What Asthma Is

Usually asthmatic sufferers are frighten to get involve in strenuous activities such as exercise, they are worried that they might get an attack during the exercise activity. However, many experts believe that regular exercise in the right and proper way will bring significant advantages, physical and mental health to sufferers. The most common symptoms of asthma that usually occur during exercise is coughing, tightness, pain in the chest, and shortness of breath. When these symptoms occur, you should stop the physical activity immediately. Here are some useful tips to prevent the asthma attack during exercise activity. Firstly, choose the certain kind of exercise that really can handle well. Some great choice of exercise for asthma sufferers are walking, swimming, riding a bike, and also hiking.  These kinds of exercise needs less physical move than tennis, hockey, gymnastics, long distance running and many others. Alternatively, if you do not have an ideal of what...

As parents with children you want them to be healthy, but more and more children are getting asthma these days. Babies with asthma are especially prone to developing this condition. However, asthma can be controlled, and in some cases your child may even outgrow their susceptibility. There are many things that you can teach your children to do which will help them deal with asthma on a day to day basis. If they succeed in learning to control it, well then they will be able to do everything else their friends do without feeling like they are inferior. Asthma is defined by doctors as an illness in which the passageways to the lungs narrow drastically, restricting the airflow. Children may have a whistling sound when they exhale, and asthmatic infants may develop a cough at night. Asthma may also be more noticeable after children exercise or run around outside; they will become short of breath and find it harder to breathe normally. There are many things which can trigger ...

Clinical studies show that household dust mites allergens are the number one cause and the biggest culprit of childhood asthma. Other common allergens such as animal dander (dry dead flaking skin), mold, cockroaches, household chemicals, pollens and tobacco smoke are also main offenders. Actually speaking, asthma is not caused by allergens, the more suitable terminology word ‘trigger’ is the factor that develop asthma. So what causes asthma? It is important to understand that these allergens especially dust mites are very dangerous especially for a developing child’s health which you do not want to take for granted. Also it is important to realize that Though every home will have dust mites or some other common allergens present, no matter how clean you try to keep your house, you will never completely eliminate them.  However, how clean you keep your house will determine the amount or the populations. They thrive in humid environments, feed on dead skin and are liv...

In many, chronic asthma, being a severe condition affects the person’s lifestyle. So much so they might need special medical attention or possibly be hospitalized. A shortage of air to and from the lungs results when there’s a flare up in the airways. The lungs are in constant need of air, and without it the consequences could be fatal. The National Institute of Health classifies asthma into four types. They include mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. Those with chronic asthma are placed in the severe persistent group. The symptoms in the other three types are different than chronic asthma. Symptoms of severe asthma such as wheezing, sudden chest tightness, and breathlessness will happen daily as opposed to other types. When the bronchial tubes are close and completely blocked, the air is not able to pass through, then sometimes wheezing would not been heard. It is advisable for sufferers to take along their medication whereve...

Diagnosis of asthma is necessary to determine the appropriate treatment of asthma according to the severity of the condition. It is a very challenging process because sometimes the signs might not be clear and some disease are similar to the symptoms of asthma which makes difficult in a thorough diagnosis. The process includes family gathering and medical history, a physical examination and different test results. Prior to your visit to the doctor, observe carefully and remember when the signs and symptoms appear, whether it is morning or night. Also take notice while you are exercising or at work, what months of the year and also how severe your symptoms are and other significant details. This will assist you to answer your doctor’s questions as accurately as possible to determine the treatment accordingly. Asthma diagnosis – Spirometry: Spirometry is an important test for asthma diagnosis as it is used to check how well the lungs function. A spirometer is used to measure in...

When you have asthma, your mind will always wonder with negatives thoughts whether you can do the exercise correctly and safely. There are many things you can do to minimize the chances of an asthma attack while taking small steps to get yourself into better condition physically. First of all, understand that Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Attacks can be worsened by lots of things including dust, smoke, allergen exposure or physical exertion. One important advice is to always keep a rescue medication such as inhaler in hand. For instance if you are playing sport like soccer, basketball or football, make sure your coach has an inhaler in the medical tackle kit for easy access. It is also advisable for your parent or guardian who accompanies you to keep one as a backup measure in case the situation arises. If you have spent the night coughing or wheezing or if you have a cold and your chest fe...

