What Is Asthma

Contrary to popular belief there are actually a lot of ways you can get rid of the asthma in your life. Although you might not believe it, if you take a little time to focus on this article, you can learn a lot about reducing the asthma symptoms in your life. If you want to make life a little easier for yourself then you are going to want to take the following advice into serious consideration. The time to make your life simpler is now, so start reading this article and fill your brain with new knowledge on how to alleviate your asthma symptoms.

Before you follow any of the advice ahead, consult with your doctor to see what they have to say about the suggestions from this article. The advice in this article can help you, but everyone has different bodies so it might be hard for people to apply all of the advice from this article. Your doctor will give you a good idea if you should follow the advice from this article. You don't want to try and do something and then have it have a reverse effect on you, so it is wise to talk to your practitioner right away.

Formulate a regular exercise routine. Exercising can actually reduce to stress in your life, and it can help your lungs stay strong. Both of those things help reduce the chances that you'll have an asthma attack. You don't want to push it too hard when you exercise, but do a light workout. If you regularly complete light workout sessions you'll help build strength in your lungs, and you'll slowly notice your asthma symptoms go away.

Do some breathing exercises to help strengthen your lungs. A good way to get your lungs strong is to do some breathing exercises. This is a smart way to help increase your lung capacity, and to get an idea of how strong your lungs are on a personal level. When you do breathing exercises it helps you focus on how to control your lungs, and you might even be able to prevent yourself from having an asthma attack in the process.

Complete some kind of stress reducing activity such as yoga. Yoga is a nice and relaxing exercise that helps you reduce a lot of stress. Try and enroll into a yoga class to help your lungs build in strength, and to help reduce the stress in your life. Try it out for a couple of weeks and see if you notice a difference. Yoga can truly help reduce the chances that you'll have an asthma attack, because it helps you figure out how to be calm.

By applying everything that was outlined in this article it is only a matter of time before you think that you don't have asthma anymore. Be conscious that you are going to build strength in your lungs, and that you'll most likely reduce the chances that you'll have an asthma attack, but that your asthma might always be with you so take precaution.

If you are one that suffers from attacks due to the constant strain from air pollution, wouldn't you wonder if that may be the reason you suffer from asthma? Studies over the years have linked air pollution to many different illness and disease such as chronic fatigue to an array of respiratory illnesses. The problem with air pollution is at times it can be right at our front door. What I mean is when ozone drops down to very low levels it pushes the air pollution right down on top of us where we are forced to breath it in. This is a worst case scenario for someone that suffers from asthma.

What about the air pollution that your mom was breathing in before she was giving birth to you? How about the air pollution that your mother was breathing in? The average baby, right at this very moment is being born with over 200 known toxins and heavy metals in their blood. Doctors tested the umbilical cord blood for pollution and the findings were staggering. You know they say that asthma can be hereditary. What if it was passed down because of the accumulation of air pollution from generation to generation and when it got to you, you were already extremely vulnerable to its affects.

There are so many what ifs and so many claims on what has actually caused asthma in children and adults. The findings always seem to come up short. All the answers your doctor has are to put you on prescription drugs and an emergency inhaler. If you understand how these medications work you will see that they are designed to control your asthma symptoms, not let you overcome asthma. The reason why you may have asthma in the first place is all the air pollution your body has been exposed to. This exposure could have weakened your lungs to the point where they just broke down and up pops this horrible disease. I believe that if we remove this pollution from our bodies then it may have the power to combat even the ugliest of diseases.

So, does air pollution cause asthma? After the discussion in this article I can bet that you're wondering if it could be the reason you or a loved one has this disease. Once this disease overwhelms you there is little control. Unfortunately you search for ways to control your symptoms that you can live with and have a life close to normal as possible. But unfortunately when you only control something it always fights you for control. It is a constant battle, one that we want to win, but with the tools given to you by your doctor may not be the answer to your overcoming your disease.

How about options, at this point you don't really think you have any. We have a method that is a natural option, provided by Mother Nature herself to help us overcome illness and disease. This is a very simple solution that not many know about. Do you want to know about it? Once you discover the uniqueness of what Mother Nature has for you, you will want to share it with others because of the nature of the tool itself. It is a tool that gives your body a chance at freedom from disease, freedom from the pollution that at this very moment is trapped in your body causing you harm. Learn more about this so that you too may find freedom to live a normal life.

Types of asthma and common triggers of asthma attacks:

There are three main types of asthma, allergic, idiopathic, and mixed asthma.

