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.

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Asthma Action Plan: Choosing the Right Diet

Each time asthma action plan is mentioned, most people think about the type of diet that can help them minimize asthma episodes and allow them to have a regular breathing pattern. It is expected for people to correlate asthma action plans and diets because many doctors say that most asthma episodes occur when people do not eat the right types of foods. Thus, many medical practitioners believe that in order to have better outcome, people with asthma must have a diet comprised of the right kinds of foods so that their condition will be under control and they will feel better.


Most asthma action plans fail to work because people will tend to feel they are being deprived from eating what they want and so they just give up and not continue with the asthma action plan laid out to them by their physicians. This reaction is normal but asthma diets usually work by minimizing asthma episodes so perhaps it will be worth to try it out and make it work. There is an asthma diet plan out there that will suit you and make you feel better.


Asthma often stops you from doing all your daily activities that you wish to do but it is still possible to for you to participate in activities that you love if you find the right asthma diet plan. Try something that will allow you to eat fine and healthy food and at the same time will ease the pain you feel from asthma episodes. Take it as a challenge that you can finish successfully.


Asthma diet plans seem the best thing to do if you wish to counter asthma but before having one, it might be wise to think about the things that actually causes your asthma. Perhaps it is caused by the types of food you eat or some medications you have taken. One may develop allergic reactions from food but it will not be a problem if your immune system is strong enough to defend you from asthma attacks.


Don't just start an asthma diet plan, you need to stick with it and make it work because it is the best way for you to achieve a healthy body and a healthy life. It is not easy to survive an asthma action plan but the outcome will greatly affect your life as well as your lifestyle so it must be worth the try.


I write a lot of detailed information about Asthma Action Plan and how to have a proper Asthma Diet Plan for you to help in treating your asthma condition. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Can Your Asthma Diet Cause You Asthma?

Every asthmatic person knows how difficult it is to keep up with the strict asthma diet because it simply does not allow you to eat all the fatty processed foods that are not only easy to cook but delicious to eat too. Well, since asthma is a respiratory disease, it is important for asthmatic people and their families to understand its possible triggers that could lead to the swelling of the person's airways causing them to have difficulty breathing. The food that people who have been diagnosed with asthma should be well picked and chosen to ensure that they are healthy and that they will not trigger an asthma attack.


There is no denying that a person's choice of food and drinks speak so much of the kind of lifestyle that they are living. Sadly, those who choose to eat foods that are rich in fat and cholesterol are those who are likely to develop asthma and other respiratory disease or even a heart problem. A person's diet plays a big role in his survival. In an environment where anything can happen, if a person wants to be healthy and live a normal life for a long time, it is important that he eats all the right kinds of foods. An asthmatic person's diet includes all the healthy and nutritious foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.


Did you know that asthma as a respiratory disease is actually a product of the body's allergic reactions to the food intake of the person of the environment he is exposed to? Sadly, unlike other diseases, asthma can lead to the development of more small and big health problems that pile up as a person gets older. What kinds of foods do you eat? Are you allergic to any food or drink? If you do not have an idea of the foods that you may be allergic to, it could cause a lot of trouble for asthmatic people because the moment that they eat foods that they are allergic to, they experience difficulty in breathing and the problem could elevate to something that could be worse or perhaps even fatal.


How much of the food that you are eating is healthy? You might have a hard time answering this just like everybody else because you know that you are not eating as much vegetables or fruits and that all you have been eating are processed foods. No one could blame you considering the working hours that you have to keep and the lack of time to prepare delicious yet healthy meals and you just have to settle with the foods serve in fast food chains. Although this may be true and perhaps even forgivable, this kind of diet is not helping you because you are asthmatic. In fact, the kind of diet you are keeping is filled up with fatty foods and processed meat that is totally not good.


If you want to overcome your asthma or you want to limit the possibility of having attacks, then now is the right time to change your asthma diet. Include all the foods that need to be there like vegetables and fresh fruits and exclude all those that contain fatty acids and cholesterol. When you do this, not only are you saving yourself from asthma but you are saving it from all the other terrible diseases that could put your life in great risk. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Monday, 6 August 2012

Asthma and Asthma Action Plan

Asthma is an allergic inflammation of the lungs, which is usually 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 turn out to be swollen and the mucus membranes fill with fluid and thick, sticky mucus making it hard 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. People with asthma should have an asthma action plan. An asthma action plan lets you and your doctor to make a personalized plan for controlling your asthma.


