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.

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Fish Oil Supplements for Asthma Sufferers - How It Can Help

Worldwide, there are over 300 million persons who suffer from asthma. As we age, asthma symptoms may very likely increase and people become more susceptible to asthma triggers. Once you have asthma, it never goes away but it can still be controlled with the proper treatment. Recently, research has established that fish oil supplements could improve the symptoms of asthma in many individuals.


In respiration, airways in our bodies carry oxygen to and from our lungs. When you have asthma, it affects these airways and the airways become swollen or inflamed. With asthmatic individuals a swollen or inflamed airway become very sensitive to irritations and makes them more prone to allergic reactions and difficulty breathing.


As inflammation and swelling becomes more pronounced, less air is carried from or to the lungs. There are various symptoms that come with the swelling and inflammation which include such things as chest tightness, trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing. The symptoms usually occur more often late at night.


There are various causes of the above symptoms including allergies, stress, exercise, smoking, and colds. While having an asthma attack, the airways become blocked to the point that oxygen cannot enter the lungs. When oxygen cannot enter the lungs, it cannot enter the blood stream either. When oxygen is prevented from entering the blood stream, it cannot feed the body's vital organs. This also causes carbon dioxide to stay within the body instead of being exhaled. Keep in mind that carbon dioxide is a poison and if it cannot be exhaled it could cause death. These asthma attacks can be anywhere from mild to very severe but may require immediate medical attention and can even become fatal if untreated.


There are various ways to treat asthma. There are medications, some of which work by relaxing the bronchial tubes or by reducing the inflammation caused by asthma. They can be injected, inhaled or oral medication. There are some serious side effects like rapid heart rate, headache, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, panic attacks and/or dizziness.


Does diet have any impact on asthma? Yes, it does because there are certain foods that can improve or prevent asthma attacks. Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish, such as salmon or sardines can improve or prevent asthma attacks. Some Eskimo tribes consume a diet high in fat, particularly omega-3 fatty acids through fish in their diets. They also have an amazingly low rate of asthma in their population. This is because omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory action. This fish diet helps keep the Eskimos healthier.


A study in France showed that oral fish oil supplementation generally improved lung function. Combined with diet the fish oil supplements reduced inflammation and reduced the need for medication. This supplement also produced fewer side effects than the medications.


There are also studies involving exercise induced asthma that have shown by supplementing the athlete's diet with fish oil supplements improved their symptoms and curtailed their use of emergency inhalers by at least 64%.


There is enough research information gathered to date to show that supplementing fish oil or fish meals may be a whole new therapy for asthma sufferers.


If you have asthma please check with your primary care provider before adding this wonderful supplement to your diet.


I am sure you are concerned about your health; therefore, I suggest you visit Dietary Supplement to obtain additional information on the best fish oil supplement on the market. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

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