Herbal Asthma Treatment

Monday, May 12, 2008

Asthma: Buteyko's Theory

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

Buteyko's Theory basically says that due to deep respiration an excessive amount of CO2 is removed from the body, resulting in a change in chemical balance which is only partially neutralized by compensatory mechanisms.

Over a period of time the loss of CO2 becomes increasingly disruptive to the functioning of the body. All physical and chemical processes are affected.

The loss of CO2, because of release from the lungs at a rate faster than its creation in the tissues leads to an increase in pH. Generally a state of oxygen deficiency also occurs due to reduction of the Bohr effect.[Less oxygen is taken from the RBC ferry.]

This oxygen shortage will cause an increase in the amount of incompletely oxidized 'products of metabolism' which act chemically to lower the pH. [Metabolic acidosis] This effect will not quite cancel out the increased pH from the CO2 loss, and the efficiency of all normal systems will be reduced.

One category of 'disease' caused by this problem may be classified as 'defense mechanisms', where the action is to reduce further CO2 loss [Asthma, emphysema, etc].

The other category are the 'diseases' which occur as a result of the changed pH and compensatory mechanisms. These include disruption of formation of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins; Disruption of the energy production efficiency [decreased ATP formation]; and a disruption in the efficiency of the processes of formation of CO2.

According to Buteyko, normalization of the breathing will not only avoid the existence of diseases of defense , but will also result in removal of the diseases occurring due to the change of function of the body caused by the excess removal of CO2. Treating the symptoms of these diseases without addressing the cause will result in eventual worsening of the problem.

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.

Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, May 9, 2008

Facing Asthma With Asthma Exercise

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

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.

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Childrens Asthma: Problems When Sleeping

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

The majority of children have some difficulty during the night. To wake a couple of hours after going to sleep with a nasty cough is common. As is snoring, bed-wetting, and restless sleeping [thrashing about and waking often].

There is a simple explanation, and a direct solution. Remember the simple lesson of the mouse and the elephant. The only way to cause asthma is by breathing like a big ......elephant. One of the easiest ways to breath like an elephant is to sleep on your back. In this position there is no resistance to huge deep breaths. Turning on your side makes it physically more difficult to breathe so deeply ? your body pushes down on your lungs more.

The other problem with being asleep is that your mouth will usually open this allows us to breathe even more deeply. On top of this our breathing gets deeper as our sleep gets deeper. When we are in our deepest sleep, our breathing is at its deepest ? very deep indeed if we are on lying on our backs with our mouths open! Too deep.

This elephantine breathing cause loss of more CO2 than we produce, the level gets dangerously low, and various defenses including spasm of smooth muscle and increased mucus production kick into gear. So your child starts coughing, snoring or wheezing, or the constriction of the smooth muscle around the bladder causes it to feel very full and bed wetting occurs. [Snoring is just your throat closing a little to try to stop you breathing like an elephant.]

The answer to this is to keep your mouth closed when you are asleep. The Manual contains a full section on this, but in brief, use surgical tape to keep your childs mouth closed. Do this only on children over 5 years. It has been used on younger children, and the reason I suggest this age is to ensure that the child has the ability to pull the tape off him if needed.

Before you write this idea off as absurd and dangerous listen to the instructions. The goal is to have just enough sticking power on the tape for it to stay on, and keep the lips together.

The tape recommended is called surgical or paper tape about 1 inch wide, available from a pharmacist. Tear off a strip about 2 inches [5 cms].

Fold a small tab on each end, so that it is easy to grip. Then repeatedly put the tape onto your palm and tear it off. Do this until it is hardly sticky at all.

It does not need much power to keep your lips together. Ensure your mouth is closed, as you can breathe through this tape, and gently place in lengthways along your lips. I suggest you do this on yourself first to show your child that you are also doing it. [It will greatly improve your sleep quality if you actually wear it in bed.]

Have a practice during the day with the tape so there is less if any drama at bedtime. Check on the child around 3.30 am to check he has not pulled it off. Re-apply it if necessary.

