Asthma: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Asthma
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease sometimes worrisome and inconvenient but a manageable condition. With proper understanding, good medical care, and monitoring, you can keep asthma under control. Chronic condition characterized by difficulty in breathing due to spasm of the bronchi (air passages) in the lungs. Attacks may be provoked by allergy, infection, and stress.
The incidence of asthma may be increasing as a result of air pollution and occupational hazard. An asthma attack can be very serious. If you have trouble breathing, call 9-1-1 for help right away. You can't cure asthma, but you can control it. Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper responsive airways that cause symptoms of asthma. Airways react by narrowing or obstruction when something irritates them. Making a correct diagnosis is very important, because that is the only way to treat it appropriately.
Asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs (bronchioles). Asthma is caused by chronic (ongoing, long-term) inflammation of these passages. This makes the breathing passages, or airways, of the person with asthma highly sensitive to various "triggers." When an asthmatic person has an asthma attack the membranes inside the bronchial tubes release mucus and become inflamed. The inflammation causes the muscles to contract and create spasms. These muscle spasms are responsible for wheezing. Asthma is a common condition that causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and breathlessness.
Causes of Asthma
The exact cause of asthma isn't fully understood at present. Sometimes, the symptoms flare up for no obvious reason, but you may notice certain triggers that set off an asthma attack or make your symptoms worse. These triggers irritate the airways in your lungs and can include:
infections such as colds and flu
irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke, fumes
chemicals found in the workplace - this is called occupational asthma
allergies to pollen, medicines, animals, house dust mite or certain foods
exercise - especially in cold, dry air
emotions - laughing or crying very hard can trigger symptoms, as can stress
Bronchoconstriction
Inflammation
Dietary changes
Occupational exposure
Strong emotional expression (including crying or laughing hard) and stress.
A condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease that causes heartburn and can worsen asthma symptoms, especially at night.
Symptoms of Asthma
Coughing is the most common asthma symptom. Coughing associated with asthma generally worsens at night and early in the morning, making sleeping difficult.
Rapid breathing is a common asthma symptom. When breathlessness occurs, you may try to breathe faster to try to get air in and out of your lungs.
Peak flow numbers may be in the caution or danger range
Neck area and between or below the ribs moves inward with breathing.
Walking causes shortness of breath.
Gray or bluish tint to skin, beginning around the mouth.
Treatment
Controllers, also called "preventers, " reduce inflammation in the airways. Controllers should be taken every day. You will know that the controller medication is working because you will, over time, have fewer and fewer symptoms. When your asthma is totally controlled and you have no symptoms, do not stop taking them.
Generally, dairy products are not good for asthmatics. They're too mucus-forming. We have heard, though, that cheddar cheese might be an exception. It contains "tyramine, " an ingredient that seems to help open up the breathing passages.
Turmeric is valuable in asthma. The patient should be given a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk, two or three times daily. It acts best when taken on an empty stomach.
By: Peter sams
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Read about Acne Cure and Treatments and Breast Enlargement Enhancement. Also read about Beauty and Makeup Tips
|
4 Dec 2008 at 6:23pm
Holistic Healing Options for Sinusitis and Sinus Pain Albany Times Union, NY - 8 hours ago It helps to do an initial saline rinse (using, if you choose, a pre-made packet or kosher, non-iodized salt) to clear away mucous and allergy-stimulating ... | Read more...
4 Dec 2008 at 1:16pm
List of 25 substances to be monitored Toronto Star, Canada - 13 hours ago People allergic to chromium may have asthma attacks after breathing high levels in air. Atmospheric contamination is caused by the combustion of natural gas ... | Read more...
4 Dec 2008 at 9:21am * Tasigna front-line data demonstrating potential in newly diagnosed patients with a life-threatening type of leukemia to be featured in two oral sessions at ASH * Exjade results at ASH to show benefits for chronically transfused patients by ... Read more...
3 Dec 2008 at 4:12am
New technology helps students during flu season The Daily Collegian Online, PA - Dec 3, 2008 "There are two groups of people who are primary candidates for the FluMist: those who are afraid of needles or those who have an allergy to a component in ... | Read more...
2 Dec 2008 at 5:13pm
Taming Winter Allergies WEAU-TV 13, WI - Dec 2, 2008 Although most of us probably don't realize it, the winter is considered an allergy season. When our houses are closed up, certain allergens can't escape, ... | Read more...
2 Dec 2008 at 1:33pm
Mum killed by allergic reaction Bradford Telegraph Argus, UK - Dec 2, 2008 Laura Ashworth, 21, a single mother of Bierley, Bradford, collapsed at her home on March 31 this year after suffering a coughing fit. ... | Read more...
2 Dec 2008 at 3:54am According to a 2006 study of online health searches by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 80 percent of American Internet users, or some 113 million adults, have searched for information on health topics. The project, an initiative of the ... Read more...
1 Dec 2008 at 9:23pm
Mullein and Coltsfoot: The Best Herbs for Cough Relief Natural News.com, AZ - Dec 1, 2008 An expectorant and demulcent, Coltsfoot is one of the oldest cough treatments among European remedies. Coltsfoot has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic ... | Read more...
1 Dec 2008 at 5:46pm
My Pikin: A fatal attraction Vanguard, Nigeria - Dec 1, 2008 Several nursing mothers and medical personnel recognise it as an effective remedy for the relief of infant teething problems, cough, pain, restlessness and ... | Read more...
30 Nov 2008 at 4:58pm
Gradeons: Prescribing placebos Houston Chronicle, United States - Nov 30, 2008 I reported this to my pharmacist and was told that I might be allergic to the ?DM? in Robitussin. He warned me to read all labels on cough medicines from ... | Read more...
|