The first main type of asthma is allergic asthma. This type of asthma is caused by airborne and seasonal allergens. Some of these Allergens include pollen, mold, pet dander and dust mites. Once you are exposed to an allergen, it acts as a trigger for an asthma attack, causing coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. By avoiding the allergen, the asthma can be controlled.

The second main type of asthma is idiopathic or non-allergic asthma. This type of asthma is not related to any specific allergen or substance. Common triggers for idiopathic or non-allergic asthma include the common cold, a respiratory tract infection, exercise, emotions, environmental pollution or some food additives such as sulphates. Over time, asthma attacks can become more frequent and severe if left untreated. This type of asthma can also develop into a more serious respiratory condition, such as chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.

The third main type of asthma is mixed asthma. An individual could have a combination of both allergic and idiopathic (or non-allergic) asthma. This is the most commonly diagnosed.

Different treatments for asthma:

It is important to know what your personal asthma triggers are. Preventative medications do not stop an asthma attack, they only help improve your day to day functioning. Therefore, knowing your personal triggers is a must. Triggers can include weather conditions like extreme temperatures, pet dander, dust, mold, pollen, dairy products, emotions, and exercise. It is possible to eliminate some triggers like pet dander, dust mold, pollen and dairy products. Pets can be bathed to help with their dander. Frequent cleaning for dust and mold problems helps along with keeping windows closed and running the air conditioner during the spring and summer seasons.

Bedrooms are good rooms to target to get rid of a lot of dust. Dust and dust mites collect in pillows and mattresses. There are covers for pillows and mattresses that help to eliminate dust mites. Also the regular cleaning of sheets, blankets and curtains will help. It is recommended when possible not to have carpet or throw rugs as these items also collect dust and present problems.

According to medical theory, asthma is a hypersensitivity reaction of the lung. The bronchioles of the lungs start to constrict when triggered by stimuli. When your body is weak, the hypersensitivity reaction is more extreme and the asthma attack is more severe. Once the lungs become hypersensitive easily, it is almost impossible to remove these reactions. In Chinese concept, asthma is most likely triggered when the body is weak. According to Chinese alternative medication, eating a certain Chinese bird nest which can only been found in a cave is very good at controlling asthma. It is a bird's salivary secretion which contains lots of minerals. Some believe there are some Chinese herbs which are good for asthma also.

Some asthmatics try Chiropractic care not just for symptomatic relief of asthma and allergies, but for a complete change in how the body responds to allergens and infections. The nervous system controls all of the functions of the body and allergies are an inability to respond properly to something we are sensitive to. It's not the pollen or mold or food that gives us the allergy it's the way the body responds to the allergen. So the medication that helps with our symptoms is suppressing the body's response to something we are sensitive to. A Chiropractor performs an adjustment in a patient's spine which provides more comfort and freer breathing. They also recommend a change to a more natural diet with whole foods. It is recommended to take the most natural approach possible. First make sure your nervous system is doing exactly what it should. Get checked by a Chiropractor who will be able to recommend nutritional supplements which will help strengthen the glands in the body that have the most to do with allergy response, the adrenal glands. They put out adrenaline, which is a hormone that, when injected into the body, will immediately stop an allergic response.

After having a major reaction from an allergy injection which resulted in the development of asthma, I started looking for alternative ways to approach my health. I am allergic to everything under the sun and have been known to sneeze all day, break blood vessels from fiercely rubbing my itchy eyes and go through a whole tissue box in one day. All of these symptoms are part of my immune system's reaction to allergens. At the suggestion of a vendor at the local farmer's market, I began taking a tablespoon of Wildflower honey everyday. It took less than two weeks for my body to start feeling the benefits.

The reason Wildflower honey works is that it gradually vaccinates the body against allergens. Like allergy shots, it desensitizes the body and increases the tolerance to allergens. Honey consists of some of the same pollen spores that allergy sufferers react to. Introducing your body to these spores by eating honey decreases the occurrence of an immune system response, such as histamine. Honey exposes your body to allergens, reducing symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and asthma.

It is important to buy honey that is harvested within a short radius from your home. Also, it is more effective to take honey that has been made in the current season. Purchasing a fresh jar of honey at the local farmer's market is always the best option.

If you are using it to rid yourself of allergies, be sure to buy Wildflower honey. Take it alone and do not alter the temperature by mixing it in hot water or tea.

Besides using honey to help your body overcome allergy symptoms, it will give you more energy. It is great to take if you have a sore throat, as it kills the bacteria which attributes to a sore throat.