If it is off and you do not re-apply it, then your child will have no protection during the deepest sleep/breathing period, and will start the next day dealing with the results of huge elephant breathing. This may be asthma, bedwetting or just plain tiredness. As with the breathing drills, this is as important as brushing your teeth!

The most common concern with this is that your nose will block up will your mouth is taped closed and you will suffocate. Fortunately, the effect of CO2 on your nose makes this impossible. The more blocked your nose becomes, the more CO2 you will trap in. The extra CO2 will cause your nose to unblock. So your nose will not block completely unless you open your mouth. It may whistle a bit, but cannot close up completely.

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

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Asthma: The Effect of Diet On Your Breathing Health

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

The key point to remember here is that everything you eat will make you breathe more deeply. Some foods will make you breathe more than other foods. Plus there is some individual variation in how much people respond do different foods.

With this issue please realize that you will need to eat something to stay alive. As all foods increase your breathing depth [because of the digestive process], your breathing is going to be affected, there is no avoiding it. The strategy is simply when your breathing is poor, and you are having symptoms, eat as little as possible and eat the foods that have least effect on your breathing.

Remember that the problem is to do with your breathing, that is where the most important focus of your recovery should be. It is your shallow breathing practice that is more important than anything else, including diet.

The foods which tend to increase breathing the most are animal proteins, animal fats and refined sugars. This includes chicken, beef and other meats, and milk products. Plant proteins and fats are less harmful. Nuts, beans, berries and other fruits can have strong impact on some individuals breathing.

The rule is to reduce animal protein as much as possible, and observe your breathing after eating. Always reduce your breathing after food to reduce the impact of the food. Once your breathing has been conditioned to maintain a higher CO2 level, you will be less affected by what you eat.

Until then, minimise or stop your meat intake, along with all dairy foods. [Note: Soy milk is very high in protein, and only slightly less harmful than animal milk in breathing terms.]

Another notable food that increases your breathing very strongly is alcohol. If you have symptoms of asthma do not drink alcohol. If you doubt this, simply measure your pause before a few drinks, then measure it afterwards.

Major Rule of Food

If you are not hungry, do not eat. If you do not feel hunger, your body is not ready for food, and will not digest it efficiently. If you are not sure if your are hungry, wait for a while.

During the first week of training your breathing, especially if you have symptoms, follow this rule rigidly. If you do not eat for several days, fine. Wait until you are hungry.

The less you eat, the faster your breathing will improve.

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.

Labels: , , , , ,

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Asthma Inhalers

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

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.

 

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, May 2, 2008

Asthma Symptoms

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

Are you suffering from shortness of breath? Do you pant after a minimal amount of exercise? Do you experience a tight feeling in the chest every so often? Do you cough or wheeze after crying or laughing? If so, you are probably an asthmatic person. The above are some of the symptoms that asthmatic people suffer. These symptoms are triggered because the bronchial tubes are inflamed and irritated, causing them to contract. This narrows the air passages and disrupts breathing.

Asthma symptoms are experienced in varying degrees. Some may experience mild symptoms, while some may have life-threatening conditions. You can suffer from asthma symptoms once every few months, every week or even every day. Mostly, these symptoms are caused by changes in the airways. Different irritants, such as pollen, dust, extreme weather and tiredness, can be considered culprits.

The Importance of Learning about Asthma Symptoms

Asthma is a disease that can be life threatening. It is vital that, as an asthmatic person, you know how to recognize asthma symptoms so you can take the necessary preventive measures before your condition worsens. To alleviate your symptoms, you can take medication or vitamins. You can also try homeopathy, acupuncture and meditation.

Because symptoms vary from person to person, you should at least be familiar with the most common symptoms. Coughing is usually one. Do you have a cough that is worse in the early morning or at night? Do you wheeze a lot? A tight feeling in your chest, panting or shortness of breath may also point to asthma. Watch out for frequent allergies as well.

