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.

Showing posts with label Asthma Inhalers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asthma Inhalers. Show all posts

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.

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

How Does an Asthma Inhaler Work?

A person suffering from asthma, will have an attack, when ones immune system reacts to the inhalation of various irritants. These irritants can take the form of dust, smoke, and even cold weather. Stress can also cause an attack of asthma. This irritation activates the immune system and causes inflammation of the nasal pathways. It also causes the muscles at this area to become constricted. This leads to the near closure of the airway and causes wheezing and breathing trouble. The immune system causes mucus to build up in the lungs, and an asthma patient, will experience a coughing fit.


The portable asthma inhaler aids in providing the required drug to alleviate the asthma attack. The asthma inhaler works by reducing the inflammation in the airways. The inhaler delivers the required dosage to the patient. The drug can be delivered by inhaling through the mouth or nasally. The drugs used will depend on the asthma attack faced by the person.


There are various types of inhalers and can be classified as pressurised metered dose inhalers (MDIs), breath-activated inhalers - MDIs and dry powder inhalers, inhalers with spacer devices and nebulizer.


The pressurised metered inhalers use an inactive gas to inject the drug. Pushing down the top of the inhaler, releases the drug and it has to be inhaled. It is also small and easy to carry. Some inhalers have meters which can indicate the number of doses that remain for use. Otherwise, one will have to count the doses to keep track. The drawback is that, it requires coordination, as the person has to press down and inhale at the same time.


The drug is discharged by just breathing on the mouth piece and is easier to operate than the pressurised one. Though, Inhalation has to be done forcefully for the drug to be released.


Inhalers with spacer devices are much easier to operate than the other kinds. Inhaling through the mouth piece causes the spacer to releases the drug. A valve stops the drug from exiting the spacer when one breathes out. In some types of spacers, a face mask can be fitted instead of a mouthpiece.


Nebulizers convert the drug into the form of a mist. This can be breathed in with a face mask or mouth piece. This drug delivery system is used in hospitals where there are severe cases of asthma.


One must consider several issues, before choosing inhaler for use. This is because, some medications can only be used with certain of inhalers. People suffering from asthma should take adequate precautions to avoid being exposed to stressful situations, dirt, dust, smoke, or anything that can trigger an attack. In choosing the right inhaling mechanism, they can overcome an asthma attack. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Monday, 16 July 2012

A Holistic Approach to Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs. It often involves narrowing of the airways which makes breathing difficult. It is also common for asthma sufferers to have other symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. People with asthma often use inhalers to help relieve their symptoms. It is common for them to use prescription drugs to help as well. Prescription drugs often have adverse side effects. Chiropractic has been found to be an effective solution for many asthma sufferers.


There are several possible causes for the onset of asthma symptoms. Weather has been commonly associated with asthma such as when there are extremes in temperature, either hot or cold. Allergies can also trigger asthma symptoms such as from pollens. Certain foods have also been found to trigger allergies that lead to asthma attacks. However, this is not as common. Some cities are known to have more asthma sufferers than others. This is probably because of the weather patterns and environment being more prone to trigger asthma symptoms. Certain infections have also been associated with asthma. People that perform strenuous exercise can be more prone to asthma. Some asthma sufferers must avoid certain sports and activities. Asthma sufferers must be careful of dust accumulation in the home as this can also trigger symptoms.


Chiropractic has been found to be effective in helping people that suffer from asthma. The science behind this has to do with the relationship between chiropractic adjustments and the autonomic nervous system. This part of the nervous system is made up of nerves that control visceral functions in the body for example digestion, breathing and heart rate. Chiropractic adjustments help to remove nerve irritation including stress on the autonomic nerves.


These nerves are often irritated from misaligned spinal bones. There are nerves that exit out of the spine to control other systems in the body including the autonomic nervous system. This nerve irritation will result in loss of function in whatever the nerves are controlling, for example the lungs or respiratory system. Chiropractors are specially educated to locate and correct these problems in the spine.


Many report excellent improvement with their asthma symptoms following chiropractic care. They report being able to breathe much better and have reduced asthma symptoms. Some people respond very quickly to chiropractic treatment while others show gradual improvement. Chiropractors perform a thorough exam to rule out other causes. They will often refer the patient to another physician if problems are out of their scope of practice. Chiropractors don't treat asthma but many report great improvement of asthma symptoms with chiropractic care.


Most people seek chiropractic for treatment of musculoskeletal problems such as neck or back pain. However, many healthcare professionals are referring people to chiropractors for other problems because of the good success that they have with other problems. Chiropractors help the body function optimally by removing nerve interference. The body is then able to heal itself. Chiropractic helps the body obtain overall wellness and breathe easier. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

How to Stop an Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler

You can learn some amazing tools to stop an asthma attack without an inhaler--as long as you have your inhaler filled and ready as your back-up. Your body can stop the attack with these suggestions. I'll teach you how right now!


As a sufferer of adult-onset asthma I know what it's like to be faced with the terrifying moment of not being able to breath. I nearly "checked out" six separate times. I'm going to teach you 5 powerful ways to stop an asthma attack without an inhaler--but be 100% certain you have an inhaler available and that it is full. Inhalers are not the enemy; they are life-saving tools that you should always use if or when these tools don't bring immediate & satisfactory relief. Remember, your inhaler can save your life. Use it if you need it!


Tip #1: Sit down. Too simple? No. It's crucial. It's much easier to breathe sitting than any other position. Sit down and stay seated until your breath is fully back under your control. The dishes will wait. Your schedule will wait. Your "to-do list" will wait. Think about it. If you're not around to do your dishes, your schedule or your "to-do list" then there's no point. Sit and stay seated. Breathing is much easier.