If you substitute honey for sugar when baking bread, it will stay softer for a longer time and will taste better. It stops nitrosamines, a carcinogenic, from forming in barbecue sauce when used in lieu of sugar. Tasting twice as sweet as sugar, you can use half the amount, which means using half the amount of carbohydrates.

Over 50 years ago my stay at home mom took my brother, sister, and myself to the grocery store. We lived in a town of 450 people and it hasn't grown since. Back then it was okay for mom to leave us alone in the car and expect us to have behaved while she was inside. Dad was at work which didn't matter because mom wouldn't rat on us for misbehaving because she would take care of the problem on the spot. One day the scene was as described and with me being the oldest and my sister next we were laughing pretty hard at the antics of our little brother who was about two years old. We thought he was putting on a pretty good show. As it turned out he was having convulsions from an asthma attack. It scared the water out of mom when she came out and discovered what we were laughing so hard about. Her fear apparently made an impression on me too since I haven't forgotten it.

Today, there are no known cures for asthma, a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways that causes recurring outbreaks of wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and coughing. Generally the coughing most often occurs during the night or early in the morning because of inflamed swollen and sensitive airways. Swollen or narrow airways may make more mucus that further narrows the breathing airways. They tend to react strongly to certain inhaled substances.

Some symptoms of asthma are mild enough they go away on their own or with minimal treatment. I already described the attacks that are not pretty and can be fatal if not treated. As mentioned asthma has no known cure. The person with the disease can feel fine but they still have it and asthma can flare up at any time. There are treatments that allow people to manage their disease so a more normal, active life and getting a good night's sleep is possible.

The statistics show that asthma can affect people of all ages, but mostly starts during childhood. More than 22 million people in the U.S. are known to have asthma with almost 6 million being children with boys having the disease more than girls.

What Causes Asthma?

No one knows the exact cause of asthma but some researchers link it genetically and environmentally. The Childhood Asthma Reduction Study (CARES) has an inner city program to get rid of cockroaches because their evidence shows allergens from cockroaches are risk factors for asthma. Contrary to the cockroach theory some researchers theorize that in the U.S. the emphasis on hygiene and sanitation shows a decline in asthma in children due to environmental exposures. Researchers continue to look for causes. Some risk factors are allergies but not all who suffer asthma have allergies, eczema or heredity. There are occupational risks with dust or chemicals in the work place. Inside some steel mills and foundries the dust level could be a contributing factor along with birds such as pigeons roosting inside the buildings.

How to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms

There are some common signs and symptoms to watch for:

• Coughing - Asthma often is worse at night or early in the morning.


• Wheezing when you breathe.


• Chest tightness.


• Shortness of breath or feeling out of breath unable to get air out of the lungs.

Then there are some people that do not have these symptoms with asthma and some showing these symptoms doesn't mean you have it either. A lung function test and physical exam is the only way to determine for sure if it asthma is present.

Asthma symptoms may be mild enough to be an annoyance to limiting chores to severe forms that can be fatal..

What Causes Asthma Symptoms?

You can lessen asthma symptoms by being aware of things that may trigger it such as:

• The known allergens from cockroaches, pollens, dust and animal fur.


• Anything that irritates the lungs, cleaners, perfumes or sprays, smoke, smog or air pollution, dust or chemicals where you work.


• Even the supposedly heart healthy aspirin and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


• Additives in food and drinks like sulfites.


• Viral upper respiratory infections. Colds and flu.


• Exercise, working in the yard and trying to get some physical activity can trigger it but is not to be avoided as it is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

What affects one person may not affect another.

Diagnosing asthma

There is a very long list of things to check that only a doctor can do to properly diagnose asthma. He will look at your medical and family history, a physical exam, and get test results to figure the severity and determine what treatment is necessary. Some asthma attacks only occur during certain times of the year, in certain places or if it's worse at night. He will also check for other conditions that make managing asthma more difficult.

The goal of an asthma treatment and action plan is to control the disease to prevent coughing and other symptoms reducing the need for medicines and help maintain good lung function. The action plan provides guidance on medicines, avoiding triggers and tracking the asthma.

An asthma action plan gives guidance on taking your medicines properly, avoiding asthma triggers (except physical activity), tracking your level of asthma control, responding to worsening asthma, and seeking emergency care when needed.