Most of the people around the world use different kind of medications as you can find in the present market, for a relief from asthma attacks. Some of the people are also trying to use some natural remedies which shows slow results. It has been observed in winter and seasonal changes, many people suffer from this asthma. Some of the medication that are used to control asthma symptoms are preventers, inhalers, relievers. However you use a different kind of inhalers on your doctor’s advice. Most of the doctors also warn sufferers not use Aspirin as a remedy for asthma because the usage of pharmaceutical drug like aspirin is increasing the symptoms of asthma. Even though you can find a wide range of remedies in the present market, most of the people are interested to use relievers. These relievers will provide instant relief from asthma symptoms by soothing the muscles of breathing system. However If you are using this reliever medication more than three to four times in a week, t...

There are various types of treatments for asthma today in the market. People who suffer from the breathing disorder have quite a few options to consider. However this option is not suitable for pregnant person. Doctors can prescribe a number of medications that prove to be successful in reducing the symptoms associated with the disease. In a woman’s life, one of the most exciting times is when she is expecting a baby. During this period, the pregnant woman goes through a lot of emotional and physical changes which are unexpected and uncomfortable. A woman can have sleepless nights, become irritable and also feel sick. Breathing problems, in addition to all the other symptoms of pregnancy can really be a burden. Appropriate asthma treatments that can be administered during pregnancy can put the woman’s mind at ease. However, finding asthma treatments is not always so easy especially if you are pregnant. Asthma is quite common in every countries around the world. Anyone w...

A nebulizer is a device that vaporizes the liquid medicine which is easily inhaled into the lungs. It is a relief provider to children and adults indicating asthma symptoms or suffering from other COPD-related and respiratory problems. Similar to an inhaler, the nebulizer also delivers the medicine in vapor form directly into the ailing lungs. The inhaler depends on the patient’s ability to coordinate by taking a deep inhalation with depressing the aerosol tube to deliver a metered-dose of medication whereas the nebulizer does everything for the patient. If asthma sufferers, Thus, the asthma nebulizers are very helpful for children and adults who have problems with asthma inhalers. However, the doctor must prescribe the use of an asthma nebulizer before you can actually start the device. In this article, we will give you some easy tips on how to use an asthma nebulizer. Firstly, you should talk to your doctor the advantages and disadvantages of an asthma nebulizer. It h...

Asthma, a chronic respiratory disorder disease is very common in almost every part of this world.  A potential fatal disease that makes most affected sufferers at a great handicap. Managing asthma is the key one can adopt to come to terms with the disease.  Though there is a possibility that the disease can flare up at any time, most sufferers may feel completely well and comfortable at times.  Even though there is no known medication or vaccine to cure asthma completely, one may or should learn to gain more knowledge about the disease to create self awareness. It is a disease which has evaded cure but treatments are nonetheless available that help in alleviation and prevention of asthma. The two identifiable types of asthma are: - Extrinsic asthma and Intrinsic asthma Extrinsic asthma is caused due to allergy. The immune system response to allergens such as dust particles, pollen, or animal dander are some of the causes.  Likewise Int...

What triggers an asthma attack and the prevention is one of the question inquired by many sufferers According to research there are many factors that can trigger an attack. Some of the common ones are : Pollens and outdoor molds – These are likely to trigger an asthma attack. In order to minimize the risk, use air conditioning if possible. Pollen counts are the highest during midday and afternoon, so try to stay indoors during these times. Stay away from things such as wet leaves or other garden material that may harbor mold and keep windows closed during seasons especially in spring when pollen and molds are the highest. House dust mites – Instead of using chemicals to kill dust mites, cover the mattresses and pillows with a breathable cover. Removing carpeting from your bedroom is one of best idea. You should wash your bed covers in hot water every week and the humidity in your house should be less than 50%.. Do not use a vacuum cleaner or be in a room when it is ...

Asthma is a very common chronic disease which is increasing every year.It affects people of all age, races and ethnic backgrounds. It is a disease that is associated to the inflammation of the airways that causes airflow into and out of the lungs to become restricted. When you have asthma, your airways tend to be red and swollen and irritants such as pollen or cigarette smoke causes the inside walls of the airways to become even more swollen. The passages get narrower and less air flows through to your lung tissue.  In addition, mucus is also produced in larger than normal amounts which clogs your airways making difficult to breathe. Thus, the wheezing and inability to breathe accompany the attacks. Common asthma symptoms are the wheezing sound made as the air squeezes through the narrowed airways, along with coughing, shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Symptoms can come and go with asthma, and their intensity can vary. While asthma is ...

