Herbal Asthma Treatment

Thursday, May 15, 2008

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

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Monday, May 12, 2008

Asthma: Buteyko's Theory

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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.

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Sunday, May 11, 2008

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

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Thursday, May 8, 2008

Childrens Asthma: Problems When Sleeping

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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

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Asthma: The Effect of Diet On Your Breathing Health

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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.

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Sunday, May 4, 2008

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.

 

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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Methods To Treat Asthma In Adults And Children

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Asthma is a very serious condition affecting both children and adults. The effects of an Asthma attack are disabling if your doctor doesn?t know about your condition, leaving you improperly cared for. Though treatments for Asthma are much more advanced than they were years ago, more than half a million people every year, are in need of in-patient care while nearly four thousand ultimately die. How your doctor or specialist chooses to treat your asthma is based on your age and how severe your Asthma is.

It?s possible to pass Asthma on to a child through heredity, but more likely asthma is caused by your environment. An Asthma attacks happens when allergens infiltrate your respiratory system causing your bronchiole airway to constrict which leads to over production of mucous. It?s also possible to bring on an Asthma attack by merely laughing. There are plenty of warning signs to indicate an Asthma attack is brewing.

If you have a history of Asthma or suspect you or someone you know might, watch for signs such as: Coughing (sometimes so severe it wakes you from sleep), wheezing, tightness in the chest and the feeling of not being able to catch your breath. If you experience these symptoms its imperative you seek medical attention immediately.

If you have mild or intermittent Asthma, your doctor may suggest the use of over-the-counter medication such as a bronchodilator. More severe Asthma may require the use of a prescription medication or an inhaler containing corticosteroids, as treatment. Prescription medications used to treat Asthma contain active ingredients used to decrease the inflammation in the lungs and sensitivity to allergens. A bronchodilator is prescribed and used for immediate relief of Asthma symptoms but has no long lasting effects.

It?s possible your doctor will choose to use a combination of treatments to relieve your Asthma symptoms and attacks. An ever popular and effective treatment for Asthma caused by allergies in children and adults is Immunotherapy. This method works by building antibodies in the system to the allergens that set off the attacks by exposing the Asthmatic to ever increasing doses of said allergen. Eventually, the allergy is resolved and with it, hopefully, the Asthma attacks.This article in no way should be taken as medical advice.

As with any medical condition, its important to speak with your doctor for the best course of action and prevention. If you are currently under your doctors care for Asthma, and feel your symptoms are not improving, speak with him/her about alternate forms of treatment. If short term inhalers are being used often, this is a good indication your Asthma is not effectively being controlled.

Ask your doctor about physical exercise, how much is too much and if there are certain activities you should avoid or limit. Breathing should not be a chore, tell your doctor today if you suspect that you or someoneyou love may e suffering from Asthma.


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

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Symptoms Of Asthma

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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes bronchial tubes particularly sensitive to irritants. This is characterized by breathing difficulties.

The symptoms of asthma include:

* Shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers often say they feel as though they can't catch their breath, they feel breathless or out of breath. They feel like you can't get enough air into or out of their lungs.

* A feeling of tightness in the chest. This can feel like someone is sitting on or squeezing your chest.

* Coughing. Coughing in people with asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making sleeping difficult.

* Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you inhale or exhale.

* Faster or noisy breathing

* Inflammation of the air passages, characterised by eosinophils in the airway wall

* Episodes of wheezy difficulty in breathing

* Rapid and considerable changes in airway obstruction (peak flow variation >= 20%)

* Narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and resulting increased resistance to airflow

* Symptom-free periods

* Frequent allergy occurrence

* Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to non-specific stimuli such as cold air or histamine

* Frequent nocturnal episodes and low morning peak flow values

* Significant reversibility with new steroid drugs

* Significant reversibility with drugs that resemble adrenaline, the beta2 agonists

People with asthma may have:

* Coughing or wheezing when they are near an allergen or irritant

* Asthma symptoms brought on by exercises such as running, biking, or other brisk activity, especially during cold weather

* Frequent coughing, especially at night (this is occasionally the only sign of asthma in a child)

