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, 18 July 2012

Healthy Diet for Asthma Patients

Asthma patients should be very careful about their diet. They should have an asthma diet plan in order to prevent unhealthy lifestyle. A healthy, nutritional, no-fat diet will help them stay away from the adverse affects of asthma. They may also prone to food allergies due to improper diet.


Turmeric:


Turmeric acts as a preventive and curative for asthma. It can be taken in any form. 1 tsp of turmeric everyday helps you prevent or cure asthma. It can be taken either with honey or warm milk. Take 1 tsp of turmeric mixed in 2 tsp honey on empty stomach. (Or) Take 1 tsp of turmeric mixed in a small glass of warm milk two times a day.


Helpful Diet for Asthma Patients:


• Coffee helps to control the severity of the attack. This is because of the caffeine present in it. Caffeine makes breathing easy for asthma patients.


• Onions helps in controlling the inflammation of the airways. This is because onions have anti-inflammatory components.


• Spices like garlic, cumin seeds, long pepper, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom are taken regularly for being healthy.


• Coming to the type of milk, goat's milk is very useful. Buffalo's and cow's milk should be avoided.


• Vitamin B supplements like green leafy vegetables and pulses should be taken in large amounts.


• Dried figs, which are rich in magnesium helps in improving the health of asthma patients.


• Whole meal bread, maize, jawar and millets which are also very useful for asthma patients.


• Vegetables such as spinach, bitter gourd, pumpkin and green banana and fruits like grapes, raisins and papaya are preferred.


• Hot foods like chilli, hot mustard helps in dilating the air passages by opening the mucus and thus helps in easy breathing.


Avoidable Foods for Asthma Patients:


• Buffalo's milk and cow's milk should be completely avoided.


• Fatty food products like cheese should be avoided.


• Food products that contain preservatives and added colour should be avoided, as these may cause irritation and allergy.


• Should be completely away from wine and beer.


• Legumes and roots should be kept away.


• Eggs, fish and nuts should not be taken.


• Cool drinks, citrus fruits and sour fruits should be avoided.


• Dairy products, chocolates, cakes, muffins, bread and white sugar should be avoided.


• Salt intake should be reduced. This can be substituted with spices which add more flavour and taste to the food.


• Fish that contain omega 3 fatty acids can be consumed in small amounts but should not be taken in large quantities.


Diet that should be taken at night:


Asthma patients should take proper care of their diet at night. They should take a very light diet at night and follow their asthma diet plan. This is because of the inactivity of the metabolic rate. The digestive system is inactive and the metabolic rate is very low at night. Because of this, heavy food may cause irritation. Black pepper should be taken, as it has digestive stimulants, which helps in easy digestion of food.


It is even better to skip food at night. Instead of food, it is advised to take coffee or tea with ginger added to it.


To know more about facts and information about asthma, visit my blog to read more about asthma health tips. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

How Asthma Can Be Avoided

This article is created just for you who have to deal with asthma. You can find some information on how to deal with asthma effectively. By reading and following this information, you will start having beautiful life without asthma.


If you have asthma problem and you have to use your inhaler in more than three times a week to get your asthma gone, you should visit your doctor and ask them to change your medication. Sometimes, the medication in the inhaler doesn't work properly. That's why you need to consult with your doctor about your inhaler.


When you're travelling along, make sure to bring your asthma medications and equipment. Don't forget to bring your prescriptions too. By carrying the prescriptions along with written proof from your doctor, you will reduce the potential problems at the airport security checkpoints.


Make sure you ask your doctor on how you can use your inhaled medication properly. Don't leave his office until you are completely comfortable using the inhaler. You can't just spray it into your mouth and inhale it gently. You have to breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Proper use of the asthma inhaler is the important point when you have asthma problem.


You should visit more than one doctor. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, don't forget to visit a specialist. Asthma doctors, pulmiologists, and allergists are the people who you want to consult with to help solving your asthma problem.


