you just breathe like a little mouse ..... [turn palm up] through your ........[point to nose!]

If your child begins to cough then you must teach them how to cough through their nose. Have a little practice with them. When they feel a tickle in their throat, instead of coughing with their mouth, they should firstly try to just ignore it, but if they have to then cough via nose. This is more like an 'AH-HRRM' or throat clearing before a speech.

At the same time reinforce again the mouse breathing. If you do not allow yourself to cough, then the urge to cough will simply go away. If you do allow the coughing cycle to start 'it will get worse and worse' as the deep breathing causes more and more CO2 to be lost will cause the production of more and more mucus.

To cough a lot you must breathe like a big..........Elephant. On occasions with smaller children, they may say to you that they cannot stop the cough. Here you must be firm if you want them to become free of the cycle. They are simply not allowed to cough. [Yell if you must, but it is usually better to do more closed mouth coughing practice.] Obviously also explain that they can cough if they are choking on something.

If you notice a post nasal drip, which is fluid running down the back of your throat, then the procedure is the same. Mouse breathing first, and if that does not stop it, then do steps until it has stopped.

Same applies to itchy nose and eyes. If you see your child doing the 'allergic salute', pushing on their nose because it is itchy, explains again that they have been breathing like a big ......elephant! Itchy eyes might be gently rinsed [eyes closed!] with cool clean water, followed by mouse breathing.

Finger Under the Nose

It is very useful to use your finger for feedback on the depth of your breathing. The more gentle and passive, the better. When you ask your child to check their breathing [even teenagers] ensure they use their finger under their noses. The other feedback is any noise created by breathing. If you or they can hear a 'wheeze' try and make it silent. If there is whistle because a nose is partially blocked, then they should breathe like a mouse so that it cannot be heard. In both of these cases if you reduce breathing depth you will soon stop the wheeze and unblock the nose. If it does not then a series of steps should be done.

For more information on Asthma and how the Butekyo Breathing Method can help improve your asthma visit our website. If you are looking for music to help you meditate and control your asthma Meditation Music.

Asthma Attacks

                    

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Asthma can be life-threatening. It is a lung disease that is caused by the contraction of the muscles in the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma is mostly characterized by coughing after crying or laughing; wheezing; panting or shortness of breath; and frequent allergies. When you experience one or more of these symptoms, and it seems that your condition is not improving, then you are most likely an asthmatic person.

Asthma attacks usually happen when the muscles in the bronchial tubes contract. When this happens, the cells make more mucus than usual. The extra mucus blocks the airways and disrupts breathing. An asthma attack is usually associated with the feeling of drowning. If you are an asthma sufferer, you may or may not have experienced severe attacks. Some are fortunate enough to feel only mild symptoms. Others, on the other hand, suffer so much that they have to be rushed to the hospital.

Information on Asthma Attacks

Since asthma attacks can be fatal, you must learn as much as you can about preventing such episodes. Read up on asthma symptoms, irritants that can trigger asthma, foods to avoid, remedies and treatments. You can obtain valuable information from medical books. A lot of sites on the Internet tackle asthma issues. There are also online forums you can join. Here, a lot of asthmatic people talk about their condition and the steps they have taken to improve their quality of life.

Based on the results of your research, you may find that asthma triggers vary from person to person. Be aware of your body. Identify the food and materials that you are sensitive to. Knowing your own specific triggers can go a long way in helping prevent severe asthma attacks.

Try reading up on medication, therapy and natural remedies. Discuss your findings with your doctor. You can decide on which treatment is best for you if you have a wealth of information regarding asthma.

Asthma provides detailed information on Asthma, Allergy Asthma, Bronchial Asthma, Exercise Induced Asthma and more. Asthma is affiliated with Food Allergies.

Asthma Inhalers

                    

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Are you an asthma patient? Do you want to manage your condition? Are you the type of person who dislikes taking pills to counter an asthma attack? Nowadays, you can always use asthma inhalers to alleviate your symptoms. These inhalers are among the latest developments in asthma treatments. Inhalers are now widely available in drugstores and pharmacies. Doctors and asthma experts often recommend asthma inhalers to patients for immediate relief.

Asthma inhalers are portable devices. With these, you can deliver medicine straight to your lungs, anytime and anywhere you need them. However, you can't just purchase asthma inhalers indiscriminately. Most of these can only be bought with prescriptions. If you want to use an inhaler, ask your doctor's advice. He can tell you if this is the best treatment for you. He can also tell you what specific product you should be looking for since there is a wide variety of inhalers available in the market.

Types of Asthma Inhalers

There are many asthma inhalers, but the most common ones are the metered-dose and dry powder types.

Metered-dose inhalers make use of a chemical propellant that pushes the medicine out of the inhaler's canister. You have to squeeze the canister to release the medication, then inhale it.

Dry powder inhalers operate the same way. However, when the medicine is released from the canister, you have to inhale more rapidly.