* Wheezing when they have a cold or another illness

* Coughing or wheezing precipitated by prolonged crying or laughing

Not all people suffer all of these symptoms. Additionally, symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Symptoms can also differ in severity. For example, symptoms may be mildly annoying at times and at other times they can be serious enough to demand your immediate attention. Sometimes symptoms can be so serious to the point of being life threatening and require medical attention. Symptoms also differ in frequency. Some asthma sufferers only have symptoms once every few months, others have symptoms weekly, and while other people have daily symptoms. With proper treatment and management, however, most asthma sufferers can expect to endure minimal or no symptoms, and are able to lead normal, active lives.
William Brown writes for several health-related web sites, on health and wellness topics

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Use Of Air Purifiers For Asthma Patients

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Have you ever given any attention to your breathing? You probably haven't, because we all generally take breathing for granted. The reason is that breathing is a subconscious activity. However, this is not possible for an asthmatic patient, as breathing is highly praised every moment.

In an asthma sufferer, the lungs and air passageways are affected. Consequently, it becomes very hard for them to breathe normally or properly. There is no absolute known prescription available for this condition. However, there are certain things that can be applied to curb the symptoms of asthma. The use of an air purifier can help to cure it.

Asthma includes two key components: constriction, and inflammation, which takes place in the air passageways. Due to constriction, the airways get narrowed as the surrounding muscles begin to tighten around them. On the other hand, inflammation causes irritation in the airways. Because of inflammation, the airways get swollen up.

All of these problems lead to asthma. As a result, the sufferer finds it hard to breathe properly, and the swelling of the lungs causes an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, the sufferer begins to cough and wheeze in an effort to breathe properly. This can happen at any time and any moment, and can sometimes be severe.

Air purifiers can be very beneficial to asthma patients. There are a number of impurities in the air that can increase asthma. These air impurities include allergens like dust, pet dander, chemicals or pollen. If an asthma sufferer takes in these airborne substances, it makes it tough for them to breathe normally.

An air purifier is used to remove contaminants from indoor air. Thus, a better and cleaner environment can be created for the sufferer indoors. There will be less probability of an asthma attack due to fewer toxins in the air.

It has been proved that most air purifiers are capable of filtering 99.7 percent of all particles from indoor air. An air purifier cleans the air by drawing the air from the room into the system with the help of a fan. After that, the clean air is released back into the room.

It may be a little tough to make a proper selection between the various air purifiers available in the market. While buying an air purifier, it is important to be familiar with the working of the air purifier system. The purpose is to eliminate contaminants, harmful chemicals and odors, so you must look for an air purifier that possesses activated carbon or a UV purification system. It is also essential to get knowledge about the power of the machine and its overall effectiveness.

In conclusion, it is quite good to find a comparative table for air purifiers manufactured under different brands and compare them. This will give you the details about the various brands and models of air purifiers, and grade them on the basis of their effectiveness.

Stefan Rockhaus writes about various air purifiers topics. For more information visit Air Purifiers - Find more articles at Information Point

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Sunday, January 20, 2008

How To Identify An Allergic Asthma?

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 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.

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Tuesday, January 8, 2008

When Having Sex Triggers An Asthma Attack- You Don't Have to Live Like a Monk If You Suffer From Asthma

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Sex can be a wonderful expression of love between two people, sadly, however for some asthma sufferers all that heavy breathing can actually trigger an asthma attack by drying out the airways. Fortunately, there is a solution that will make you and your partner happy.

Exercise induced asthma is quite common and the general consensus is to avoid those activities that trigger it, but avoiding love-making can certainly put a strain on any relationship.

There are several things that you can do ensure an active love life:

Since the bedroom is often where love-making actives take place, you will need to ensure that dust mites (a major asthma trigger, which live in your bedding and rugs) are reduced as much as possible to help eliminate your asthma symptoms. (see the free Asthma Prevention Report for details)

Moist, warm air prevents the airways from becoming dry, so using a good humidifier in the bedroom/home will help those who live in a dry climate.

Next, if you are out of shape, you will need to increase your fitness level gradually by activities such as yoga, walking, cycling and swimming. Those allergic to chlorine should find a warm lake or sea to swim in. Continuous running can trigger asthma, so team sports that require short bursts of running are far better. Avoiding temperature changes is also important: cold air entering the lungs at a rapid rate will dry out the airways and cause an asthma attack. Working out in the gym is a good alternative to exercising outdoors in cold weather.

