What Is Asthma

An asthma nebulizer is used to provide relief to children and adults showing asthma symptoms or suffering from other COPD-related and respiratory problems. The nebulizer changes the liquid medicine into vapor form, which is easily inhaled into the lungs.

Like an inhaler, the nebulizer too delivers the medicine in mist form directly into the ailing lungs. The inhaler, however, relies on the patient's 'ability to coordinate taking a deep inhalation with depressing the aerosol tube to deliver a metered-dose of medication', whereas the nebulizer does everything for the patient. Thus, the asthma nebulizers are very helpful for children and adults who face problems using asthma inhalers. However, the doctor must prescribe the use of an asthma nebulizer before you can actually start using it.

In this article, we will give you some easy tips on using an asthma nebulizer.

First, you should speak to your doctor about how you shall benefit from the use of an asthma nebulizer, and whether there are any disadvantages. It has been observed that while for some patients, the mist delivery is the best treatment option, for others the use of regular inhalers or oral asthma medicines is much more effective. Talking it out with your doctor will help you determine which will give you maximum relief.

Request your practitioner to give you prescriptions for both, the liquid medicines and the asthma nebulizer. This will help you in claiming insurance on medical equipment, as many of the companies pay if you submit valid prescriptions and authorization from the doctor.

Buy a nebulizer model that is suitable to your needs and read the instruction manual very carefully. Once you have read the instructions, assemble all the parts of the nebulizer and test the machine. You should have clear knowledge of which medicine to use in the nebulizer cup, and in what dosage, and whether you need to add saline to the mixture.

Whenever you get severe asthma attacks, treat yourself with the asthma nebulizer. Simply place the medicine in the nebulizer cup and put the mask over your face. Turn on the machine, inhale the mist into your lungs, and exhale slowly.

You should use the nebulizer regularly to prevent sudden asthma flare-ups. The nebulizer will deliver the medicine slowly and evenly, and thus, helps the medicine to settle in your lungs. This is why many patients use nebulizer for delivering anti-inflammatory medications.

Always remember to store liquid asthma medications out of the reach of small children, as accidental drinking or inhaling it can be dangerous, even if it is there medicine.

Asthma is a long-term disease affecting the lungs and the airways. In this kind of condition, the airways narrows and inflames. The common signs and symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, wheezing sound, coughing and shortness of breath. The coughing symptom often occurs early in the morning or late at night. In a situation of asthma attack which is also referred to as an asthma exacerbation, the lining of your airways becomes inflamed. The muscles will contract causing you to experience a narrowed breathing pattern. During an asthma exacerbation, you will cough a lot, wheeze and you may experience difficulty of breathing. This kind of condition can be mild which can be managed at home. However, there are severe cases which need immediate attention because it can be a life-threatening situation.

Severe and Mild Forms of Asthma

Some individuals with asthma do not experience an attack of asthma for longer periods. They can actually continue with their day to day activities without experiencing any signs and symptoms of asthma. But there are also some individuals who happen to experience recurrent attack of asthma.

Asthma attack which is mild in form is actually more common compared to severe cases. In mild cases of asthma, your airways will just open up after a few minutes of treatment. With regards to severe attacks of asthma, it is less common but the symptoms really last for longer hours which can threaten your life. This is the main reason why people having severe asthma attacks need to be transported to the nearest health care facility as soon as possible. In order to prevent severe cases of asthma attacks, it is very essential for you to be capable of recognizing early signs and symptoms of an asthma. Treating mild signs and symptoms will prevent further attacks of asthma that are severe in form.

Life-Threatening Asthma

For some reason wherein you have not received any kind of treatment for your asthma attacks for a long time, you won't be able to speak and you would likely develop a bluish discoloration all over your lips. This condition is due to the lack of oxygen circulating in your body. In medical terminology, the bluish discoloration around your lips is referred to as "cyanosis." In the absence of immediate medical attention, you may experience loss of consciousness and you can eventually die.

Early Warning Signs of Asthma Attack

In general, the early symptoms of asthma are not actually severe that may paralyze your day to day activities. But because you can recognize the early signs and symptoms, you can prevent further exacerbation of these.

There are several warning signs of an early asthma attack. These warning signs include frequent cough which is common at night, a meter reading which shows reduced peak flow, shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing, fatigue, body malaise, wheezing, moody, grumpy, easily upset, having trouble falling asleep and signs of allergies or cold such as nasal congestion, headache, and sore throat. The above mentioned warning signs are important for you to remember always. Keep things in moderation and always bring your medication with you. Remember, an attack of asthma can occur unexpectedly.

