Asthma Attack Blog


Asthma Attack Triggers

Although in asthma the underlying airway inflammation is always there, an asthma attack can be triggered or worsened by a number of factors. There are two types of asthma attack triggers;

Allergens and Irritants

* Common asthma allergens include pollen, animals and house-dust mites.
* Common asthma irritants include cold air, cigarette smoke and chemical fumes.

An allergen is a substance that causes asthma attack symptoms by bringing about an allergic reaction. An irritant is a substance that precipitates an asthma attack by aggravating the airways.

Keeping a diary of the times and circumstances that precipitates your asthma attack or causes your asthma to worsen can help you and your doctor pinpoint exactly what your asthma triggers are. Once you have identified your asthma triggers, you can take steps to deal with them.

Friday 29 June 2012

The Main Cause of Asthma

According to the recent estimates, 300 million of people affected of asthma worldwide and more than 22 million in the United States. Although people of all ages suffer from this disease this will usually begin in childhood, currently affecting 6 million children in the United States. Asthma kills about 255,000 people worldwide each year.


Environmental Issue
Allergic reactions and asthma symptoms are often the result of air pollution inside the mold or fumes from cleaning products and paints. Other environmental factors associated with asthma are indoor nitrogen oxides from gas stoves. In fact, people who cook with gas are more likely to have symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma and hay fever. Sulfur dioxide, ozone Pollution, nitrogen oxides, cold temperatures and high humidity are all shown to trigger asthma in some people.


During periods of high air pollution there are tend to be increased of asthma symptoms and hospitalizations. Smoggy conditions releasing destructive ingredients known as ozone, which causes coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain. The same conditions emit sulfur dioxide, which also leads to asthma attacks by constriction of the airways.


Climate changes have also been known to stimulate asthma attacks. Cold air can cause respiratory congestion, bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways), secretions and decreased mucociliary clearance (another type of inefficiency of the airways). In some populations moisture can cause difficulty breathing.


Risk Factors for Children
Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children - especially children who are underweight at birth, are exposed to tobacco smoke and grew up in an environment with low income. Most children first produce symptoms about 5 years, commencing generally frequent episodes of wheezing with respiratory infections. Additional risk factors for children include having allergies, allergic skin condition eczema or relatives with asthma.


Boys that are young are more likely to develop asthma than girls, but this trend was reversed in adulthood. The researchers speculate that this is due to the small size of the airways of a young man from the airways of a young woman, leading to an increased risk of wheezing after viral infection.


Tobacco Smoking
Tobacco smoke has been linked to increased risk of asthma and an increased risk of death from asthma, wheezing and respiratory infections. In addition, children of mothers who smoke and other people exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of asthma. Teen that used to smoke has also been associated with an increased risk of asthma.


Pregnancy
When a mothers smoke during her pregnancy their children have lower lung function. This can cause additional risk of asthma. The study also showed that premature birth is a risk factor for developing asthma. Babies born by Caesarean section have a 20% increase in the prevalence of asthma compared with babies born by vaginal delivery. It is possible that the immune system, alter the exposure of bacteria during cesarean sections are responsible for this difference.


People That Are Stressed
People who are stressed have higher rates of asthma. Part of this may be explained by the increase in asthma-related behaviors such as smoking that are encouraged by stress. However, recent research has suggested that the immune system is altered by stress too.


Read more information about the main cause of asthma on my website to gain more knowledge on how to manage and control it. Get the most effective asthma tips for yourself. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

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