When you have strengthened your lungs through exercise and applied the simple preventative measures in the bedroom, you are much more likely to enjoy lovemaking without threat of an asthma attack.

? Susan Millar - http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com

Susan Millar is a former asthma and allergy sufferer. She is a researcher and the author of "The Dramatic Asthma Relief Report", based on extensive research from internationally respected medical publications about genuinely effective alternative treatment for asthma & allergies, which helped her to eliminate her asthma and allergies. This book has helped many other sufferers worldwide to do the same. http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com

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Monday, January 7, 2008

Asthma and Altitude

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 Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways.


During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air passages to and from the lungs.

It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.

However, fit, healthy people with well-controlled asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes provided that they ascend slowly and recognise and accept their limitations, adjusting their medicine if need be.

In freezing conditions, pressurised inhalers may not work properly. They should be warmed (e.g. in the hands) before use.

In addition, the conditions are high altitudes are often dry and cold, and these conditions tend to exacerbate and trigger asthma. People whose asthma is triggered by cold conditions might find that high altitudes are a problem, as the air temperature usually decreases at higher altitudes.

Also, climbing can be a very strenuous exercise and this may trigger exercise-induced asthma in some people.
However, people whose asthma is triggered by house-dust mites may find that their asthma improves, as the house-dust mite cannot survive at altitudes higher than 'the snow line'.

People with asthma who fly directly into a place that is at high altitude will not have time to acclimatise and may experience problems. This should be discussed with a doctor so that the altitude reached by aircraft should not pose problems for people with asthma.

The best thing to do is to discuss your trip with your doctor several weeks in advance of your departure. This will allow time to work out a personal asthma action plan for the trip. This might involve increasing your preventer treatment for several weeks before the trip to give the airways extra protection, or measuring peak flow while away to determine how altitude is affecting your lung function, or even simple things like ensuring that you have enough medication and backup medication.

Asthma and Altitude: Conclusion

It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness.

It is also possible that asthma can become worse with altitude, especially if people ascend too quickly or ignore their limitations.

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Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Asthma Treatment, Asthma Symptoms and Asthma Prevention

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More than 17 million people in the US alone suffer from asthma, a serious lung ailment, resulting in 5,000 asthma deaths a year. Asthma is an allergic inflammation of the lungs, which is generally triggered by pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, air pollution, chemicals, exercise, temperature changes or ingestion of certain foods.

During an asthma attack the walls of the lungs become inflamed and the mucus membranes fill with fluid and thick, sticky mucus making it difficult to breathe. Asthma symptoms can include a scratchy throat, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and a tight feeling in the chest. An asthma attack can be mild, moderate or severe and lasting for a few minutes, hours, or even several days.

Knowing when to get emergency help for a severe attack can save your life. If you are experiencing the following, you should seek immediate medical attention:

-your medication does not control your symptoms

-you have extreme difficulty breathing, talking and walking,

-your fingernails or lips are turning blue,

-your chest feels tight and your ribs are pulled inward as you breathe,

-your nostrils flare when you breathe

(References: Adams Francis V. The Asthma Source Book 1998; American Academy of Family Physicians)

Unfortunately, many widely prescribed asthma drugs can have serious and even fatal side effects. Salmeterol, the medication used in Advair and Serevent appeared to trigger fatal attacks in some users. Additional side effects of these drugs are: liver dysfunction and damage, increased heart rate, blood pressure, heart beat irregularities, chest pain tremor, nervousness, worsening of bronchiospasm (life-threatening), allergic reactions: skin rash, hives, swelling, bronchiospasm, and anaphylaxis (life-threatening), worsening of diabetes and lowering of potassium, potentially fatal heart complications.

For an extensive list of asthma drugs side effects please see: http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com/asthma-drug-side-effects.htm

Asthma Prevention

Doctors and researchers agree that the single most important thing that parents can do to prevent their child from developing asthma in the first place is to eliminate or significantly reduce dust mite allergens or asthma triggers in the home.