Read this article to know the best Home Remedies for Asthma. First of all let me tell you what is Asthma?

Asthma happens when the main air passages of your lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed. Asthma is a chronic but treatable situation. It is a very common long-term condition that affects your airways and breathing. It affects the airways, the small tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. It may be very mild, or it can be very severe. Asthma can be deadly if it's not controlled. More than 20 million Americans are expected to have asthma, an immune disorder that affects the muscles around the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs.

Asthma goes by a number of names like wheezy bronchitis, bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis and reactive airway disease (RAD). Most asthma attacks are caused by allergies to inhaled substances such as pollen, dust, and animal dander. There is no cure for asthma and proper management is essential. The main symptoms of asthma comprise cough, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and wheezing. When people with asthma are bare to triggers, the airways in their lungs become inflamed and swollen.

During some asthma attacks, the muscles around the airways can also tighten and the airways can produce mucus. Allergic asthma engages the body's immune system. There is no fixed period of time in which asthma can enlarge.

Asthma causes

Most asthma attacks are caused by allergies to inhaled substances such as pollen, dust, and animal dander. They include: Allergens (substances to which some people are allergic) such as pollens, foods, dust, mould, feathers, or animal dander (small scales from animal hair or feathers);Irritants in the air such as dirt, cigarette smoke, gases, and odors; Respiratory infections such as colds, flu, sore throats, and bronchitis; Too much effort such as running upstairs too fast or carrying heavy loads (although people with asthma can benefit from a reasonable amount of exercise);Emotional stress such as excessive fear or excitement; Weather such as very cold air, windy weather, or sudden changes in weather; Medication such as aspirin or related drugs and some drugs used to treat glaucoma and high blood pressure.

Asthma Symptoms

Symptoms are: daytime coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness; night-time coughing and wheezing. Symptoms may occur a number of times in a day or week in affected persons, and for some people become worse during physical activity or at night.

Asthma Control

Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. Uncontrolled asthma can be a danger to maternal well-being and fetal growth and survival.

Here is a list of some best Home Remedies for Asthma:

Home Remedies for Asthma

1) One may mix a tablespoon of honey with a half a tablespoon of cinnamon powder and consume prior to sleeping or one can boil eight to ten cloves of garlic in half a cup of milk and consume it at night and this is a wonderful natural asthma remedy for those who are in the early stages of asthma. This is a useful Home Remedy for Asthma

2) Another helpful natural asthma remedy is figs, which help in draining the phlegm and washing three to four dry figs with water and drenched them in a cup of water would help when eaten on an empty stomach along with drinking the fig-soaked water.

3) There is one more natural asthma remedy in the form of taking a cup of water and soaking one teaspoon of Fenugeek seeds during the night. Fenugeek seeds, which taken with a cup of water overnight is a further natural asthma remedy.

4) Steaming ginger tea with minced garlic cloves must be given two times in a day for asthma cure.

5) For asthma cure the patient should also be made to breathe in steam from boiling water mixed with ajwain. Add one teaspoonful of honey and drink the mixture two times or thrice a day for asthma cure. This is an effective Home Remedy for Asthma

6) Soak dry grapes in water at night and keep in cold milk for half an hour and chew them to treat asthma.

7) For asthma treatments mix one gram of dry ginger powder and one gram of black pepper in one teaspoon of molasses of honey.

8) For asthma cure turmeric can be taken along with honey in the morning on empty stomach to decrease the intensity of attack.

9) For people who are in their premature stages of asthma, a great Home Remedy for Asthma is to boil 8-10 cloves of garlic in ½ cup of milk and consume it during nighttime.

10) Take very hot water and put in a tsp of honey in it. Take it just before sleeping and take small sips.

11) In 1 cup of water soak 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds overnight. Insert 1 tsp of Ginger juice and 1 tsp of honey to this. It has to be consumed two times during morning as well as evening. This is another effective Home Remedy for Asthma

12) The roots of the bitter gourd plant have been used as medicine for asthma cure. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an identical amount of honey or juice of the tulsi leaves, given once every night for a month, acts as an outstanding medicine for this disease.

13) A soup prepared from drumstick leaves, and taken once daily, has been found helpful in the treatment of asthma. This soup is prepared by adding up a handful of leaves to 180ml of water and boiling it for five minutes. After being permitted to cool, a little salt, pepper, and lime juice may be added to this soup.

With the onset of winter and cold weather conditions, asthma sufferers should ensure that they are well prepared and take extra care throughout the colder winter months. This is because cold weather can be a trigger for a large percentage of the 5.4 million asthma sufferers in the UK according to health charity, Asthma UK.