Persistent coughing over several weeks that is not tolerable especially at night disturbing your sleep could very well be the symptom of asthma. In fact, in about one out of every two sufferers, coughing is the main symptom. As a chronic cough usually follow cold symptoms or it may be a symptom of some other condition, it is difficult to associate it as a symptom of asthma. The best course of action is to seek your doctor to diagnose whether it is asthma or not. Asthma Or A Cough? Asthma cough is not suspected by many sufferers initially simply because the symptom could be associated with any number of other conditions. However, persistent and chronic night time cough should not be ignored and you should seek your doctor’s opinion immediately. Not Just A Child’s Disease Asthma is not just a disease affecting children, in fact adults have more than 10 percent chance of developing asthma symptoms in their lives. This is the reason why it is important to recognize a p...

Childhood can be just as stressful for a child as adulthood is for an adult. Stress often multiplied many times over in an asthmatics child. Imagine never knowing when you might suddenly be breathless. Researchers have found there is a clear link between pediatric asthma and stress. But it might surprise you to know that the link may be spiral in nature. Asthma feeding the stress, then the stress worsening the asthma which causes more stress and so on. In addition, when a child has asthma more stress is placed on the entire household. This stress is added to the burden the child is already bearing simply by having asthma. The most important first step to reduce the impact of pediatric asthma and stress on your child is to rely on your child’s asthma treatment plan. With the treatment plan on a daily basis whether there are symptoms or not, you can eventually prevent the symptoms.  When you deviate from this treatment plan just because your child has not experience ...

Asthma, a chronic life threatening condition is increasing rapidly. As there is no cure, it is important that you understand the causes and treatments and learn to live with it. Firstly, you have to distinguish the asthma triggers and what creates a susceptibility to those triggers. This article will elaborate the common causes of asthma as well as the two different types of treatment that is relievers and preventers. Knowledge about these treatments and causes of asthma can help provide a sense of control for sufferers during the acute stages. Many people confuse asthma triggers with causes however there are crucial differences. Triggers are simply the things that precipitate an asthma attack. It could be the cold air, a cold virus, exercise, tobacco smoke, or even laughter. These triggers are the things that cause an asthma attack to occur but they are not the root cause of asthma.  The easiest way to think about the difference is to remember that in the abse...

The condition of asthma in older people may have a significant effect on individuals who suffer from that problem. Looking at different perspectives, the groups are not just limited to young children but older people too who have to put up with different challenges as they deal with the condition. These older people have lived with the condition for a long time and will therefore have the means to deal with long-term treatment programs. The unique stories of asthma sufferers- Older people are trained and advised not to talk about their problems often to seek for sympathy. However that does not mean that they do not have feelings or thoughts or even perspectives, it means that they take their health seriously enough to find private solutions. As you get older the effects of the asthma will change slightly for example the coughing might turn into breathlessness. The key point is to find the right balance of treatments that will not endanger the lives of the patient. If you feel...

Is your asthma condition causing you stress? Many people who suffer from frequent asthma attack encounter high level of stress. Even when they are free from the attack, it is possible they are in the state of phobia all the time. Their mind will be in a state of perplexity to an extent of this life-threatening condition. This unnecessary stress will aggravates their asthma condition. Stress is known as a silent killer. Prolonged acute stress can break down the immune system of your body as well as the normal functions of your vital organ such as your liver and kidneys. Complication will arise when added to the asthma and breathing problems and worsen your health condition. Stress is very harmful to our bodies, both mentally and physically. One technique of stress management is that you must be able to define mentally the source of your stress such as the controllable and uncontrollable outcome. You must focus on the controllable actions and be able to accept the uncontrolla...

Acute bronchitis if not controlled and treated properly may result to chronic or asthma bronchitis.This condition is associated to the obstruction in the bronchial tube, mucus membrane and other respiratory tissues and organs. The common causes of this obstruction is irritants like pollen, dust, chemicals, strong odors and viruses. Irritants are naturally fought by the body but once the immune defense slow down, irritants can just easily invade the body causing asthma bronchitis. The respiratory organs are protected by mucus produced by the bronchial tube. The bronchial tubes, soft tissues and mucous membrane of the respiratory system are covered by cilia, a hair like structures that stops the irritants from entering the lungs. If you are exposed to irritants for a long period it will cause some damage to the cilia and mucus covering thus weakening the respiratory system’s defenses. Viruses and airborne particles are able to enter the organs easily which result to swel...

If the family has a history of asthma, the chances are of high risk. If one parent has asthma, the chances of the child developing is double but if both parents have, then the chances are 4 times higher. It is also shown that asthma is more common among boys than girls. Occasionally, the symptoms happen for no obvious reason, but there can be certain triggers that can set asthma off or make it worse. These can be due to infections such as colds, dust, smoke, fumes and chemicals, allergic reaction, medicines, animals, house dust mites or certain foods and exercise. In critical cases, the symptoms may deteriorate rapidly, the ability to speak and breathe may become difficult, the pulse may quicken and the lips may turn blue. Also the skin around the chest and neck may tighten as the child tries to breathe. The child may even complain of chest pains, as the muscles have to work promptly to maintain enough air. If an asthma attack occurs, immediately give your child their ...