"Clinical studies have revealed that avoidance of dust mite allergens in early childhood can prevent the onset of asthma..." Michael LeNoir Md

Dust mite allergens are known to play a major role in it's development. Researchers have determined that other important allergens (after dust mites) that also need to be eliminated from the home are cats, certain types of mold, dogs, cockroaches and tobacco smoke. It is a popular misconception that children will "outgrow" asthma. It is a severe and potentially life-threatening illness that should be taken seriously. Long term use of steroid drugs is not recommended by doctors and has serious side effects. Making these preventative environmental changes is a much more viable, healthy and preferable alternative. If you or your child are already suffering from asthma or allergies these measures will certainly help.

Asthma Treatment

Susan Millar is a researcher and ex-asthma and allergy sufferer, providing people suffering from asthma with free asthma prevention resources. To download your free Asthma Prevention Report in pdf format, please visit: http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com/asthma-prevention.htm Please visit her website and blogs for more asthma information: http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com/

Asthma Treatment

Asthma Symptom

Allergy Asthma

Asthma

Susan Millar is a researcher and ex-asthma and allergy sufferer, providing people suffering from asthma with free asthma prevention resources. To download your free Asthma Prevention Report in pdf format, please visit:http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com/asthma-prevention.htm Please visit her website and blogs for more asthma information:

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Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Beating asthma in your home

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>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

Asthma is the most widespread chronic health problem in Australia affecting one in four children, one in seven teenagers, one in ten adults, hospitalising more children than any other illness and resulting in 15 deaths a week in Australia.

Allergic reactions such as those associated with asthma are caused by a reaction to allergens. Some of the worst allergens for asthma are- * dust mites * cat allergens (microscopic flakes of cat skin) * mould growth from condensation

Research shows that in homes where allergens are reduced asthma symptoms often improve and the chances of infants becoming allergic and developing asthma are less.

The information in this article is to show that you can minimise the effects and impact of allergens in your home specifically, to maintain a healthier lifestyle. We will look specifically at floor finishes and heating. Keep in mind that other factors which cam help keep your home healthier include minimising toxins from products like melamine, carpet and paints.

An energy efficient home is a healthier home also. However the most significant area of conflict between healthy and energy efficient homes is the requirement in energy efficient homes to 'seal the building up' to prevent warm/heated air from escaping and cold air from entering your home (or vice versa). This can be addressed through a suitable ventilation system, however th etopic deserves more discussion on its own.

Beating asthma in your home Designing and maintaining a low allergen home will help beat asthma. Minimise dust flow and allow for easy dust removal will help reduce dust mite breeding areas. Two areas that can be addressed straight away in your home to make it a healthier place include floor finishes and type of heating.

Floor finishes: Smooth, hard floor finishes are preferred over carpets. Mites cannot breed on timber, cork or linoleum floors. Hard floors are also much easier to keep clear of dust and other allergens.

Regular cleaning of your floors is important. The aim is to remove allergen material without putting it into the air. This can be achieved by using a damp cloth to clean surfaces.

Steam cleaning of carpets temporarily removes surface allergens. Regular steam cleaning is required, as regular vacuuming removes dust but not the live mites. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has an effective filtration system to keep allergens out of the air. A built-in ducted vacuum system is preferable, since it doesn't redistribute dust around the room.

If carpet is your preferred floor covering then choose a short pile with synthetic fibre and a rubber underlay.

Heating Asthma Tasmania recommends electric heating as the best choice for asthma sufferers. Electric heaters do not need oxygen to operate (even wood and gas heaters, which are filtered, burn oxygen). Electric heaters don't create extra moisture in the air, therefore helping prevent mould growth.

Wood heaters release tiny particles into the air both inside and out, which are known causes of respiratory problems. They are so minute that they can lodge within the respiratory system and remain there for life. If you are sensitive to dry air, choose an electric heating model which does not distribute heat by using a fan.

Fan heaters have a tendency to dry out the air and they can move dust around a room. There are plenty of models and styles to choose which don't blow air around, for example Panel Heaters, Radiant Heaters, Heat banks, Radiant Ceiling Heating, Under Carper Heating, Off Peak Storage Banks or Under-floor Heating.