Asthma symptoms are often made worse if you catch a cold or flu and we also see a marked increase in hospital admissions for asthma sufferers when the temperature goes down. However, if you take extra care and manage your asthma condition properly you should be able to withstand the rigours of the winter weather and the associated asthma symptoms and thus avoid a full-blown asthma attack.

Make sure you visit your doctor or designated asthma nurse in your GP surgery and they will review your medication and make any necessary changes. This is known as a personal asthma action plan and contains important information to help you take control of your asthma, including details of your asthma medicines, key warning signs to tell you when your condition is getting worse, what to do about it and emergency procedure should you have an asthma attack. If you have not had a review in the last year, it is advisable to contact your doctor surgery and book an appointment as soon as possible.

The following are 5 tips to help you avoid asthma attacks in colder weather.

繚 Always use your regular prevention medicines as prescribed by your doctor, even if you do not feel you need it. Prevention medicines are designed to be used daily to prevent an attack.
繚 If you are already aware that the cold weather triggers your asthma it is a good idea to take 1 or 2 puffs of your reliever inhaler before going outside.
繚 Always make sure you have your reliever inhaler with you at all times.
繚 Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth when you go outside as it will help to warm up the cold air before you breathe it in.
繚 Be sure to warm up for at least 10 minutes before doing exercise outdoors in cold weather and it is a good idea to take 1 or 2 puffs of your reliever inhaler before you start exercising.

Having an asthma attack

If you notice that you are experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, feeling tightness in the chest and finding it difficult to speak, then you may be having an asthma attack. It is important to stay calm, sit down and try to take slow, steady breaths. Take 1 or 2 puffs from your reliever inhaler immediately.

When should you dial the emergency services?

If there is no improvement, continue taking 2 puffs of your reliever inhaler every 2 minutes. You should take up to 10 puffs. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 or 10 minutes and you have become too breathless to talk, you should call for emergency assistance. If you are worried about your attack at any time you should contact the emergency services. If an ambulance has not arrived after 15 minutes then take 1 or 2 puffs from your reliever inhaler while you are waiting.

Are you looking for a way to cure infant asthma? Does your baby show the worrying signs and symptoms of asthma such as grunting and wheezing at night? Asthma can only officially be diagnosed at the age of 2 years however, this does not mean it does not exist in the young baby. If you have a family history of hay fever, food intolerance, asthma or eczema that your baby may be predisposed to developing asthma.

Infant asthma does not have the same causative factors as childhood or adult asthma. Most of the time, allergies do not play a huge role in infant asthma. In babies, the developing immune system and respiratory system can cause them to be more susceptible to respiratory infections such as bronchitis. The symptoms however are similar as those of an asthmatic child.

So are there any ways to cure infant asthma without resorting to steroids and drugs? Here is a list of some tips that can help your child's asthma.

-Vitamin C has been shown to be deficient in many children suffering from asthma. If your child is old enough, a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended.

-Lactose intolerance. Check that your baby is not lactose intolerant. This can cause excessive mucus production and can lead to blockage of the sinuses and congestion of the respiratory airways. If your baby is on formula it may be helpful to try switching formulas. Breast fed babies will not have this problem.

-Detergents and household chemicals should be kept away from your babies sleeping and play area as they can irritate a young babies airways and cause inflammation.

-Dust mite allergies are not as common in infants as in toddlers but could be a cause of your child's respiratory problem. Regular dusting will ensure a reduced exposure and may help combat the symptoms.

-Herbal remedies are not commonly recommended for babies and infants. However, Chinese medicine prescribes ginger water for curing infant asthma. Do ensure you get a prescription from a registered Chinese medical practitioner before you prepare any herbs for your babies consumption.

-The Bowen Technique For Asthma is a very popular method used to treat asthma in babies. This is because it is extremely gentle, simple yet effective. This technique works to relax the breathing muscles and help to strengthen the immune system in infants. Whether or not your baby has asthma or bronchitis, this technique targets the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.

Cough variant asthma is a type of asthma in which dry coughing is the most predominant and may even be the only symptom. This cough is non-productive, which means that it does not produce any mucus and it usually lasts several days at a time. The cough is easily triggered or worsened by different asthma trigger factors, like:

• Vigorous exercise


• Allergens or irritants, such as cold air, dust, strong smells, smoke


• Respiratory infections (such as sinusitis, which is an inflammation of sinuses)


• Beta-blockers, which are medication used to treat different heart problems, migraines and other conditions; and can be found in some eye drops (prescribed for glaucoma)

Cough variant asthma is a common type of childhood asthma and in time it may bring other asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. This type of asthma may be difficult to diagnose, seeing that coughing is the only sign. A few tests could be used, including spirometry (measuring the amount of air that goes in and out of the lungs with a spirometer), and a methacholine challenge test (if spirometry was inconclusive, used to demonstrate bronchial hyper responsiveness). Treatment may be another way to make sure that cough variant asthma is the type of asthma present.