The main key to understanding and controlling asthma is to know yourself. One person might get a severe asthma reaction from a minor whiff of perfume, whilst another asthma sufferer has no reaction at all to the very similar trigger. Everybody who suffers from asthma is unique and is affected differently so the asthma action plan should be tailored plan which helps you manage your asthma.


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


you have intense difficulty breathing, talking and walking,
your chest feels tight and your ribs are pulled inward as you breathe,
your medication does not control your symptoms
your fingernails or lips are turning blue,
your nostrils flare when you breathe


Very often things that we have eaten, used or are a part of our surroundings for years can unexpectedly become asthma triggers. Because there are so many variables involved that affect getting control of your asthma, the first thing you should do is keep a notebook as a part of your asthma action plan. This will help you identify your triggers. Once you recognize what they are, you can either take away these triggers or reduce them as much as possible.


Some people have both food and environmental triggers or allergies that they are unaware of. This can make determining specific triggers and controlling asthma symptoms much more complex, so keeping a notebook as a part of your asthma action plan is important. If you find that you are feeling asthmatic after consuming some food or drink, one of those stuff could be the culprit, but because you have also eaten quite a few things during the day, it's not always easy to know precisely what it was that caused the difficulty. If you evidence details of everything that was eaten every time you experienced asthma symptoms, you'll see a pattern developing, which will help you to discover exactly what your trigger is. Once you determine your triggers, you can then begin to eliminate them or reduce them as much as possible. This will help bring your asthma under control and help lessen your asthma symptoms.


Combining these measures with a good diet, stress reduction and natural supplements that help eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms as well as creating good asthma action plan will ensure an active, healthy life. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Sunday, 5 August 2012

Best Remedies For Your Asthma

Asthma is a very serious and difficult condition to deal with. It can keep you from having your wonderful life. However, most symptoms related to asthma can be controlled easily if you know how to use some effective ways to manage your asthma. In this article, you will find some effective methods to treat your asthma.


1. Clean your pillow case and bed linens regularly


Some allergens, such as pollen, dust, mites, insects, and many other things can build up on your pillow case and bed linens. Make sure that you wash them with hot and soapy water at least once a week to remove all of those allergens. By doing so, you are able to control your asthma effectively.


2. Use de-humidifier in your house


You should use de-humidifier in your house to keep the air dry and clean. It is the greatest way to alleviate your asthma symptoms. By controlling your moisture levels in your house, you also limit the amount of allergens that can grow in your house.


3. Visit your doctor regularly


If you know that you have asthma problems, you have to visit your doctor more often to control your asthma. The asthma symptoms are not as obvious as the other disease. You have to be very careful with your asthma because it can be very dangerous for you. When you notice that your asthma starts causing you to have trouble breathing, you may want to visit your doctor as soon as possible. He can tell you if you have an asthma attack and if there is a medication that you need to take in. Your doctor can tell you if there is something you can do to prevent asthma in the future.


4. Avoid smoking


If you suffer from asthma, it is very important that you quit smoking cigarettes. Many people understand that smoking is bad for everyone. However, the effect of smoking is worse for an asthma patient because the smoke from cigarettes can reduce the amount of oxygen supplied to your lungs. This condition can trigger an asthma attack.


5. Always bring your inhaler along with you


If you have asthma problems, it is very important that you always carry your inhaler with you. This inhaler provides immediate relief from your asthma symptoms. Always bring your inhaler at all time. You can put this inhaler in many places, such as your desk, car, purse, lunch box, or backpack before doing your daily activities.


Those simple tips above are really helpful for you to control your asthma. Come to this site if you want to know how to use home remedies for asthma from your own house. Read this article before you visit your allergy doctor to discuss about your asthma problem. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Saturday, 4 August 2012

Asthma Facts Everybody Ought To Know

Are you aware of the asthma facts that one must take into consideration? One important asthma fact is that it's not only a disease found in children but it is also a respiratory condition in most adults. Some may neglect this asthma fact thinking that one is no longer susceptible to asthma as he gets older. Well, you thought wrong.