Some heat pump models and most ducted electric heating systems are fitted with fitters to trap dust. These filters should be changed as recommended by the manufacturer to eliminate dust problems.

Generally radiant, natural convection electric or slab heating is preferred -- it doesn't consume room oxygen or generate moist combustion fumes, and doesn't use fans, which can circulate dust and dry the air.

Next time we will look at how to address furinishings and ventilation to keep your home healthy.

Libe Chacos is a licensed builder and Director of Sunrise Homes Tasmania. Libe's passion is to build energy efficient and healthy homes and let people know how to make their home a better place to live in. Visit http://www.sunrisehomes.net.au for more info

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Saturday, November 3, 2007

Breath is Life--Fight Asthma! (Posted in getmedix.com)

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Breath is Life--Fight Asthma! (Posted in getmedix.com) Asthma- has become a significantly common disease that everybody must have heard of somewhere, sometime! The highest ratio rests with Australia, who has in fact, around two million Australians have asthma; that is about 10% of the population. It's so common! Yet, unless one knows some facts and have studied it or had it explained by a doctor, one wonder what asthma actually is. Have you ever been felt breathless while, gasping for breath? It's difficult for anyone to understand what an asthma attack feels like, but truly, it is too much scary! For anyone who has never had an asthma attack, it is very hard to understand what it feels like. The small air sacs and airways of the lungs become irritated. Thus, they swell and can fill with mucous. This leaves less space in the airways for air to move through and it becomes hard to get enough air into the lungs. This results in chest pain and an overwhelming desire to breathe rapidly which actually worsens the situation. Asthma is a life threatening disease and should be taken seriously. Even a mild asthma attack can be very serious. A mild asthma attack can develop into a more serious attack or it might exhaust the patient so much such that a mild attack can become fatal. In general, asthma is caused by an irritation of the airways. Some common irritants of Asthma are: § Dust § Pollen § Tobacco § Allergens § Hay fever § Viral infections § Animal hair § Temperature changes § Heavy Exercise

However there is no cure for the asthma disease, but clearly the disease is manageable. Medication is available to prevent attacks and relieve the symptoms. There is no single cause and no single answer. Attacks can be minimised by avoiding known triggers as much as possible and by leading a generally healthy lifestyle, including fresh foods and exercise.

Cathrine is an associated editor to the website www.getmedix.com. Getmedix is committed to provide visitors with complete information on Health Care, men's health, sexual health, and online prescription drugs like .....by latest news, http://www.getmedix.com/diet_pills/, personal views, and articles on related topics. Your feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at email Cathniz@gmail.com

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Uncovering The Relationship Between Asthma And Allergies

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You often hear the terms "asthma" and "allergies" lumped together. But do you know why?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition, characterized by difficulty in breathing due to extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of air to and from the lungs. Common early warning signs of asthma include fatigue, coughing (especially at night), wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, runny nose, and itchy throat.

Allergies, on the other hand, are immune system reactions to things that most people would experience as harmless. Certain foods, dust, pollen ... these are allergens that can trigger an allergy attack. When they're encountered, the body's immune system produces IgE antibodies to fight the allergen. These antibodies create the release of chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which (histamine) affects the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and skin, causing the allergy's symptoms.

So now that we have a better picture of how these two health conditions function, the question becomes ... is there a relationship between allergies and asthma?

It's true that those with certain allergies (usually allergies that affect the nose and eyes, such as dust mites, animal dander, mold or pollen) are more likely to develop asthma than say ... those without allergies or those with allergies in other classifications, such as food allergies. But it's also true that many of those with allergies never develop asthma at all.

In addition, there are other factors that can contribute to a person's asthma. Unmonitored exercise, for example. Or other illnesses, such as colds or the flu.

Scientists aren't sure what lies at the root cause of asthma. Various studies are looking at a variety of factors, including air pollution, obesity, and as strange as it might sound, even the lack of exposure to viruses and bacteria in childhood (which may prevent the immune system from growing stronger).

What we do know is that exposure to indoor allergens, pollen, animal dander, grass ... in other words, allergy-related factors, are often found in asthmatics. Often, but not always. And it also appears that asthma tends to run in families. If both parents have asthma, there's actually a 40% probability their children will develop the disease as well.