When you're dealing with an asthma attack, it's important to make sure that you visit your doctor as soon as possible. Make sure that you're ready for the asthma treatment when you're getting asthma problem for the first time. This is very important because early asthma treatment will always be the best solution for you to deal with your asthma.


It is essential to change your sleeping pillows that you use frequently to avoid asthma problem. Use pillowcases and towels that are made from cotton because it won't allow dust mites to grow on them. Just for your information, the dust mites are considered as some of the top contributors of the asthma problems.


If you have an asthma attacks but you don't bring your asthma inhaler on hand, you should try to use caffeine as an asthma remedy. Strong tea, coffee, or chocolate can help you to reduce the severity of your asthma attack. It will help you to constrict your blood vessels and open the vessels so you can breathe easier.


Those simple home remedies for asthma are really effective to help you getting rid of your asthma problem. Some asthma problems are caused by the allergens. Read this before you visit your allergy doctor to know more about allergy and how to get rid of the allergic to reduce your asthma problems from your own house. 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.

Sunday, 15 July 2012

Qi Gong Improves Breathing: Asthma

There's an ancient Chinese saying: "If you have nose congestion, your lung is not well."


In the Chinese medicine system each organ has to be balanced such that the Qi (body life force) can connect with the other organs and render the whole body as a holistic system. In other words, it is not possible to deem one organ or body part as an isolated problem without considering the whole body system. The life force (Qi) is in the blood. Qi needs blood to nourish it and blood needs Qi to move it. So in order to improve our blood circulation, we will have to improve the Qi in our blood.


A great way of improving our Qi is by practising the Chinese ancient healing art of Qi Gong. A major part of Qi Gong focuses on relaxation, breathing with mind control using certain postures like sitting or standing, and gentle movements to perform an internal exercise.


"When the body has aches and pains, you can say that a specific area has Qi blockages or that we have "bad Qi" in that area. It is important to improve blood circulation to open up Qi blockages in our body. These blockages build up when the body is under stress. Whatever part is low in Qi, that area may have blockages and may also be the root of our health problems. In the case of a person suffering from breathing problems like asthma, there may be Qi blockages in the lungs, trachea or nose. We must clean our insides from bad Qi. When this negative force is removed from the body, the body feels better and health improves."


Medical science has done research on Qi Gong, and a number of video documentaries have been aired on television over the years showing how Qi Gong is used to heal various health problems.


According to research studies, a normal body's capillaries are operating at 50-60% capacity, or 70-80% (maximum) for people with better health. That is why some people's facial colour may be pale because capillaries are not quite open. If we can improve the opening of our capillaries, we will improve blood circulation. Areas of the body that normally receive less blood will begin to receive more during a Qi Gong practice. This brings nutrients, oxygen, antibodies, T-cells to all areas of the body. This "improved blood circulation" is at the heart of Qi Gong theory. All disease has its origins in the blood circulation. Any health problems will benefit from an improvement of blood circulation.


The lung breathes in oxygen, which is essential for the body to function properly. The body needs oxygen to survive. The heart relies on oxygen to beat and pump blood. A normal person breathes in about 16 to 18 breaths per minute. Beginners learn how to relax and work breathing slower by doing about four breaths per minute. This slower breathing practice will allow us to take more oxygen into the lung. For senior students, they work on even slower breathing like two breaths per minute.


During Qi Gong practice, besides bringing more oxygen in the body, we are also collecting more life force - Qi - to store in our body. It may be said that we are making more Qi. Actually it often takes people by surprise how "hot" they can get by simply doing a few hand movements. When we practice regular physical exercise like running, basketball, swimming, etc., we use up a lot of physical energy and indirectly our internal organs benefit. The return of Qi is less. On the contrary, when we practice Qi Gong exercise, we use up very little physical energy. We relax in our movements and in return, we can get a lot of Qi giving more direct benefits to the organs. When we want the body to heal, we have to conserve our energy, our Qi, so that the body can use the Qi to heal our problems. A person with difficult health challenges really needs to conserve the Qi and practice less physical exercise sometimes so that the body can catch up with the healing. When you are better, you can engage in more physical exercises again.


