What Is Asthma

Jonny, is a five-year-old boy, who has been suffering from bronchial asthma for the past three years. His attacks were now coming daily and he was on increasing doses of medication, which included the bronchodilator spray, Ventolin, and steroids.

In the last 3 years Jonny has been hospitalised 6 times due to his asthma and as a result he has missed out on 50% of his schooling. Because of his asthma, Jonny's quality of life has slowly diminished, he is unable to socialise with his peers let alone undertake all the activities a 5 year old should be part of.
Jonny's mother was very concerned about her son's condition. She had just been told by Jonny's physician that his medication dosage could not be increased any further at his age, even though his asthma attacks were occurring daily and were quite debilitating.

A friend of Jonny's mother recommended she try her Chiropractor, as she was able to help with her daughter's asthma. On his first visit, the Chiropractor noticed a slight spinal problem in Jonny - in the area associated with asthma. Following 8 Chiropractic visits over a period of 2 翻 weeks, his mother stated that Jonny had not needed to use his inhaler for 2 days. In addition to this, his wheezing had ceased and he could run without grasping for air. Follow up assessment 4 months later revealed that Jonny had been free of asthmatic attacks and had not required his medication since his last adjustment. He is now able to participate in soccer (his favourite sport), is able to run around with his friends and has not missed another day from school.

So how did Chiropractic help Jonny with his asthma?

Before we can understand how a Chiropractor can help with asthma, we must first understand what asthma is and how it affects your child.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a lung condition which occurs when there is a narrowing of the airways due to constriction and inflammation of the airways. Symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. There is increased evidence that if left untreated, asthma may cause a long term decline in lung function. Currently, there is no real cure for asthma. Instead doctors prescribe medication as a way to temporarily manage their symptoms.

Some side effects of asthma medication include: poor growth, osteoporosis, stomach upset, nausea, wheezing, headaches, skin rash, poor liver function, cough, sneezing, allergic reactions, sinus infections, nose bleeds, upper respiratory tract infections, anaphylaxis, feeling faint or dizzy, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, and the list goes on.

With this list of side effects, is medication a safe way to manage asthma? What is a possible alternative? Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms related to asthma due to the belief that there is a strong link between asthma and interference with the nervous system and the spine.

How can Chiropractic help your child with asthma?

Chiropractors believe that there is a strong relationship between the spine and asthma. The nerves from your child's spinal cord passes through the spine and travels to the different organs of the body. The nerves from the mid-back region carry vital information to your child's lungs to allow them to function optimally. When a spinal misalignment exists (subluxation) in this area of your child's spine, it may cause nerve pressure and affect the function of the lungs. This in-turn may contribute to asthma.

Removal of this irritation, allows the nerves to send the right information through to the lungs, and allow it to function optimally. The result... healthier lungs. This is how a Chiropractor can help alleviate the effects of asthma.

While medication aims to mask the symptoms of asthma, a Chiropractor aims to correct the actual cause - subluxations. Since Chiropractors are the only health professionals qualified to identify and correct these subluxations, taking your child to see a Chiropractor for their asthma just makes sense!

Parents are often surprised to find that a Chiropractor can help babies and children. They often ask, "isn't my child too young to have a spinal problem?" The answer I always give is a resounding NO! Did you know that the first spinal problem usually develops at birth? And many times it remains undetected? In my busy Ramsgate practice, I have helped many children with asthma. Some were able to get off their medication, and others are now able to enjoy a more comfortable life.

Chiropractic adjustments for children are very gentle, and sometimes even quite ticklish. Spinal adjustments by a qualified Chiropractor are safe and highly effective!

Many children (and adults for that matter) around the world visit a Chiropractor to help them with their asthma. If you are tired of seeing your child suffer and would like a more natural approach to their asthma consider a qualified Chiropractor.

The worse thing than childhood asthma is asthma in toddlers. Most children who have asthma developed the disease while they were still toddlers. With a reported 5 million American children suffering from asthma, 173 thousand of them hospitalized for severe symptoms and 864 thousand receiving emergency treatment annually, it is important that your toddler be evaluated for asthma as early as possible.