Current research efforts have been exploring the influence of environmental factors, genetics (as mentioned above), and even stress on asthma. This creates the potential to dramatically reduce a person's asthma severity levels by altering his or her exposure to the aggravating factors. This can be particularly successful when the culprit is something that's relatively easy to control. Dust, for instance. Or something only encountered in a work environment. Or, though it's certainly much more difficult because of the emotional component, a family pet.

Unfortunately, the most common allergy that appears to have a direct influence on asthma is an allergy to dust mites. Eliminating these mites to the extent that it might make a difference in the severity of your asthma requires a major change in lifestyle and can often be quite expensive. That doesn't mean it can't be done, only that it's not as easy as simply staying indoors during the pollen season or switching to a less stressful job.

Of course, new treatments are coming along all the time, and considerable research is currently dedicated to finding ways to modify, abolish or diminish the affect allergies have on the body. It's believed that with the successful control of allergies can come the successful control of asthma, particularly in younger sufferers.

In the meantime, here's what we know ... asthma can be triggered by allergic reactions, but it can also be triggered by nonallergic reactions. Most asthma attacks result from exposure to allergens such as pollen, household dust, and mold. These attacks can be influenced by indoor or outdoor environments. Because a majority of asthma sufferers are affected by some form of allergies, it's worth the effor to work closely with your doctor to try to identify and control all potential allergens within your influence.

David Silva is the webmaster of Asthma Insights, a website dedicated to the comprehensive exploration of asthma, its triggers, its symptoms and asthma management.http://asthmainsights.com

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Friday, September 7, 2007

Cleaning for Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

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>>  INSTANTLY PREVENT YOUR ASTHMA CLICK HERE <<

 

My daughter recently had a bout with asthma. The strange
thing is, she hadn't had any problems for a couple of
years. In looking at the possible triggers - She had a new
batch of puppies at her dad's. While the 2 dogs didn't seem
to bother her, the addional puppies seemed to put her over
the edge.

To make matters worse, since we hadn't had problems for a
couple of years, I had become lax in some of the cleaning
that I would have done when she had problems every year.

Once I realized what her problem was, I immediately started
cleaning for asthma. That means thoroughly vacuuming walls,
behind furniture, matresses, pillows, upholstery, screens,
and vents, and dusting every crevice- including things like
behind the tv and stereo inside the cabinet, the backs of
furniture.

I normally dust the ceiling fans and blinds, but if you
kinda skip those, you need to pay more attention if you
have any allergies or asthma in your home.

A quick carpet clean and changing air filters and furnace
filters finishes up the cleaning job.

You also want to change your hand towels everyday, just in case it's a virus triggering the response.

If you have pets, keep them clean and brushed, and their living areas cleaned. Keep pets out of the bedrooms of affected people.

The things that typically trigger asthma is actually pretty long-

House dust mites found in carpeting, mattresses, bed linens,
toys, upholstered furniture, dampness, poor ventilation,
unvented cooking, humidifiers

Animal-derived allergens from dogs, cats, rodents, and birds.

Mold found in carpeting, walls, and windows, caused by leaks, poor ventialtion, water damage, or dampness.

Nitrogen oxides produced by space heaters or gas-fueled
cooking stove, used with poor ventilation.

Wood Smoke from wood stoves or fireplaces, used with
poor ventilation, or faulty equipment causing fumes to
come back into the room.

Fumes from cleaners, aerosols- like hairsprays, perfumes
and even air fresheners, pesticides, formaldehyde found in
some older household products.

Viral respiratory infections - exposure to infected people

Endotoxins from bacteria growing in soil, humidifiers, and
other moist places.

Cockroach allergen

Tobacco smoke

Excess weight.

If there is one thing you can do to minimize allergy or
asthma suffering- it is to become a vacuuming fanatic. The
more you get into that bag, the less you have floating
around in the air. It's healthier, and you'll have less
dusting to do in the long run.


Carole is the author of Secret Confessions of a Clean
Freak. If you Love a really clean home, but Hate cleaning
it, you'll want your own copy of the secrets. Click on the
link to get it now-http://ThinAttitude.CommonSenseLiving.com
 

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