You should always be alert when it comes to identifying asthma symptoms. Information regarding asthma is readily available. Libraries, and even the Internet, abound with helpful readings about asthma and what one should do to relieve its symptoms.

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

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Allergies - Living With Asthma

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

More and more children in developed countries suffer from asthma. In fact many doctors consider asthma to be a new epidemic. More than 10 million Americans suffer from asthma and most of them blame the condition on worsening environmental pollution and increased exposure to toxic chemicals in the air. Deaths from asthma continue to rise at an alarming rate largely because many people do not recognize the warning signs in time.

Asthma is a condition that causes the lung airways to swell, secrete thick mucus and eventually spasm. The swelling narrows the airways and makes breathing difficult and sometimes impossible. The first asthma attack can include wheezing (a sign that the airways are already constricted), congestion or pain in the chest, shortness of breath, dryness of mouth, coughing and a feverish feeling.

Almost anything can cause asthma. The most common triggers are an allergy, respiratory infection, emotional stress, strenuous exercise, or nutritional deficiency. Allergies tend to be the most common trigger off them all. Most asthma attacks follow exposure to environmental allergens like pesticides, pollen, cigarette smoke, natural gas odors and car exhaust. Foods that most likely trigger asthma are chocolate, peanuts, corn and dairy products. Waxes, artificial smoke, emulsifiers, thickeners, sulfites and artificial sweeteners in food are also more subtle asthma triggers. Asthma is also prompted by taking tranquilizers, hormones, or antibiotics.

You can take a number of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements to help treat asthma. Vitamin B complex is probably the most important supplement to take. It is necessary for maintaining biochemical balance in the body and can reduce the frequency and severity of an asthma attack. Vitamins A and E worked together to protect lungs against air pollution. A large dose of vitamin C, preferably 500 mg three times daily, is effective in preventing exercise-induced asthma attacks. Gingko biloba enhances breathing and lessens sensitive bronchial reactivity. 400 mg of magnesium taken daily helps the lung muscles relax. Omega-3 can improve breathing, while selenium protects against free radical damage inside the lungs. Odorless garlic is a strong anti-inflammatory agent that can reduce the possibility of an attack. And Indian herb called tylophora asthmatica is frequently used in Ayurvedic medicine that blocks the release of histamines and other inflammatories. Licorice root taken three times a day also loosens phlegm once an attack has begun.

If you suspect that you have asthma, go to your physician and asked to be tested for food and environmental allergies as soon as possible. Avoid allergens known to trigger asthma attacks and eat a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that includes plenty of vegetables and fresh fruits. Try to avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners and other refined carbohydrates. Try to eat five or six small meals throughout the day rather than three traditional large meals. Make sure you warm up slowly before beginning all physical exercise. Minimize stress and avoid situations that trigger emotional disturbance. Use aspirin sparingly if you must. It would even be better if you would eliminate aspirin entirely from your regular medication because aspirin has been shown to trigger asthma attacks. Your physician will prescribe a bronchodilator that you can bring around in case you have a sudden asthma attack. If you don't have it with you while you have an attack, drink two cups of coffee quickly. Coffee acts in the same way and usually provides enough protection for you to go to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Allergies

Labels: , , , , ,

Sunday, January 20, 2008

How To Identify An Allergic Asthma?

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

 An allergic asthma. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung airways. It's symptoms are made worse by exposure to an allergen (e.g., dust, mold, pollen, dust mite allergens and animal dander) to which the patient has been sensitized.

A simple sneeze could trigger allergic asthma or a simple cough could lead to that as well.

What are the symptoms of allergic asthma?

The symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. They include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness. These symptoms are often provoked by an identifiable trigger.

What factors can cause or trigger allergic asthma?

A family history of allergies is the most important predictor of whether a person will develop asthma. Environmental substances (allergens) can trigger an exacerbation - or attack - in patients with allergic asthma.