Cough variant asthma treatment

Treatment for cough variant asthma is not much different from other asthma type treatments. Treatment may consist of:

• Inhalers (or bronchodialators) such as Albuterol, for daily use


• Anti-inflammatory therapy: Corticosteroids in inhalers or if the condition doesn't improve, oral steroids may also be prescribed (oral prednisone or Zafirlukast in some cases)

Cough variant asthma may be improved greatly with these treatments, the changes can be seen anywhere from one to eight weeks. If the treatment wasn't successful, it may be the case of a different disease, such as sinusitis (inflammation of sinuses), gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD, a type of digestive disorder), considering the similar symptoms. Proper diagnosis of this type of asthma is very important, as it may lead to a development of classic asthma. Wheezing in cough variant asthma may be present, but it usually isn't as audible as in classic asthma cases.

Cough variant asthma symptoms are worse in the morning. There is no cure for this condition. Treatments and preventive measures can help significantly improve the quality of life. Make sure to pay attention to the triggers of your asthma attacks and talk to your doctor if you experience the symptoms.

It's hard for people with asthma, since this disease changes everything. But some recent developments in the field of asthma research are offering hope that this disease will finally be completely resolvable. The new treatment protocol is known as the Norton protocol and is designed around the autoimmune aspect of asthma.

You can visit the official home page of the Norton protocol and learn more about the cough variant asthma.

For asthmatics there is no doubt about the effectiveness of the conventional medication that you might be taking during attacks and flare ups. But what if you suddenly run out of it? What do you do? Will you be able to handle the situation? Do you know of any other methods that can quickly relieve you or keep it from getting worse while waiting for help to arrive? Of course, it is also advised that you always check the amount of medication that you have available so that you have it handy anytime you might need it.

But what if those mentioned above transpires? You never know what's going to happen in the future. That's why you will always need a "Plan B" for everything, same as with your asthma medication. This is where asthma relief remedies come into play. While not suggested as a stand alone medication, remedies will help you in keeping the condition under control.

Quick relief remedies are readily available, easy to prepare, and mostly use ingredients and utensils that can be found inside the home. Just to give you an idea of what you can use when you feel an attack coming on when you run out of your conventional rescue/relief medication. Here are some home remedies that can give you quick relief:

Coffee: Drinking about two cups of strong, steamy coffee can immediately alleviate your condition. Caffeine contains chemicals with properties similar to your inhaler, relaxing the bronchial muscles and breaking up mucus that has built up making it easier to breathe. Even doctors have acknowledged the affectivity of coffee in handling flare up and even attacks that they also advice for use during emergency situations.

Honey: Many asthmatics have been using honey to relieve their symptoms during flare-ups and attacks. Put a jug of honey under the nose and start inhaling the sweet aroma that rises from it. The chemicals present in honey acts as an expectorant and relaxant, relaxing muscles and breaking down mucus to make it easier to expel out of the body.

Steam: During emergency situations, you can also use steam to make breathing easier. Let the shower run in its hottest for about 3-5 minutes, closing the door and allowing steam to rise. When the shower is misty enough, go into the room and start breathing deeply until the steam dissipates. Steam can help break down mucus making breathing easier.

There are many home remedies that you can use aside from the three given above. If you'd like to know more about asthma relief remedies, check your local library or the internet. You will be able to find lots of other ways that have been proven to work well during attacks.

If you suffer from asthma but want to live a full life, there are certain fundamental truths about the condition that you should learn more about. With the proper education and application of knowledge, you can deal with your condition effectively and efficiently. The following paragraphs of this article detail five such fundamentals.

You know that you should stop smoking or hopefully not start or start back up. But do you know why? Of course you are already aware that smoking causes cancer over time, but do you know what specific impact it has on an asthma sufferer? The effects are two-fold in nature. Most immediately, when you smoke, you are drawing in air that is full of smoke and not oxygen. An asthma attack is your body having difficulty getting oxygen, so deliberately skipping out on oxygen is only begging for an attack. In the longer term, smoking introduces thousands of chemical compounds and tar into your respiratory system, gunking things up and making it harder for you to breathe. This raises your chances of future attacks quite significantly. Quit now, not to avoid cancer, but just so you can keep breathing.