QI GONG EXERCISES TO IMPROVE BREATHING


Step 1:


Position: You can choose to stand or sit. If you prefer to sit to do this exercise, you will sit with your legs sticking out one third over the edge of the chair. Open legs to shoulder width, legs parallel to each other, palms facing up, rest hands on legs near to knees. Position your head level, chin slightly in, waist straight, relax back/chest/waist, and put tongue near palate. Eyes look far ahead and close eyes lightly.


If you stand, you can open the leg to shoulder position, gently turn toes in and slightly bend knees.


Step 2:


Relax the whole body: Inhale with the nose, breathe in slightly. Exhale and relax your head. Continue to relax your neck, shoulder, chest, abdomen, back, arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes using the same method. Then think about relaxing your whole body from head to toes three more times.


Step 3:


Open and close arms exercise: Bring arms in front of the body up to about shoulder height. Inhale and open arms out wide to a "T" (as in photo on page 54), exhale as you close the arms in front of the body. Exhale well. You can repeat 8 to 36 times.


Step 4:


At the end of practice, please open arms and visualize gathering lots of Qi, and then close hands over navel. (For women, put right hand under left. For men, put left hand under right.) It is essential to collect Qi at the end of practices so that we can store Qi into our body like storing money in our bank.


You can do these movements twice daily. Remember that by simply opening up your arms you are improving the Qi in your chest.


You may be concerned about someone with certain health conditions like asthma, or maybe you are the person who has a problem and is hoping to get it under control. With the right Qi Gong practice that you gain from learning from a Qi Gong Master, you may come to learn how to manage these problems. You may find that your difficult days are few and far between as you realize how much you can actually improve by practising daily. Like asthma, your symptoms of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and mucus may gradually decrease with time.


I recommend anyone and everyone to take the initial step to practice and make Qi Gong practice part of your everyday life. It could be one of the best things you can do for your health!


Master Teresa Yeung is a Generational Qi Gong Master named by her Master at his crossing. As Grandmaster Weizhao Wu's successor, Master Teresa® now carries the torch and is heir to thousands of years of Medical Qi Gong study and refinement directly from China. The Wu & Yeung® Wellness Institute believes in sharing the truth and secrets of natural Qi Energy medicine healing to Individuals, Health Care Professionals and Therapists. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Saturday, 14 July 2012

Childhood Asthma: How To Use Air Humidifiers To Soothe Your Child's Wheezing

During the last 15 years, there has been an alarming 160% increase in the rate of asthma in children under the age of five. Sadly many of these children could have been prevented from ever developing asthma. If asthma is confirmed for your young one, you need to educate yourself on treating and managing this chronic disease. According to the experts knowledge is the best prescription.


Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes become inflamed, creating extra mucus and causing airways to narrow. The end result could range from a frequent tendency to cough to minor wheezing to severe difficulty breathing.


It's a well-known fact that asthma symptoms are set off or triggered by certain environmental substances. For unknown reasons, your child's body "sees" these triggers as threats, even though most kids are not bothered by them. The lungs typically overreact by triggering an asthma attack.


Air humidifiers are an excellent way to add humidity to your home and hopefully relax the stressed-out bronchial tubes of the lungs. Sometimes it is the cold, dry air that agitates the lungs and causes them to constrict and narrow. You can improve this condition by making small changes to your home environment.


If you add warm, humidified air, this may relax the lungs and allow more air in. These easy steps can add humidity to your home without adding more stress to your life:


Step 1: Determine the humidity in your home. Prior to choosing any humidifier, try to select one that will suit your home. If you are not sure that you really need a humidifier, you may want to measure the humidity level in your home with a hygrometer. It is inexpensive and easy to operate. Once you have a humidity level that you are comfortable with, the humidistat feature in the humidifier can help you to keep a constant level of humidity at home.