Since it is more difficult to diagnose asthma among infants and toddlers, it would be best to look for signs or symptoms that characterize the disease. Many cases of asthma deaths were due to the parents' failure to recognize the severity of the toddler's condition. Common colds and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis can exhibit asthma-like symptoms. But this does not mean you should ignore your child especially when he has difficulty in breathing or a wheezing cough.

When your toddler is diagnosed with asthma, it does not mean he will be forever afflicted with the disease. On the contrary, there are lots of documented cases where the toddler's asthma no longer persisted into adulthood. It can also be deduced from this observation that toddlers are more susceptible to asthma triggers but develops immunity as they grow older.

A toddler with asthma will have persistent cough that is hacking and congested. Sometimes the toddler may have wheezing cough and sometimes have none. In addition to this symptom, your toddler will display muscle retractions and flaring nostrils. He would also experience difficulty in breathing making feedings impossible. You will also observe your toddler rapidly breathing even while he sleeps. If you think, your toddler is breathing too rapidly, you should take him to the nearest hospital.

Another sign you should watch out for is your toddler's lack of stamina and enthusiasm during playtime. This may be because he is associating physical activities with breathing difficulties and naturally gets discouraged to join other children. Having him checked by your pediatrician can determine if your toddler has asthma.

Asthma in toddlers may be more difficult to manage. The best way to do this is to enlist the help of your care provider or his teachers. You can prepare some detailed instructions so they would know what to do in case of an asthma episode. Your toddler's pediatrician can help you prepare this set of instructions.

You should never take your toddler to a smoky place since cigarette smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Your pediatrician can test your child's sensitivity to dust mite protein. Sometimes, parents overlook the fact that stuffed toys are hosts to these dust mites. During falls and spring seasons when levels of pollen are high, you should limit your toddler's outdoor activities.

Emotional stress is also considered to be a trigger factor. Not only does it cause an asthma attack but it could also worsen asthma symptoms. Anxiety or panic attacks should be dealt with reasonable calm to help relax your child. The moment your toddler calms down you can administer treatment such as bronchodilator medication.

Keep your children safe and protect them from elements that can lead to long-term damage. These kinds of problems can haunt them through adulthood, so take caution when it comes to your young loved ones.

WHAT IS ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that affects our airways (the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs).

Asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and feeling tight in the chest. Each person with asthma may have different symptoms.

Children and young people with asthma have airways that are almost always red and sensitive (inflamed). These airways can react badly when children and young people with asthma come into contact with an asthma trigger.

Asthma triggers

Asthma trigger can be anything that irritates our airways and causes asthma symptoms. There are many triggers and the common triggers include house-dust mites, colds, viral infections, pollen, cigarette smoke, furry or feathery animals, exercise, outdoor air pollution, laughter, excitement and stress. There are many people with this chronic disease and each one of them may have different triggers and most of the time they can have several of them. It is important that anyone with asthma should know his own triggers and try to stay away from them or take precautions.

What happens during an asthma attack?

When a person with asthma comes into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscles around the walls of the airways in their lungs are tightening so that the airways become narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and begins to swell, making it difficult to breathe and leading to symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing or feeling tight in the chest. It is at this point that the person with that disease will need to take a dose of his reliever medicine.

What does asthma feel like?

Every person can feel different asthma.

Asthma varies in severity from person to person. Some people will experience an occasional cough or wheeze, while for others; the symptoms will be much more severe.

Some people with asthma may occasionally need to take time off work if they have come into contact with a trigger (for example contact with house-dust mites). Some people with asthma may experience those symptoms after contacting with feathery animals and as a result they can suffer at night and become tired at work.

Avoiding known triggers where possible and taking the correct medicines can usually control asthma effectively for most children and young people.

To help with asthma control, all people should have regular asthma reviews with their doctor or nurse. They should also have a personal asthma action plan.