Medication is essential when you have asthma. Most every sufferer is prescribed an emergency inhaler with a compound within it. This compound relaxes tension within constricted air passages inside your body during an asthma attack. It is good to get in the habit of making sure you always carry your inhaler with you, but it is great to read the service schedule and maintenance directions. In as much as you would hate to forget to keep your spare tire inflated and find it flat when you need it on a dark night, you do not want to reach for your inhaler during an attack and discover it is not working.

As much as you should have your inhaler checked routinely for function, you also need to have your inhaler technique also checked for form. It is a good idea to just do this every time you see one of your doctors or medical team. People sometimes learn good posture as children but slouch later in life, and you can get equally casual in your inhaler use. Make sure your doctor is checking you out often so you stay on your toes about doing this right.

Something else your doctor may introduce you to in addition to your inhaler is a peak flow meter. You use this device to measure the air flow in and out of your lungs. Once programmed or set with your personal maximum rate, it can give you sudden readings measured in green, yellow and red. Green means you are largely okay, but yellow means you need to take your emergency medicine and red means both medicine and summoning medical help.

There is a long list of known asthma triggers. Not all of them will always apply to you, but you need to probably memorize the list. Absolutely avoid the situations that you know trigger your attacks, and be careful around known triggers that afflict others, as they could hit you too one day. Mindful attention and lifestyle changes can go a long way to preventing asthma attacks.

As was mentioned in the introduction, just being informed and educated on ways you can manage your asthma goes a long way towards keeping an active and happy life. Make sure that you keep all these ideas in mind, and you can be on your way to living a content life, even with asthma.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease that affects the airways, It causes obstruction of the airways. Airways plays a very important role as it is responsible for carrying air in and out from lungs. If a person suffering from asthma the muscles surrounding the bronchi constrict, impeding the outward passage of stale air. When your breathing stale air you are not getting oxygenated properly.

What causes asthma? We don't know there is some genetic and environmental factors to cause asthma usually early on in life. These factor include your Parents have asthma, Certain respiratory infections during childhood.

Contact with some airborne allergens or exposure to some viral infections in infancy or in early childhood when the immune system is developing.

What causes an asthma attack well it is causes by what we call triggers and trigger can be from a variety of different things but here are some examples.

1. Animal dander
2. Dust mites
3. Chemical
4. Strong smells (bleach is a huge trigger, also perfume)
5. Tobacco smoke

What happens during an asthma attack?

When you have an asthma attack the airways can close so much that vital organs do not get enough oxygen as needed. An asthma attack is constriction and inflammation process the combination of these two things working against your normal breathing process.

What are signs and symptoms of asthma?

1. Coughing from asthma often is worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
2. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
3. Chest tightness, this may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
4. Shortness of breath
5. When someone is having an asthma attack their cough is high pitched and they may also vomit up large amount of phlegm due to the inflammation.

How Can Asthma Be Prevented?

Currently, asthma can't be prevented you can take steps to control the disease and prevent its symptoms.

Learn about your asthma and how to control it.
Use medicines as your doctor prescribes.
Identify and try to avoid things that make your asthma worse (asthma triggers).
Get regular checkups for your asthma.

This is a brief description of asthma, If you think you have asthma you should make an appointment with your physician for treatment.

If you are having difficulty breath seek immediate medical services/ visit the Emergency room for diagnosis and treatment.

Presence of high blood pressure and asthma in the same patients presents some difficult treatment challenges before the health care professionals. It has been found that some of the most effective blood pressure medications are known to cause adverse effects in people with asthma. Proper care is required in designing effective blood pressure treatment protocol for treating such patients with asthma and breathing difficulties.

Among the different drugs available for treatment of hypertension, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors have the most potential effect on asthmatic patients. Beta blockers decrease the heart rate and cardiac output which reduces the blood pressure. But at the same time beta-blockers can lead problem to asthmatic patients because of the presence of beta receptors in lungs. The beta receptors in beta blockers cause constriction of respiratory passage thus leading to dangerous complications in asthmatic patients. Along with beta blockers, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are used in treatment of high blood pressure, may cause some problems in asthmatic patients as ACE inhibitors work in the respiratory passage by blocking the conversion of a specific protein from its inactive to active state. One of the most common side effects of ACE inhibitors is persistent, dry cough. For this reason, ACE inhibitors are usually not considered as first line drug of choice by the physician in most cases. Though, they may be used in combinations with other drugs for treatment of high blood pressure.

Calcium channel blockers, Angiotensin Receptors blockers (ARBs), and diuretics have not been shown to cause any increased or unusual risk in asthmatic patients and these drugs are considered as safe drugs for treatment of patients having blood pressure and asthma simultaneously.