As people grow up, they become more open to harmful elements from the environment and the ones with asthma are no exception, they are even more prone to having asthma attacks. The environment is only one factor that people with asthma need to look out for, there are still many and one's lifestyle is one of them. Most people differ on how they live their lives and as one ages, the body's defense decreases which makes it easier for asthma to create more damage to the body. One's lifestyle may be hard to change but if he is trying to get rid of asthma, he must choose a lifestyle that will help relieve his condition and not make it worse. If one does not know how to properly handle asthma, life may be difficult for him and worst, he might not survive at all.


Asthma is common in children, but others get a hold of it at a later stage due to exposure to allergens. Having asthma is not easy so it is essential that people will remember a main asthma fact and that is asthma can develop depending on one's life conditions. Choosing to live life the healthy way may minimize occurrence of asthma attacks. In order to do that, one must be careful in choosing what he eats and drinks. Furthermore, one requires ample rest and sleep. If one refuses to have a healthy lifestyle, then asthma may progress and may cause more negative effects. Most people easily get tired of having to deal with asthma episodes especially when it keeps them from doing things they love to do.


One must also keep in mind that asthma doesn't have a specific treatment. Even though it can be considered as a respiratory disease that one can manage, according to asthma facts, it can be controlled by having the right diet and by making exercise a habit. It will also be wise to have regular visits to the doctor so that the condition will be monitored. One must also take note of foods that may cause allergies. There are times that allergic reactions will further result to serious conditions for those people with asthma so it is necessary for one to be aware of things that he needs to avoid.


A healthy way of life is the perfect solution to asthma attacks. Even with the presence of allergens in the environment, things will be properly dealt with through a healthy lifestyle.


Read more information about asthma health tips. You can find a lot of information about asthma facts on my website. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Friday, 3 August 2012

The Different Types Of Breathing Disorders

There are a lot of breathing disorders that people can suffer from. Some of these breathing problems can be caused by smoking. One of those disorders is emphysema. This disease is primarily caused by smoking and can cause shortness of breath in people who suffer from this disorder. The cigarette smoke can cause the alveolar sacs in the lungs to become damaged, which means they cannot function properly. These sacs are where the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide occur. Since there is trouble with the transfer of carbon dioxide, it makes it harder to breath, which is where the shortness of breath comes from. Carbon dioxide is a waste product, and if it is not expelled from the blood then it can cause some problems to whoever suffers from this disorder.


Another breathing disorder that smokers can suffer from is chronic bronchitis. There is another form of bronchitis, which is acute bronchitis. This disorder is not usually seen in smokers, because it is usually caused by a virus. Chronic bronchitis happens to smokers because they are constantly abusing their lungs, so it makes it difficult for the lungs to heal. The best way to treat this disorder is simply to quit smoking so that your lungs can heal. Some of the symptoms of chronic bronchitis is coughing accompanies by mucus, shortness of breath and sometimes fever, chest pains and fatigue. If you feel that you are suffering from either form of bronchitis it would be a good idea to go to a doctor and get checked out so you can treat it properly.


One of the breathing disorders that non-smokers suffer from is asthma. Sometimes this disorder can be caused by the environment. For example, if you are someone who does not respond well to dust in the air, you can get an asthma attack from dusty surroundings. The same can be said about people who have problems with animal hair. Other people can have asthma problems due to genetics. Some of the people who have problems with asthma will use an inhaler when they have asthma attacks, and also before an asthma attack in order to prevent them from happening. Some of the symptoms of asthma is coughing, wheezing and having a hard time breathing. This breathing disorder is decently common around the world.


