The main culprits in an asthma attack

Do we blame governments for not doing enough to combat asthma, or do we blame ourselves for not knowing enough?Who's to blame for the increasing amounts of asthma cases?Asthma cases are still rising. Compared to studies made twenty years ago the difference is amazing and frightening. We as people tend to want to find someone or something to blame when things go wrong. But in the case of asthma, do we blame the governments for not doing enough to lessen its impact on society, or do we blame ourselves for not knowing enough?Asthma is a genetic lung disease, which means that our fathers could have gotten it, as well as our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. The fact that most of them didn't makes us want to blame the government. They are the ones responsible for polluting the environment. But are they really the bad guys this time? It is true that pollution has grown by astronomical proportions over recent years, and the cases of asthma have grown at the same rate, especially in the great industrialized countries. At the same time, people exercise less, have a worse diet and smoke.Passive smoking is now beginning to make the news. Studies have shown that smoking around children can significantly increase the chances of them suffering asthma, and can definitely bring on an asthma attack. Everybody who smokes knows it is a bad and unhealthy habit, so blaming the governments for this seems a little absurd.At a time when there is more information available for more people than at any other in the history of civilization, we do seem to be ignorant of a lot of things. All the information we could ever desire is just a Google click away. It is true that the governments could teach the children about asthma and other related diseases, but isn't education supposed to begin in the home? Because we are busier than ever before we have less time to be with our children to educate them properly.So maybe the answer to the question is to blame the government for not blaming us! In the past information was strictly controlled by 'the powers that be'. But that is not so much the case these days and people can not use this as an excuse. To protect the future of our children we have to learn. We have to find as much information as possible and pass it on to them so they won't make the same mistakes as we have made. more...


Natural Cures
Originally Posted on 6/24/2006 4:55:44 PM
Content source: http://www.findanaturalcure.com

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Asthma is not just a summer disease

When summer is here an asthma child's parents are usually getting prepared for the worst. It is the time for high pollen counts that can cause havoc to an asthma sufferer. But the winter months can be just as bad, if not worse. Winter is the cold and flu season when everyone should be on their guard. If you or a family member has asthma, you need to take special precautions during these months to watch out for any symptoms developing that could increase the severity of an attack.There are more than 200 different strains of cold and flu virus for you to choose from that are known as Rhinoviruses. It is estimated that 80% of all children who have to be attended in hospital for attacks are suffering the effects of one these. If we only had rhinoviruses to contend with there wouldn't be such a big problem during winter. But if you add the three types of flu virus, viral infections, and parainfluenza to the list it can make winter seem like a never ending ordeal.The secret to an illness free winter is prevention. There are lots of things we can do to minimize the risk of catching a cold or flu and worsening our asthma. Keep a close eye on news reports in your area for epidemics and if possible try to steer clear of large crowds. If that means not taking your kids to a ball game, then so be it. The amazing thing about children who have asthma is that the majority of them are extremely responsible for their age and fully understand why they have to take special precautions. If you know of anyone in your circle of friends or relatives who are coming down with something ask them not to visit. Make it a habit of everyone in the household to regularly wash their hands with soap and hot water. Most viruses are spread this way. When we cough we have the habit of covering our mouths with our hands, but this only succeeds in moving the virus from one point to another. Coughing into a tissue then throwing it away is a much better option. Never forget to wash your hands before and after handling food, medication and going to the bathroom. If there is more than one asthma sufferer in your house don't allow them to share inhalers and make sure you clean them after use.Children don't have the immunities that adults have so are prone to this kind of illness. But by being better informed about asthma, and with common sense and good hygiene, the winter months can again become wonderful months. more...


Natural Cures
Originally Posted on 6/22/2006 3:41:51 PM
Content source: http://www.findanaturalcure.com

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Is asthma another reason to quit smoking?