Medicines

As in the diagnosis of asthma there is a long list of medicines to try from pills to inhalers, long-term (inhaled corticosteroids) to quick relief medicines that are designed to prevent symptoms or reduce inflammation in the airways. The doctor will also discuss benefits as well as risks or side effects of certain medications. Thrush is a mouth infection and common side effect from inhaled corticosteroids. Quick relief inhalers do not reduce inflammation.

Getting the asthma under control is the main concern when beginning treatments and the doctor will want regular visits every 2 to 6 weeks at first until controlled changing the visit to once a month or semi-annual. The goal is to reduce medication too requiring the person with asthma to take an active role in helping control the disease by following the action plan set by the doctor while watching for signs that it may be worsening.

There are many aromatherapy and essential oils that may be helpful in breathing and can be found on the link on the website. Among several is Cajeput Essential Oil and it's benefits include: Arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, colds, coughs, cystitis, flu, insect bites, muscular aches and pains, oily skin, sinusitis, sore throat, urinary infection, viral infections. Cajeput can be used similar to eucalyptus during the cold season. Add it to a diffuser to disinfect the air, and clear congestion.

Your doctor can offer treatments and suggestions for managing asthma, but there are plenty of things you can do yourself as well. A doctor can prescribe medication to help, but prevention is really the best medicine.

Because asthma can be triggered by so many things, there are lots of ways you can decrease the chances of an attack. The following are 10 of the easiest ways:

1. Follow your doctor's orders. This kind of goes without saying, but do what your doctor tells you. Don't stop taking medication if you're feeling better, follow it according to the doctor's recommendations. If he has you taking daily peak flow measurements, make sure you follow those instructions carefully.

2. Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke is one of the most common triggers for asthma, so if you smoke, quit. This should be the case whether it's you that suffers from asthma or someone else in your household - second hand smoke is bad too.

3. Keep your house as dust-free as possible - dust is another one of the common triggers. Use a cylinder vacuum rather than an upright - preferably one that has a sealed canister to stop dust from escaping back into the air.

4. If possible, remove any carpets and heavy draperies from the house. They catch dust and are breeding grounds for dust mites. If they can't be removed, make sure they get vacuumed regularly (again with a cylinder vacuum).

5. Avoid down and feather pillows or comforters and cover your mattress with plastic. Pillows and mattresses can also harbor dust mites, as can stuffed animals and other "soft" items.

6. Use a scarf to cover your nose and mouth in colder weather. Cold air is another common trigger for asthma.

7. If allergens trigger your asthma, keep track of the outside air quality every day. Avoid fields and wooded areas during pollen season and take extra care on days when the air quality is particularly bad.

8. Mold is another common asthma trigger. Dry wet laundry right away and wash and disinfect showers and bathrooms regularly, to help minimize the chance of mold growth.

9. Pet dander is another common trigger for many people. If you have pets, be sure to keep them out of the bedroom and main living areas to minimize the exposure to dander.

10. Avoid any foods, drinks or other items that may cause allergic reactions.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a respiratory condition which is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the Bronchial tubes, these are the small airways that carry air in and out of the lungs. When this happens it makes it difficult to breathe.

How Do You End Up With Asthma?

Asthma roughly affects 5 in every 100 with the numbers of children suffering from it rising all the time. Asthma can come into your life at any age there is no set pattern. We just don't know why some people have it and some people don't.

Doctors however do know that people with asthma have more sensitive airways than normal. Asthma can also sometimes run in families, Allergens are also a common trigger of asthma attacks, allergies to smoke, dust, pollen, animals, pollution and more, sometimes even certain types of foods can be triggers. Other factors that can cause an asthma attack to come on are vigorous exercise, stress and cold air. It is also known that common colds and coughs leading to chest infections can make asthma attacks more common and severe.

What If You Are Diagnosed With Asthma?

If you have been diagnosed with asthma your doctor would have most likely been through causes and prevention with you. You should also have a treatment plan in place to manage your symptoms and sometimes an action plan is put in place in case of emergencies.

Asthma, in most cases can be managed successfully with Inhalers; depending on the severity of the condition you may even be prescribed tablets in addition to inhalers.

If medication is taken properly and asthma is monitored regularly then as stated before, it can be managed successfully.

What If You Have An Attack?

Early warning signs are usually visible if an attack is likely to occur. DO NOT IGNORE the signs.

Signs like, tightness of the chest, wheezing, coughing and the feeling of not being able to breathe in enough air are ALL early signs.

It is important to use your medication as instructed by your doctor, Inhalers can prevent an attack from becoming severe so don't delay in taking them.