One more breathing disorder worth noting is rhinitis. This is more commonly known as a stuffy nose. Some people may find it surprising that this is classified as a breathing disorder, but it does impede people's ability to breath. A reason why sufferers have a hard time breathing with this disorder is because of nasal inflammation. The airways in the nasal cavity become constricted, which makes it harder to breath. This can cause forced breathing, which is very annoying. This disorder can be caused by a virus, bacteria, allergens, or it can even be hormonal. It is difficult to treat because there are so many causes that rhinitis can be from. If you suffer from any of the breathing disorders, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Humidifier Vs Vaporizer: Consumer Reports and Reviews

The moisture in the air changes with the seasons and this is the time when most people begin to search humidifier vs vaporizer. Which one is best for congestion or allergies? This is actually pretty easy to figure out once you know what you need the product to do. So in searching for humidifier vs vaporizer, here are a few facts to help you out.


A lot of people think that both a humidifier and a vaporizer are the same thing, this couldn't be further from the truth. They are similar in the fact that they both bring more moisture into the air. The major difference is what kind of moisture. If the humidity in your home drops below 30% it can become very uncomfortable to breathe because it will be too dry.


Then people are left with questioning is it better to use a cool mist or to use steam to get the humidity to a normal point in your home. This can depend on a number of factors such as do you or your children have asthma? Do you have seasonal allergies? Are you allergic to mold? Do you have a cold? After you know what you need the machine for then you need to know what each one does.


A Humidifier releases cool moisture into the air. When you are sick and have sinus infections a humidifier should be used. It will make it a lot easier for you to breathe and will make your skin less dry.


A Vaporizer releases warm moisture into the air. This helps relieve congestion. It does this by heating the water and then releasing it into the air. You can also add certain medications to the vaporizer.


The differences between the two are with the humidifier you have to clean it often because if you don't you could get mold and it could be released into the air from the humidifier. Another way to prevent this make sure that the humidity in your home doesn't get too high when using a humidifier. They can tend to be a little noisy.


With the vaporizer boiling the water there is less chance of mold and you don't have to clean it as often. You will have to make sure that no one gets close to it, because it could burn you or your child. You also have to keep an eye on it in case it catches on fire.


The benefits of the humidifier are it is easy to tolerate because of the soothing cool mist it sends into the air. It will be able to help clear up cold and sinus symptoms.


Benefits of the vaporizer are it doesn't need constant cleaning. You can add medications to it to reduce symptoms of a cold.


I hope this answers a few questions about humidifier vs vaporizer. They both can be huge help with clearing up congestion from having a cold. So it will just depend on if you think you would rather have a humidifier which you have to clean often, but it offers you the satisfaction of the cool mist in the air. Or maybe if you are really sick and congested and would like to add some Vicks in the vaporizer to clear it up. It is really up to you to decide humidifier vs vaporizer.


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Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Recognizing the Symptoms of Asthma in Children and Treatment of Asthma

Definition of Asthma


Asthma is a recurring condition in which certain stimuli cause the airways to narrow for a while so that makes a person having difficulty breathing.


Although asthma can occur at any age, but more often occurs in children, especially in children from the age of 5 years. Some children suffer from asthma until their adulthood. Most children who have asthma can still interact with its environment, except in the event of an asthma attack. Only a few children who are resistant to drugs to prevent asthma and need daily to be able to do sports and play normally.


Asthma Causes


For unclear reasons, children with asthma are usually reacting to certain stimuli (triggers). There are many factors that cause asthma attacks, but on each child usually causes (triggers) is different. Several factors trigger asthma attacks, namely indoor irritants, such as strong odors, irritant fumes (perfume, tobacco smoke); pollution from outside: cold air, exercise; emotional disturbance; respiratory infections due to viruses, and various kinds of substances which make children become allergic, such as animal dander, dust, pollen, and mold.


All of these triggers produce a similar reaction; certain cells in the airways release chemical substances. These substances cause the airways to become inflamed and swollen and stimulate the muscle cells in the airway walls to contract. Reduce stimulation with chemicals to increase production of mucus in the airways, making the spilling of cells lining the airways, and widen the muscle cells in the airway wall. Each reaction is triggered to the smaller airways suddenly (asthma attacks).In most children, the airway back to normal in between asthma attacks.


Risk Factors


Doctors do not fully understand why some children suffer from asthma, but a number of known risk factors. A child with one parent with asthma has an increased risk of 25% have asthma, if both parents have asthma, the risk increased to 50%. Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are more likely to develop asthma.