If ever you needed a good reason to stop smoking, developing asthma would be the most dramatic and unfortunate. We all know that smoking causes cancer of the lungs, chronic bronchitis and will also complicate viral infections. For the asthma sufferer the effects are ten fold. A person who is allergic to peanuts doesn't eat peanut butter for breakfast every morning, and if you have or develop asthma the cigarettes should be the first things thrown out the window.The smoke we inhale from a cigarette is full of pollutants and nasty chemicals. These can cause an allergic effect to occur in an asthma patient, causing the lining of their throat to inflame and make breathing extremely difficult.Even if the asthma patient doesn't smoke, the effects of passive smoking can often be just as bad. Why do you think that smoking is forbidden on planes and other forms of public transport in practically every country? At least the governments are beginning to listen to the doctors and introduce new laws. But that doesn't stop people smoking in their own homes (and for the foreseeable future won't). It has also been proved that parents who smoke will have children who start the habit. Charity begins at home but so does good health education, it seems.Making the decision to stop smoking is probably one of the best ideas you'll ever have, but unfortunately it is also one of most difficult to accomplish. Don't try to stop smoking on your own. Nine out of ten times you will fail. Go to see your doctor who will be more than happy to advise you on the best course of action. These days there are plenty of methods available, from patches to chewing gum, and with a little sacrifice and a lot of patience you can be able to beat nicotine. Thousands already have, so why should you be any different?Make sure that there is plenty of fresh air circulating in your home, but take care you're not living near any points of dense pollution. Make your house a smoke free zone by not allowing any guests to smoke. Offer them some sweets or even a nicotine patch instead. Remember that children are much more susceptible to cigarette smoke than adults. Be informed about asthma and how new approaches can protect them in a smoky environment, and even make their asthma to disappear! more...


Asthma treatments
Originally Posted on 6/17/2006 10:34:13 PM
Content source: http://www.findanaturalcure.com

© Karon Beattie asthma treatments

Asthma and scuba diving

In many countries scuba diving for asthma sufferers is prohibited, but in many other countries is it not. more...


Asthma treatments
Originally Posted on 6/17/2006 7:36:14 PM
Content source: http://www.cure-your-asthma.com/articles/asthma09.htm

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Asthma Treatments

Learning to read the signs goes a long way to controling asthma attacks.

The main problem with diagnosing asthma is that the typical asthma symptom can easily be confused with a common cold or flu virus. If you suspect yourself or your child to be displaying one of the following symptoms, go straight to your doctor. It's amazing how many people don't bother making an appointment with their GP, preferring to put it down to 'just a cold'. DON'T! This is a big mistake and can have serious repercussions, especially for children. You can risk anything you want, but never your child's health.

As is per usual, a typical asthma symptom in one person can vary to another. But there are specific things we can look out for. Wheezing, which is when you breathe with a whistling sound, might well be an indicator of asthma. If this happens to you or your child during the night, after doing exercise or while suffering from a cold it could mean that asthma is developing. It could also mean you are suffering from a viral lung infection, so get it checked out straight away. Remember though, that not all asthma sufferers have to endure wheezing.
Does your child have a persistent cough that just will not go away? Again, it could be nothing or it could be an asthma symptom, so don't risk it. A very common asthma symptom is finding it difficult to breathe or the feeling of breathlessness. If your child also complains or a tightness in the chest then this could well be an indicator. Remember that younger children aren't much good at anatomy, so they could say they have a stomach ache when really the problem is higher up. When in doubt what do you do? Exactly, take junior to the doctor.

Children are famous for wanting cuddles, and quite often they say they 'need' to be carried. However, if on occasions they seem more earnest than usual (but don't forget they are extremely good actors) you might want to check it out just to put your mind at ease. The feeling of being tired is another asthma symptom.

If you suspect your child might be developing asthma, or when your child is showing an asthma symptom, (or any symptom for that matter) try keeping a note of anything (or a combination of different elements) that is present on these occasions. You may be able to notice patterns and identify what is triggering their asthma, and this will be a great help when you tell the doctor.

Asthma treatments
Originally Posted on 6/15/2006 10:20:51 AM


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© Karon Beattie asthma treatments

Coping with an asthma attack

Asthma Treatments
Learning to deal with your illness is an important factor in dealing with asthma.

Knowing what to do and when.

In order to keep asthma under control and lead an ordinary life you need to learn to deal with your illness. An asthma attack can be a terrifying ordeal, and not only for children. Every year, thousands of people -young and old alike- have to be taken to hospital to have their asthma treated under emergency conditions. What is worse, thousands of people are still dying annually and it is estimated that 90% of these tragic deaths could easily be avoided. In the United Kingdom for example, it is estimated that around 1400 people die each year from an asthma attack. That is nearly four people every day.

It is a sad state of affairs in which people die needlessly. By learning to deal with asthma you not only get peace of mind, but it could very well safe your life. If you are an adult and have recently been diagnosed as having asthma, the first item on your list should be to find information. Now I assume you are reading this for the right reasons so you are off to a good start. Read all you can about your illness. Become an expert on the subject. The more you know about asthma and what happens when you get an asthma attack, the more confident you are likely to be when faced with the reality.