The allergens include tree, grass, and weed pollen, plus molds, animal dander, dust mites and cockroach droppings. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by viral infections, exercise, cold air and non-specific irritants.

How many people suffer from allergic asthma?

Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, of the 17 million asthma sufferers in the United States, 10 million (approximately 60 percent) have allergic asthma. Three million are children and 7 million are adults.

What is the relationship between allergies and allergic asthma?

Most people with asthma also suffer from other allergic disorders. In fact, research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that at least 70 percent of asthmatics also suffer from allergic rhinitis or "hay fever."

Nasal allergies and allergic asthma are both triggered by exposure to allergens, initiating a series of events that result in tightening of the airways, swelling of the lining of the airways, nose and eyes, and mucus production.

What is IgE and why is it important in allergic asthma?

IgE (Immunoglobulin E) is an antibody in the human immune system that plays a critical role in the allergic process.

When an individual is sensitized to an allergen, he or she produces an IgE antibody directed against that allergen. The IgE antibody attaches to mast cells.

When the individual is exposed to that same allergen again, the allergen binds to the IgE on the mast cell causing it to release substances such as histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.

What treatments are available for people suffering from allergic asthma?

It is important for people with asthma to seek treatment. First, patients are evaluated to identify their specific allergic triggers and a program of allergen avoidance is recommended.

Asthma is treated with medications including anti-inflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes that decrease inflammation in the lungs, and bronchodilators used for relief of symptoms.

Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a program of injections that reduces allergic sensitization.

A new drug currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), known as anti-IgE, concentrates on short-circuiting the allergic reaction in the body before it even begins.

Anti-IgE therapy stops the allergic reaction before it starts, allowing the patient to avoid allergy symptoms that often trigger an asthma attack or lead to the development of asthma attacks.

Researchers are looking for targets for new forms of treatment. Future therapies may focus on cytokines, substances that maintain the chronic inflammation responsible for asthma.

Other research may also lead to the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs, which may retain the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids but cause fewer systemic side effects.

As the more and more developing countries are emerging, more and more air pollution is arising, whether asthma or allergic asthma, the number of people having is rising.

They could have acquired this chronic illness rather than having it genetically as the environment is getting more and more dirtier.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Air Purifiers And Air Filters Can Help The Health Of Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

Air Purifiers And Air Filters Can Help The Health Of Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

Indoor air pollution in the form of dander, dust and pollen particulate matter can be a real irritant for suffers of asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. In addition to removal of all direct irritant sources and minimizing the irritant containment materials in your house, you should also consider the indoor ventilation and filtration system of home.

Environmental control is the key to reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens. Keeping a clean house free of dust, dander, smoke, pollen, and other airborne particulate matters will help to reduce the irritation and effect on family members with respiratory difficulties. Air cleaners, filters and hepa filters can play a role in helping to control or reduce the exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens.

Several health authorities have recognized that certain types of air filtration systems can be beneficial in reducing the amount of airborne particulates in a room. The American lung association recommends using a hepa air filter purifier for the bedrooms of asthma suffers. The Mayo clinic recommends an air particle filter for household ventilation systems. Ionic filters and hepa filters have been endorsed or recognized by the Asthma and allergy foundation of America (AAFA) and the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

Selecting the wrong type of filtration system could exacerbate the problem by agitating and circulating the existing particulate matter throughout your house, so it is important to do your research thoroughly. Ionic air filters do not create high airflow patterns to clean the air and simply rely on negative ion attraction to collect the airborne particulate matter. They have demonstrates to have decent capture rate of airborne allergens and irritants like pollen, dander, tobacco smoke and dust and can help improve the quality of your indoor air environment. You can read more the ionic air filtration process at: http://www.air-purifiers-review.com/ionic-air-cleaner.htm.