Children in urban environments are more likely to have asthma, particularly if they come from lower socioeconomic groups. Although asthma affects a high percentage of black children compared with white children, the role of genetic influence in the increase of asthma is controversial because black children are also more likely to live in urban areas. Children are faced with high concentrations of allergens, like dust or cockroach droppings, at an early age are more likely to suffer from asthma. Children who suffer from bronchiolitis at an early age often wheezing with advanced viral infection. Wheezing first sound can be interpreted as asthma, but children are not more likely than others to have asthma during adolescence.


Asthma Symptoms


When airways constrict during an asthma attack, the child can be difficulty breathing, accompanied by his trademark sound wheezing. Wheezing is a loud noise that sounded high when the child breathes. Not all asthma attacks wheezing produce sounds, however. Mild asthma, particularly in young children, could only produce a cough; some older children with mild asthma tend to cough only during exercise or when exposed to cold air.


Also, children with acute asthma may not wheeze because of too little air flow to generate noise. In acute asthma, breathing becomes difficult sincerely, sound wheezing usually becomes tighter, and the child is breathing rapidly and with greater effort, and ribs prominent when the child is breathing (inspiration). With acute attacks, the child gasping for breath and sat upright, leaning forward. Sweating and pale skin or blue.


Children with frequent acute attacks sometimes have a slow development, but their growth is usually chasing another child in adulthood.


Diagnosis


A doctor suspected asthma in children who have wheezing repetitive, particularly when family members are known to have asthma or allergies. Children who wheezing events can often be tested for other disorders, such as fiber or gastro esophageal recurrent cysts. Older children sometimes perform lung function tests, although the stout children lung function is normal between relapses.


One of half or more of children with asthma control. Those with more severe disease were more likely to have asthma as a teenager.


Asthma Treatment


Older children or teenagers can recognize asthma often have to use a peak flow meter, a small tool that records how fast a person can blow air-to measure the level of airway disorders. This tool can be used as an objective assessment of the condition of the child.


Treatment of a severe attack consists of opening the airways (bronchodilation) and stops the inflammation. Various kinds of inhaled medications to open airways (bronchodilator). This particular example is albuterol and ipratropium. Older children and teenagers are usually able to use these drugs using metered dose inhalation device. Children older than 8 years or often find it easy to use inhalation with a spacer or buffer room installed. Infants and very young children can sometimes use a spacer when inhaled and infant size masks fitted.


Children who do not use inhalation devices can receive inhaled drugs at home through a mask mounted on a nebulizer, a small tool that generates steam cure using compressed air. Tool inhalation and nebulizer are equally effective at removing the drug. Albuterol can also be used with the mouth, although this activity was not much more successful than inhalation and are usually used only in infants who did not use the nebulizer. Children who are experiencing severe attacks can also be administered via oral corticosteroids.


Children with severe attacks were treated in hospital by providing a bronchodilator in the nebulizer at least every 20 minutes at first. Sometimes the doctor uses an injection of epinephrine, a bronchodilator, in children with severe attacks if they cannot breathe well enough on the steam nebulizer. Doctors usually give intravenous corticosteroids to children who have severe attacks.


Children who suffer from mild asthma, with infrequent attacks typically use medication only during the attack. Children with frequent or severe attacks also need to use drugs even when they are not under attack.


Other drugs used, based on the frequency and severity of attacks in children. Children with infrequent attacks that are not too bad usually use inhaled drugs, such as cromolyn or nedocromil, or a low dose of inhaled corticosteroids daily to help prevent attacks. These drugs prevent the release of chemicals that harm the airways, and reduce inflammation. Preparing to use the old theophylline is an inexpensive option for prevention in some children.


Children with recurrent or more severe also receive one or more drugs, including long-term bronchodilator such as salmeterol, leukotriene modifiers, such as zafirlukast or montelukast, and inhaled corticosteroids. If these drugs do not prevent the onslaught, the child may require inhaled corticosteroids by mouth. Children who experienced great develop during exercise usually inhale a bronchodilator dose just prior to exercise.


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