A diary is a good way to start. Make a list of all the questions you need answers to. Go to the public library and try to answer those questions. Find out what triggers your asthma attack. Then go to see your doctor again and clear up any doubts you may still have. Your doctor may have mentioned a peak flow meter. This is a tube like instrument that you use every day to measure how well your lungs are working. It is said to be effective in predicting when an asthma attack is going to happen. In the event of an attack, the single most important fact to remember is to keep calm. While in the beginning this may seem difficult, by the time you are a seasoned asthma sufferer it becomes second nature. Keep your hands palms down on your lap, focusing on breathing slowly and calmly, and not trying to take big gulps of air. If after five to ten minutes the asthma attack subsides you can go back to whatever it was that you were doing. But if symptoms persist, get yourself off to the hospital or call an ambulance. Don't worry about causing a fuss. It doesn't matter if it is the middle of the morning or the middle of the night, your health and safety come first.



© Karon Beattie -Asthma treatments


Originally Posted on 6/9/2006 11:43:41 PM
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Keeping an asthma diary

Keep your health in your hands

Asthma is a strange disease. Though it effects over 20 million people in the US alone, no two cases are exactly alike. Doctors now know that it is a genetic condition, meaning it is passed down from generation to generation (see it was your father's fault all along), but what varies greatly are the triggers which set off an attack. A trigger can be any external effect (such as cold air, animals, dust, etc) which our bodies react to. Each sufferer has different tolerance levels to different triggers, which would be great if we knew what our own particular triggers were. But we don't, and herein lies the problem.

Do you get an asthma attack when you are or have been near dogs? How about when exercising? In these cases the cause of the trigger is quite obvious. But what happens when you aren't so sure? By keeping a diary we can pinpoint the exact triggers our systems are susceptible to. In order for it to work properly though, it has to be detailed. Note down all the exercise you do and your body's reaction to it. On one particular day did the exercise have negative results? Why? What was the weather like? Describe the room where you exercised. If the room is where you habitually go to exercise, was there something different about it on that day? Make a list in your diary of all the food you eat. It's not much good just writing 'pizza', as that doesn't give us much detail. Try to write down as many ingredients as possible, as a lot of foods are known to be triggers.

This all may seem like too much hard work, but after only a few days of writing in your diary you will soon see a pattern emerging. Another very important use of your asthma diary is to note the results of what is called a Control Pause. Do this in the morning on arising. After you breathe out normally, measure the time before you need to take in another breath. Some people cannot manage even one second while others can quite naturally last for 40 seconds or more. You can increase your control Pause by doing breathing exercises. Many people have found that their asthma attacks stop when they have a Control Pause of greater than 20. This gives them the confidence to lead a normal life.


© Karon Beattie - asthma treatments

© Karon Beattie asthma treatments

Asthma treatments

Go to bed with a bug and wake up with asthma

How dust mites are making asthma sufferers' lives a mess.

If I were to tell you that every night you sleep with thousands of insects right there in the bed with you, you would probably like to believe I was crazy. I'm not. Sorry. These insects are called dust mites. I know, I know, you've never seen one in your bed. You can't, as they are microscopic entities. A hundred of the little pests wouldn't fill up a speck of dust. Now before everyone takes a long sigh of relief that could cause a tornado in Texas, let's get something clear; Dust mites can be a health hazard, especially if you suffer from asthma. The problem that they cause is because of a protein they create that can trigger an asthma attack. Just one of these mites can make two hundred times its body weight in waste, waste containing this protein, so you don't need to be Einstein to do the math. Suffice to say that there's a lot of dust mite protein in every house in the entire world.

Dust mites inhabit all the rooms in your house, but they seem to have a particular liking to the bedroom. They live off dust (hence the name) and yes, our dead skin as it falls off us at night. Not a very nice thought if you had a romantic evening planned. If you have asthma, then it might very well be worth your while to follow these simple steps to controlling this particular asthma trigger.

First of all, let me say that it is nigh impossible to eliminate dust mites completely, but that's not to say you have to give in and live with them. You can buy an anti mite cover for your mattress, and avoid keeping anything under the bed. Cleaning is a priority, but not with a feather duster. All they do is move the dust from one place to another, causing a dust storm in the process. Use a damp cloth to make sure all the dirt is eliminated. Next, when was the last time you looked on top of the wardrobe? Or rather, when was the first time you looked on top of the wardrobe! This is one area no one ever seems to bother cleaning. Out of sight, out of mind, they say, and the dust mites love you for it. Wash the bedclothes at least once a week at a high temperature and try to use plastic coverings for all your clothes hanging in the wardrobe, too. If you have carpets and you don't want to get rid of them (wooden floors are perfect for the asthma sufferer), invest in a good vacuum cleaner.

These are simple things we can do to cut down on dust mites. If you have asthma, they might well be the major cause of your attacks. Try them and see for yourself. Also, check out this asthma treatment that will ensure the dust mites don't bother you any more.


© Karon Beattie - asthma treatments

© Karon Beattie asthma treatments