Air filtration systems should not be considered as a solution for any respiratory condition, nor as a reason to ignore sound medical advice and guidance about the removal of irritant sources and allergen habitats from your household. They are also not a substitute for thorough and regular cleaning of your household environment. Selecting the right air purifier system can help complement and enhance your efforts to reducing airborne particulate matters, as well as maintain a healthier indoor breathing environment. S.A. Smith is a freelance editor, writer, and contributor to the Air Purifiers Review resource site, and can be reached at http://www.air-purifiers-review.com

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, September 14, 2007

Twelve ways to avoid asthma while loving your pet.

Breath FREE and Enjoy and Active Life Without DRUGS CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE

                    

>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

Any asthma sufferer allergic to their pet would improve their condition if they found another home for the animal. Yet many cannot face going through with this and decide to keep the pet and suffer. However, you can take steps to make living with your pet easier.

Any asthma sufferer allergic to their pet would improve their condition if they found another home for the animal. Yet many cannot face going through with this and decide to keep the pet and suffer. However, you can take steps to make living with your pet easier.

Firstly, understand that a shorthaired animal can trigger asthma as easily as a longhaired animal. The problem is not hair. Animal saliva, sweat, urine and dander (flakes of dead skin) can act as powerful allergens. Petting, grooming or vacuuming can stir the allergen into the air leaving it to float through the air for hours.

If you cannot bear to part from your pet try these measures:

1. Decide which areas of the house will become your exclusion zones. I recommend you never allow your pet into at least two rooms, the bedroom and lounge. You may want to add other rooms to the list. If your pet once slept in those rooms, wash as much of the bedding or upholstery as possible and consider buying a new mattress and duvet. Keep the animals bed in another room, perhaps a utility room or lobby. For a cat, sprinkle some catnip there to make the area seem more attractive.

2. Make sure anyone handling your pet washes their hands before touching the asthmatic person or entering the pet-free rooms.

3. Keep the pet outdoors as much as possible. You could build it a shed or out-house and make it as warm and comfortable as you can. Feed the pet there sometimes so that it feels at home.

4. If you allow your pet into the house consider replacing allergen friendly surfaces. Furniture should be made of wood or have leather or vinyl covers. Carpets should be replaced with cork tiles, vinyl flooring or linoleum. Another option is to polish the floorboards.

5. Regularly air the house and keep some windows ajar when the cat or allergic person is in the home. You could get an HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrester) air filter to keep the air throughout your home as pure as possible, but it will only remove airborne allergens, not those left on furniture and carpets.

6. If your home uses forced-air heating seal up the air ducts and use portable room heaters instead. This will prevent the allergen entering the pet-free rooms.

7. Do not use fans or fan heaters. These will blow allergens that settle on carpets and furniture up into the air. Research has shown that some pet allergens can take up to six hours to settle once they are disturbed.

8. When you clean the house use an anti-allergy vacuum cleaner that filters and keeps allergens. If you need to purchase one check that the vacuum cleaner can filter out the allergens.

9. Frequently wash dogs with lukewarm water and shampoo. Ideally get a non-asthmatic to do this. For cats gently wipe the fur with a damp cloth or use a shower. Unfortunately, while these methods will take a lot of allergen off the cat they will not remove all of it. Some research has found that totally immersing the cat in water will remove most allergens, so you could try that if you dont mind all the scratches it will probably earn you!

10. A non-asthma sufferer should also brush the pet regularly outside the house.

11. Clean out pet cages and litter boxes outside the home. If possible get a non-asthmatic to do this job too.

12. If your pet is a tomcat get him neutered. The male of the species produces most allergen, but the amount declines after neutering. Cats vary greatly in the amount of allergen they produce. If you have more than one, keep each cat in the house for a while to find out which one is least allergenic.

If your asthma is severe and triggered by pet allergens the best advice is to find a new home for the animal. However if your asthma is fairly mild and you cannot bear to be parted from this member of your family, try some of the above measures and you may be able to avoid asthma while loving your pet.


David Kane is the author of 101 Top Tips for Asthma Relief and has produced a number of resources to help asthma sufferers monitor and control their condition.
Find these at http://www.asthma-relieftips.com

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,