Both types of inhalers deliver different kinds of medication. Some are for long-term control while some are meant only for quick relief. Examples of these medications are long-acting bronchodilators and a combination of Corticosteroid and long-acting bronchodilators, as well as short-acting bronchodilators, Corticosteroids, Cromolyn or nedocromil.

Asthma inhalers can help relieve you when you are suffering from an asthma attack. And though they are handy and offer fast relief, you must be careful in using them. Always follow your doctor's instructions regarding how often you should use your inhaler. Overdependence on the medication released by these inhalers can lead to a severe asthma attack or even death.

Asthma provides detailed information on Asthma, Allergy Asthma, Bronchial Asthma, Exercise Induced Asthma and more. Asthma is affiliated with Food Allergies.

 

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Allergy And Asthma?

                    

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There are over fifty million Americans who suffer from allergies each year. The range of severity varies from allergies that threaten your life to seasonal ones like hay fever that may be combated with drugs purchased at the pharmacy. If allergies are seriously affecting your life, make sure you go to your doctor for a thorough check up and allergy testing.

An allergic reaction occurs when the body responds to a substance such as mold, pollen or dust which are normally deemed harmless. The immune system releases antibodies that may attack different parts of the body. It can go for the nose, the sinuses, the throat, the stomach or lungs. This attack causes symptoms such as stuffiness and itching and sneezing in the nose, and irritations in other areas such as the mouth and ears.

You may end up with tingling, red, watering eyes or conjunctivitis. Your skin can become dry and red and irritated or welts may appear. For example, asthma is an allergic reaction and the result of an attack is coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

There are many materials that may cause an allergic reaction but the ones that affect most allergy sufferers readily, are easily found like cockroaches and their feces; bee stings or other insect bites (which can be deadly); household cleaning products and any other industrial cleaners; foodstuffs such as peanut butter (which can also be fatal); and feathers, if you have a bird or if you sleep with a feather pillow.

Allergies affect all types of people no matter what sex, race or age. It can run in families. They tend to affect the youth more but a person who has had an allergy before may suffer an onslaught, years after it disappears. The allergies can gradually form through changes in the environment; through diet and stress; hormonal changes or even perfume.

The tests of a possible allergy are fairly simple. The first is a blood test, where the specific allergy is measured in relation to the level of antibodies. The other test is a patch test where, a small patch of skin is infected with a known allergy. If a rash or welt appears, then it is considered evidence of a reaction.

The treatment depends on your medical history, your age and your health. It also depends on how bad your case is, your tolerance level and your own personal preferences. Sometimes, it may just be a matter of keeping your home dust and mold free.

For food allergies, obviously, the diet must be considered. You must have an awareness of which food items affect you. There are some treatments, for example lactose intolerant people can get over the counter drugs that reduce the symptoms and allow them to eat milk products without worry.

But food allergies such as a reaction to peanuts can be fatal and must be avoided. Every meal eaten must be checked for peanuts or peanut oil. Most foodstuffs put warnings on their wrappers.

Allergies are inconvenient fact in many people?s lives but it can be managed if they are tested and have the information to avoid a reaction.

Karina Jacobsen is a staff writer at Wellness Digest and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Alternative Health Advisor

Yoga For Asthma

                    

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What is Asthma?

Asthma is an ancient Greek word that means "panting, gasping or short-drawn breath." It is one of the most discomforting of respiratory ailments, known to affect around 5% of the world?s adult population and 10% of children. Asthmatics suffer from periodic attacks of breathlessness interspersed with bouts of complete normalcy.

When normal people inhale, their air sacs fill up with air like small balloons. In exhalation they deflate expelling air. Airways are clear and open in healthy people. In asthmatics, the reverse takes place because their airways and air sacs have lost their shape and have become floppy. Their bronchi and alveoli collapse, rather than expand when air flows through them. As a result, they can inhale and exhale less.

Symptoms of Asthma

1. Dry cough
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Shortness of breath
4. Feeling of lightness in the chest
5. Wheezing (hissing or whistling sounds during exhalation.)
6. Sometimes an attack is preceded by a running nose, irritated eyes, or an itchy throat.

Two peculiarities of asthmatics:

1. Almost all patients suffer more attacks at night, in their sleep.

2. Asthmatics have more trouble exhaling than inhaling.

Causes for Asthma

Factors that precipitate an asthma attack are called triggers. They cause the air passages to get clogged and constricted, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. The inflamed bronchioles generate more mucus and also cause the muscles around them to tighten and get irritated, constricting the airways. This is called a bronchospasm.

However, asthma has a variety of causes.

1. Allergy: For most it is an allergy to foods, perfumes, scents, body sprays, deodorizers, the weather, drugs or any other irritants. They vary from person to person. However, dust allergies seem to be the most common factor.

2. Combination of Factors: For others, it is triggered off by a combination of allergic and non-allergic factors including stress and tension, air pollution or infections.