Once you have taken your medication you need to try to stay calm and relax, raising your arms up opens your airways that little bit more and can sometimes help too.

If however, the attack progresses and worsens then DO NOT hesitate to call your doctor (or ask someone to call for you). It could be that you need some stronger medication this time to get through the attack.

Asthma is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. It can kill.

It is possible though to lead a normal and fulfilling life as long as you are sensible and manage your asthma as instructed by your doctor.

Asthma is a lung disease that causes obstruction of the airways. During an asthma attack spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict, impeding the outward passage of stale air. Asthma provoking allergens include animal dander, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, environmental pollutants, fumes, mold and tobacco smoke. The bronchial tubes then swell and become plugged with mucus in order to isolate the offending allergen or toxins. The swelling of the bronchial tubes further irritates the airways resulting in even greater sensitivity. Symptoms:

Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, coughing, wheezing, feeling tightness in the chest.

Recommendations:

• Correcting nutritional deficiencies may significantly affect people with asthma. People with asthma may be nutrient deficient in Vitamin B6- supplementation led to significant improvement in children suffering from bronchial asthma. Allergy, 35(2), August 1975, p. 93-97, Vitamin C- Asthma symptoms in adults have been shown to decrease following vitamin C supplementation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61(17), April 23, 1983, p. 649-652, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. We suggest a high quality whole food supplement, like VITAFORCE that is complete and made from whole foods. Make sure you know what you are getting from the nutritional label.


• Flax seed oil (essential fatty acids needed for production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins - hormone-like chemicals that are important in regulating the inflammatory response),


• Eat a diet of foods that heal, primarily consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, oatmeal, brown rice and whole grains, include garlic and onions (these contain quercetin and mustard oils which have been shown to inhibit an enzyme that aids in releasing inflammatory chemicals).


• Drink 8 glasses of distilled water, not at meals, but throughout the day. This helps eliminate toxins and decreases the amount of mucous in the body.


• Drink organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar 2-4 times a day. This helps cut down on mucous.


• Keep your home clean using all natural cleaning products. Vacuum regularly and use a wet cloth to remove dust. Look into high quality air filters.

• All dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, etc...) as they are a major contributor of toxins and the formation of mucus in the body.


• All meat (fish, turkey, and chicken too). Major contributors to asthma.


• All processed and junk foods; loaded food additives and preservatives like sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, and sulfur dioxide which have caused severe attacks in asthmatics.

1) James F. Balch, M.D, Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," (1997)

2) P.J. Collipp, et. al., "Pyridoxine Treatment of Childhood Bronchial Asthma," Ann Allergy, 35(2), August 1975, p. 93-97

3) G.E. Hatch, "Asthma, Inhaled Oxidants, and Dietary Antioxidants," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61(17), April 23, 1983, p. 649-652

The symptoms of asthma vary greatly among individuals; and at times, attacks can vary, even for the same person. Your ability to recognize the early signs and symptoms that initially appear prior to an attack is critical if you wish to avoid an emergency room visit. When you notice these signs, you should heed the advice of your Doctor and follow a professionally directed action plan.

Before a full-blown asthma attack, there are usually early signs and symptoms you should be able to easily recognize. Irritation of the nose and throat, thirst, and the increased need to urinate are all common symptoms that may occur before an asthma attack. Each person has his or her own peculiar pattern of early symptoms, and most often, these symptoms progress to a severe respiratory distress episode if not properly treated.

The classic symptoms of an actual attack include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Wheezing when exhaling is very common during an attack. Often the attack begins with wheezing and rapid breathing and, as respiratory airways constrict and tighten, all breathing muscles become visibly active.

Some people first experience this chest tightness or pain. Chest pain occurs in about 75% of asthmatics; it can be very severe and its intensity is unrelated to the severity of the attack itself. The neck muscles may tense and talking may become difficult or impossible. The end of an attack is often marked by a cough that produces a thick, stringy mucus. After an acute attack, inflammation can persist for a few days up to several weeks. This inflammation is most often left untreated since it is usually symptomless. But, it is this asymptomatic inflammation that must be treated in order to prevent long term respiratory damage or relapse.

The most common asthmatic symptoms are:

Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
If you experience breathlessness after laughing or speaking long sentences, you could have asthma. In rare instances, you may find that you feel the need to inhale before you have finished breathing out.

Wheezing
This is the whistling sound sometimes heard when you breathe. It indicates airway narrowing and it could be present on inhalation or exhalation. (Please recognize that not all asthmatics wheeze and not all wheezing indicates an asthmatic condition.)