Tip #2: Drink some more clean, un-carbonated water. Your lungs run on water to pump air. That's right. Not enough water means not enough pumping of air. The water needs to be clean, flat (un-carbonated) with nothing else in it. Tea doesn't count, nor coffee, nor soup. Just water. Part of the reason you have asthma is due to a shortage of clean water in your system. Time to fill up!


Tip #3: Put a small pinch of salt on your tongue after two glasses of water and let it dissolve on your tongue. This strange recipe can be miraculous. The order is crucial. First drink two full (tall) glasses of water and then follow that with a small pinch of salt on the tongue. Think of it as salty candy and just let it dissolve. The ideal is good quality sea salt--but any salt will work. It can be a life-saving recipe for you.


Tip #4: Hold your middle finger while you're sitting down. Take your hand and wrap all the fingers around the middle (longest) finger of the other hand. No, it's not a "pull my finger" joke (though it may look like it!). It's a powerful energetic Mudra (secret hand-clasping technique for healing) that is thousands of years old and quite amazing. It doesn't matter whether you hold onto your left or right middle finger, just wrap all the fingers of one hand around the opposite middle finger and hold gently. No pulling, rubbing, squeezing or massaging is required. Just hold. Hold it until your breath FULLY normalizes. Sometimes that's 30 seconds, sometimes 4 to 6 minutes and sometimes (for folks like myself who managed to never use an inhaler - NOT something I recommend!) it's hours. Find out for yourself how reliable and powerful this is.


Tip #5: Do something SIMPLE with your terrified mind to pull down your anxiety. Not so easy. However, it's possible to use something so simple that your anxiety WILL drop. The simplest is to put your attention on objects in the room or place you find yourself in and trace curved lines with your eyes. What? Look for objects in your environment that have curved edges (not straight lines) and trace those curves with your eyes. Good objects like lamps, vases and rounded table corners are everywhere. If that's too stressful to find, just imagine circles, spheres and curved lines in the air in front of you and trace those with your eyes. You'll be amazed at how this neurological "trick" pulls down anxious thoughts.


All 5 tips can (and should) be done together for best results. Sit. Drink 2 tall glasses of water. Pinch of salt dissolving on the tongue. Then hold your middle finger and trace curved lines with your eyes. Wait until your FULL breath is FULLY under your control before you slowly return to your life. With these simple steps you CAN return to your life, instead of checking out. We need you here!


You'll find all kinds of healing and anti-stress tools that are completely FREE on my website: http://www.HuntersHealingCalls.com. They are available to you 24/7 every day of the year. That means you can access them at 3 a.m. when your chest feels tight and you need some help. The audio tools were designed for exactly this purpose; to let me lead you through energetic processes to help you. Please be sure (as this article stresses) you have your inhaler nearby, you are seated, you've had your water + salt and you're holding your middle finger. You'll make tremendous progress not only when you're in trouble, but if you use these tools frequently (when you're not in the midst of an attack) you'll see remarkable progress with your breathing.


Warmest wishes and here's to your easy, gentle and un-encumbered breath! Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Sunday, 13 May 2012

How To Help Someone Having An Asthma Attack

Our existence depends on breath - and an acute asthma attack can make it almost impossible to breathe. No wonder these attacks are so scary for both the affected person and for onlookers.

Knowing the basics of asthma treatment is essential when trying to help someone experiencing an attack.

Maybe you are having dinner with a friend and all of a sudden, she looks panic stricken and gasps for breath. Or perhaps your children's friends have come over to your house and your daughter screams that her best friend can't breathe.

Do you know how to deal with these situations? If you are able to provide the right asthma treatment, it might possibly save someone's life.

Here are key facts you should know.

* During a bout of asthma, patients find it easier to breathe while sitting up than lying down. So help them get into a comfortable sitting position.

* Most asthma patients know what they need to do to deal with an attack. So it is best to ask them. Ask if they have an inhaler and where it is. If they don't have one, ask them if you should call for help.

Many asthma patients carry not only an inhaler, but a written instruction card as well. An asthma attack can temporarily rob the patient of his ability to speak.

In such situations, an instruction card explaining what needs to be done can be invaluable. If there is such a card, just do as it says.

* Help them use the inhaler. An inhaler is designed to deliver a specific dose of asthma medication. The medication relaxes the patient's airways and helps restore normal breathing.

Medication is so important that in case the patient doesn't have his or her inhaler available, most doctors say that it is ok to use someone else's. Nothing else you can do has nearly the same effect as taking the right medication.

In general, you should give two to four puffs of the inhaler and then wait for about five minutes for the next dose.

Position the mouthpiece of the inhaler between the patient's lips. Let him know when you are about to give a puff so that he can breathe in at the same time.

Wait for several seconds before you deliver another puff. Or until he lets you know he is ready for the next one.

You can use a spacer to help the person inhale the medicine over the course of several breaths, instead of one breath. This device sits between the inhaler and the person's mouth and can hold the medicine in place between breaths.

If a spacer is not available, you can make one by rolling up some paper to create a tube.

* Once you've given medication, observe the patient for several minutes. Is it getting easier for him to breathe?

* If it appears that they are not responding to the medication within ten minutes, call an ambulance. And continue to deliver about four puffs of medication every five minutes while waiting for the ambulance.

The medication will help prevent the asthma attack from getting worse even if it doesn't seem to provide immediate relief.

* Stay calm throughout the episode. This will help the patient remain calm as well. If he panics, it will worsen the asthma attack and make it far more difficult for him to breathe.

So talk to him calmly, to reinforce the feeling that everything is under control. This is vitally important.

Being aware of these asthma treatment basics will help you deal effectively with many emergency situations.