This article will be very informative for everyone especially people who are suffering from asthma. There are five common factors in many households that can trigger asthma attack. Remember prevention can help to lessen its severity and not a cure. 1. Mold Mold is a common trigger for asthma attacks. Obviously mold in the walls or elsewhere in the structure of your house such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms is a serious problem. To help avoid mold growth, wash and disinfect these rooms regularly and make sure the wet laundry are hang out to dry as quickly as possible to avoid mold growth. 2. Smoke Cigarette, cigars, pipes and any other tobacco products that produce smokes are major triggers for asthma. If you are smoker, quitting will have major positive benefits on not only your asthma but your health in general. Likewise if you live with someone who is a smoker, do everything you can to convince them to quit. It will help both of you feel better. ...

There are many indicators for common asthma but these are unlikely to characterize allergic asthma. So what is allergy asthma and what are the controls and treatment for this allergy. Those that are directly affected with this type of asthma should strive for a greater understanding of its origin. The best way to handle allergy asthma is to approach and consult your medical officer. The incidence of allergy and development of asthma are triggered by both the quality of the air and the level of humidity found in a person’s home environment. Increased humidity results in the high risk of mold formation which can have detrimental effect on the health of any individual. Such excessive air moisture can cause difficulty with sleeping which may consequently lead insomnia. Firstly it is important to recognize its nature in order to understand the details of allergic asthma. The symptoms of allergy asthma is similar in many ways to any common allergy except that it exhibits a wider ...

What is your feeling when for a moment you are a normal healthy person with a full breath of air in your lungs, the next minute you are struggling for breath because of an odor of the wrong flower or pet or even perfume. Medication as prescribed is the quickest relief during this attack. But there are also other ways to control asthma. Any warm liquid or a sip of hot soup may lessen the severity of asthma attacks and quickly relieve them when they occur. Drinking about six and eight glasses of warm water or any drink, continuing even after the attack stop is well recommended.  In fact you should drink at least four to six glasses every day. The more liquids you consume the less thick your mucus will be. Warm drinks soothes in 5 to 60 minutes whereas cold liquids irritate the bronchial tubes. A cup of tea, not herbal and regular coffee will help too. The caffeine opens airways much like the inhalers used by asthmatics. The relief the caffeine brings is not as quick...

Symptoms are what the patient complains of. Signs are what the doctor detects or measures. Before further reading, it is important to know that none of the following signs and symptoms is specific to bronchial asthma. These signs and symptoms are caused by multiple other lung diseases. Examples of diseases that cause localized airway obstruction: -Lung cancer -Aspiration of a foreign body -Paralysis of a vocal cord Examples of Diseases that cause generalized airway obstruction: -Asthma -Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) -Bronchiectasis -Cystic fibrosis Symptoms of bronchial asthma: -Shortness of breath Patient is unable to breathe normally -Chest tightness Patient feels that he has no room for air in his lungs -Cough Strangely, Dry cough can be the only presenting symptom of an asthma attack, in this case it is called Cough variant asthma -Wheezes it is a whistling-like sound produced by the chest due to partial nar...

Asthma is a chronic lung disease and about 10 – 15% of the world population suffers from asthma.Asthmatics have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. The airways become irritated and narrow and constrict during an asthma attack, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of the air to and from the lungs. Most often asthma must be treated with prescription medicine. There are two main types of medicines for the treatment of asthma. Quick relief medicines, also called relievers, give rapid, short-term relief and are taken when asthma symptoms worsen potentially leading to an asthma attacks. The effects of these medicines are felt within minutes. Long-term control medicines, also called preventers, are taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to prevent asthma attacks. The full effects of these medicines are felt after taking them for a few weeks. People with persistent asthma need long-term control medicin...

Did you experienced sneeze or cough during cleaning the house, or your kids usually sneeze and have red watery eyes? Well it can be because you are allergic to the dust around you.  There can be many allergens in this dust like human dander, animal dander, waste of cockroaches and other insects. When any of these allergens comes in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to it. When you unknowingly react to these allergens, you are having an allergic reaction and can be referred to as allergic or atopic. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies are said to be allergic or “atopic.” Most of us never experience such allergy, but in some it is quite severe. Most common allergy caused in home is the dust mite allergy which is caused by a microscopic organism that lives in dust and can be found in almost all the houses and workplaces. They can be anywhere around you. You must have seen that your matt...