Exercise induced breathlessness
If physical exertion (playing a sport, walking up a flight of stairs, rapid physical exertion, etc.) makes you short of breath, then this could be an indication of asthma.

Tight chested feeling
This sensation feels like a tight band across your chest - like an elastic band or a heavy weight resting on your chest. Your ability to fully inhale is limited and, in advanced situations, painful. Sometimes this tightness is exacerbated in cold weather.

Excessive mucus production
Gurgling or rattling during inhalation or exhalation plus coughing up a lot of white frothy mucus is common in asthmatic individuals. Sometimes this mucous will be thick in consistency and yellow or green in color.

Cough
A recurring, irritating cough is frequently a sign of asthma. This persistent cough usually occurs in the cool air, at night, or after exercise.

Chest pain
When air is trapped in the airways due to inflammation, the surrounding membrane stretches, and causes pain. Advanced cases can often lead to complicated situations involving conditions similar to emphysema.

Nasal Congestion and drainage Nasal congestion and a runny nose are often accompanying features of asthma. Rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) is often called asthma of the nose.

Disturbed Sleep Patterns
An inability to sleep due to snoring or repeated awakening during the night could be an asthma symptom. Other conditions also display this condition, so this symptom alone should not be considered conclusive.

Lethargy
Feeling very tired is quite usual for asthmatics. It is often the result of interrupted sleep patterns, diminished oxygen supply to the blood and availability to the body tissues, plus the build up of muscular lactic acid which results in generalized muscle fatigue.

The Early Warning Signs:
Even mild asthmatics can have severe attacks and therefore it is important to recognize the early signs so that you can take appropriate action.

• Your reliever (puffer) is no longer as effective and you need to use it more frequently than every 3-4 hours.


• The wheeze improves or even disappears but there is no improvement in your ability to breathe.


• You have real difficulty in speaking complete sentences without stopping to take a breath.


• You start to turn a blue to gray color, especially around the lips and fingertips. This is a condition called cyanosis and indicates that you have insufficient oxygen levels in your circulating blood.


• You become anxious to the point of being frightened.


• Thinking clearly becomes difficult.


• Every breath becomes increasingly difficult.

The best advice we could possibly give you is, Never ignore an asthma attack in the hope that it will get better or go away. If problems persist, seek qualified medical attention and follow a professionally directed recovery and treatment plan.

Managing asthma effectively means reducing the triggers that cause flare ups. You can raise air quality and your quality of life by reducing these top 5 irritants in your indoor air.

Dust Mites - The presence of these little bugs can lead to the onset of asthma as well as exacerbate an existing condition. No one escapes these little bugs in their home regardless of how good a housekeeper you are.

They thrive in warm, moist, and dark places which makes the bedroom ideal, and more specifically every bed in your home, a perfect target.

Dust - This collection of particles is distinct to each home but generally includes dirt, minute pieces of paper from mail, magazines and other paper products, outdoor particles that get blown in such as pollen and mold and mildew spores, pet dander, and on it goes.

Airborne Chemicals - Unfortunately, these are becoming more prevalent in the products we use for everyday living. Scents from cleaning and personal products, formaldehyde used in building materials, chemicals that off gas from pressed wood furniture, and those used to fire-proof draperies and clothing can really pollute indoor air.

Being vigilant about the products you select to bring into your home can improve your air quality. But often it's difficult to figure out which fumes or combinations are causing the problem.

Smoke - The banning of smoking in public places has resulted in major improvement of air quality in restaurants. But if you live with a smoker who can't stop smoking, or your apartment situation makes you vulnerable to second-hand smoke, you're in a tough spot.

The chemicals, smoke and particles that burning of any kind naturally produce can really cause havoc with asthma. Wood burning stoves and fireplaces can also prove to be irritants and can often push irritant levels to the point of a flare up.

Spores - A natural part of nature, mold and mildew spores as well as seasonal pollens are constantly hitching a ride into your home as doors open and clothes, on packages, in hair, and on pets.

Regardless of how many precautions you take, there is no way to stop some outside air, and all that it contains, from coming indoors.

In fact, the only way to keep all of these airborne triggers continually under control is to filter the air continually with an air purifier that contains filters capable of eliminating both gaseous and particulate irritants.

24 hour filtration is an effective yet non-invasive way to maintain clean air 24 hours every day. And just knowing that the air in your home is not going to sabotage your health provides a physical and emotional haven that you can look forward to enjoying.