Step 2: You should measure the area. Whether you choose a warm mist humidifier or cool mist humidifier, look for a model that fits the room. A humidifier that is too large will produce too much moisture and one that is too small will not do the right job. Too much humidity will cause more bacteria to grow and this will lead to additional problems.


Step 3: Find a model that is resistant to bacterial growth. Bacteria are nasty little creatures that like to live where there is moisture. You can make sure that they won't grow in your humidifier by choosing one that is resistant to the growth of mold and bacteria. Your other choice is to clean it on a regular basis.


Step 4: Look for a quiet model. Humidifiers can be quite noisy when they are in use. Cool mist humidifiers have a fan that is constantly going and warm mist humidifiers tend to make a bubbling noise. When it comes to noise level, your best option is to look for a model that has a 'silent' feature.


Step 5: Check for ease of use. When shopping for an air humidifier, you should check each model to see if it is easy to use and easy to refill. The better air humidifiers operate longer on one filling and won't interrupt your daily activities. Models with the reservoir capacity of one litres to five gallons are easier to use and keep the humidity for a longer time.


The first and most important step is to take charge of your child's asthma. Parents of asthmatic children suffer a range of contradictory feelings. It is natural for them to be concerned about medications and look for alternative treatments. While an air humidifier cannot medically treat asthma attacks, it can provide a warm, moist environment so that your little one can sleep at night.


Lynn Versailles is a registered nurse and a life-long sufferer of asthma. She has personally been affected with this chronic respiratory problem and wishes to help others. Through years of research and life experiences, she shares her knowledge on how to properly manage asthma on http://www.safetreatmentsforasthma.com. To learn more, download The Ultimate Asthma Management Guide. It is a free online guide on medical treatments and natural remedies to properly manage this illness. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.

Friday, 13 July 2012

Four Basic Tips To Control Your Asthma

Asthma can be dangerous for your health because it restricts your ability to breathe easily. Asthma attack can occur any time. It can be fatal if you do not know how to treat your asthma immediately. In this article, you can figure out how you can treat your asthma condition. Try to do these natural tips to get your healthy life.


1. Know what your asthma trigger is


You should visit your doctor to know the allergens that can trigger your asthma attack. Your doctor can help you to have several allergy tests that will identify the allergens for your asthma condition. After you know your asthma trigger, try to avoid that trigger to manage your asthma symptoms. Some items, such as pollen or smoke, can trigger the asthma attacks. One thing that you can do is to use mask when you go outside. It prevents you from those allergens.


2. Avoid doing activities in cold weather


If you have asthma, you might want to keep doing your activities normally. However, you have to make sure that you should not go outside in cold weather. Cold air can enter your nasal system easily and cause asthma attack. Consider to stay at home when you have asthma attack.


3. Avoid smoking


You might be familiar with this advice. If you have asthma, you should avoid cigarette smoke to prevent asthma attack. You should know that smoking is an unhealthy habit because the smoke can come into your lungs. As the result, you won't be able to breathe easily. When you have asthma, smoke from cigarettes will exacerbate your asthma symptoms.


4. Get fresh air


If you have asthma, it is essential to let fresh air to flow in the house. Try to get as much fresh air as you can. Open your doors and windows so fresh air can flow through your house. By doing so, you will allow the air in your house to circulate well. You can also put ventilation in your house to keep the air circulation in your house. However, you should close your doors and windows, when the amount of pollen is relatively high. It is important because pollen can trigger your asthma attack.


Those basic tips are very useful to treat your asthma condition. You have to control your asthma. It can be dangerous for your health, if it is not treated and controlled well.


Come to our site if you want to learn more about choosing the best home remedies for asthma. Read this article before you visit your allergy doctor to discuss your asthma problem. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on asthma online.