3. Abnormal Body Chemistry: Asthma may result from the abnormal body chemistry involving the body?s enzymes or a defect in muscular action within the lungs.

4. Heredity: In 75 to 100 per cent cases it has been found that when one or both parents suffer from asthma, the children have similar allergic reactions.

Yoga Therapy for Asthma

Tests carried out at Yoga Therapy Centers, across the world, have shown remarkable results in curing asthma. In some cases it has also been found that attacks can actually be averted, without the aid of drugs, just through yogic practices. There is ample research evidence to substantiate the fact that Yoga Therapy makes the treatment so much more successful. Nowadays, even allopathic and homeopathic doctors have arrived at the consensus that Yoga is an excellent alternative therapy for Asthma.

Since Yoga believes that the mind is central to a diseased condition, pacifying and placating it would, in itself, help cure the disease to a great extent. The practice of yogasanas, yogic kriyas, pranayamas, relaxation and meditation calm down the whole system. This, in turn, facilitates proper assimilation of food and strengthens the lungs, digestive and circulatory system. Over a period of time, that checks attacks and even cures the condition.

This is because Yogic practices result in more anxiety reduction than drugs do. Yoga gives patients access to their own internal experience and helps them pin-point the cause of their ailment, i.e find their own triggers. This comes through increased self-awareness. Simple Yogic practices help regulate breathing patterns, as well as enhance lung functioning. Result: Most patients are able to manage their condition by simply allaying their fears and anxieties.

Yoga also has a stabilizing effect on the body?s immune system. It is now proven that the regular and consistent practice of yoga raises the body?s tolerance to infection as well as its local resistance to infections in the respiratory tract. Yogic rest and relaxation reduce the nervous system?s overall activity, leading to remarkable recovery. Only Yoga offers resources like Abhyasa (regular, constant practice) and Vairagya (detachment) as means of holistic healing.

For best results, do all the practices prescribed in our sections on Yoga Asanas, Cleansing Techniques and Pranayama. Lay more emphasis on cleansing techniques like Jala Neti and Sutra Neti, Vaman Dhauti and pranayamas like Kapalbhati, Anuloma-Viloma, Ujjayi, Surbyabhedana and Bhramari. All yogaasanas prescribed are highly beneficial without exceptions or emphasis on any. However, Shavasana, should be practiced for as long as possible and whenever possible, lying down, sitting or standing

The practices work best on an empty stomach, but you should continue to sip water from time to time, to help keep your airways moist. Wear light, loose-fitting clothes and practice in a comfortable, well-ventilated, airy room or outdoors, with adequate room to lie down. If you experience any symptoms lying down, sit on a chair for a while and rest your head on a table, either on your folded arms or on one cheek. If you feel nauseous, anxious, or short of breath in any of the practices, stop immediately, get up and walk around. You are probably just hyperventilating and need to burn off some energy. Don't resume your practices right away. Rather give them a break for about a day or two.

Above all, tell yourself from time to time ? particularly when you get irritated or upset with yourself ? that the way you breathe now is what is making you ill. It is conditioned behavior, which can easily be altered.

Kevin Pederson, authors web content on YOGA WIZ, your online guide on yoga, fitness and wellness. He also writes on natural home cures, hair-n-skin care and many more health sites.

Asthma and Peak Flow

                    

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Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that constricts and inflames the airways. This causes excess mucus to form in the lungs and a narrowing of the airways that causes the symptoms of wheezing, shortness or breath, coughing, and tightness in the chest. A severe constriction of the airways, often caused by allergens or excessive exercise, is called an asthma attack.

One way that people with asthma can detect if they are going to have an asthma attack is by measuring their peak expiratory flow or peak flow for short. Peak flow measures how fast a person breathes out when that person tries his or her hardest. Basically, it tells a person how well his or her lungs and airways are working. This is often measured with a peak flow meter, a small analog or digital device that a person breathes into.

Peak flow assists people with asthma by telling them that an asthma attack is likely to occur. If a person's peak flow is low then the person's asthma is bothering him or her and the likelihood of an attack increases. This may be caused by triggers that increase the asthma symptoms such as pollen, cigarette smoke, or dust. A peak flow meter can help a person detect these triggers and steps can be made to remove the person from the triggers.

Measuring peak flow is also often used to access if certain asthma medications are helping a person or not. If a person's peak flow measurement is low then it may be a cue to change or increase medications to alleviate the asthma symptoms and prevent the likelihood of an asthma attack. If a peak flow is very high, then it may be possible to reduce the dosage of medications. No changes to medications should be made without the consultation of the doctor.

Asthma is a very serious disease that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. If you or someone you know has asthma, you owe it to yourself to learn all that you can about this chronic respiratory disease.


Daniel Lanicek is an life long sufferer of asthma on a mission to heighten world awareness of asthma. Over 14 million people in the United States alone suffer from asthma and there are ways you can help. Learn more about asthma at http://www.asthmaexplained.com