The number of children and adults suffering from asthma has been steadily rising over the years throughout the world. The continuous increase of pollutants in the air has been in many ways been responsible for the rise in the number of cases of this incurable disease. Combine it with the presence of airborne mold and mildew inside the house and you only increase your vulnerability towards this disease. Let's see how mold and mildew can cause asthma and what can you do to control these spores to get cleaner air inside your house.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a disease that affects the airways carrying air to and from the lungs. Here are the symptoms of asthma:

• Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing


• Feeling of tightness in the chest


• Coughing


• Shortness of breath


• Symptoms experienced usually during the night or early in the morning

What are molds and mildews and how do they cause asthma?

Molds are basically types of fungi that grow on moist organic matter and mildew is mold growing on fabric. Molds reproduce by spreading microscopic spores that float in the air and these then deposit themselves on any damp organic matter such as wood, carpet, rubber, etc. This is where they begin growing and eating up the material.

Since molds are airborne, they are often inhaled by the people living in the house and can cause various breathing disorders including asthma. In fact, studies such as the one conducted by the National Institute of Health and Medicine Research (INSERM) in Paris, France, has shown that asthmatics are more sensitive to airborne molds than animal dander and pollen. This is because people are more exposed to mold and mildew as these microorganisms are present inside the house where people spend most of their time.

How to control mold and mildew growth to prevent asthma?

Keeping the humidity level low in your home is important for preventing the growth of mold and mildew and here are a few steps that you can take to keep the indoor humidity below 50 percent.

• Maintain proper ventilation. Opening doors and windows whenever possible will help in reducing the humidity levels indoors.


• Opening shades and curtains allows sunlight inside your house which is the best possible way of killing mold and mildew.

• Bathrooms and kitchens are two rooms in the house that can raise the humidity levels indoors. So, use exhaust fans in kitchens or open the windows while cooking or using the dishwasher. Use a bathroom fan while showering or open the window.

• If you are staying in a neighborhood that has a higher level of air pollution, such as a busy street, you would probably not want to open your doors and windows. This is especially true if you already have someone who is prone to developing asthma such young children or elderly, or there is someone with chronic asthma in your family. This is where a dehumidifier can be really helpful. These are household appliances that can reduce the humidity level inside the house and maintain it in the range of thirty to fifty percent. They are particularly useful for reducing the growth of mold and mildew which cannot grow and survive if the humidity level is kept low.

With the rising air pollution, the best you can do is keep the indoor air free of mold and mildew. So, make sure to provide ventilation, allow some sunlight into the house, and use a dehumidifier.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes difficult breathing. Symptoms of asthma are caused from the constriction and tightening of muscles around the airways.

More than 22 million adults and 6 million children suffer from asthma in the United States. Every day in the United States:

40,000 people will miss school or work because of asthma.
30,000 people will have an asthma attack.
5,000 people will visit the emergency room because of their asthma.
1,000 people with asthma are admitted to the hospital.
11 people will DIE from their asthma.

There are many different types of asthma and many different triggers causing asthma attacks. While the exact cause of asthma is unknown some of the following factors may act together to cause asthma in some people.

Inherited tendency to develop allergy's.

Family history of asthma.
Contracting respiratory infections in early childhood.
Exposure to airborne allergens and viral infections in early childhood as immune system develops.
Other allergens like pet dander.
Allergic rhinitis.
Exposure to cigarette smoke.
Obesity.
Airway hyper-reactivity or the exaggerated airway responsiveness to various stimuli.

Asthma is often treated using natural cures and remedies. There are many herbs and natural substances that can help prevent or curb an asthma attack. Four of these natural cures for asthma are:

1. Evening primrose oil


2. Black seed oil


3. Licorice root


4. Flax seed oil.

A tea made from evening primrose oil is effective in healing asthmatic and whooping coughs. To make add 1 tsp. Dried evening primrose flowers into 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 5 minuets. Strain and add honey or stevia to sweeten. Drink this tea twice a day.

Black seed oil helps treat the symptoms of acute asthma and coughs by relaxing the bronchial muscles. To use, mix 1tsp. Black seed oil into boiling water and inhale the vapor. Do this twice a day.

The compounds found in licorice root have expectorant qualities. This makes it helpful in treating dry cough and bronchitis. The antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and demulcent property's make it useful in treating asthma. To use, shred 2 inches of root into 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minuets. Strain off material and drink while warm. Do this 2-3 times a day.

Flax seed oil is considered the most important health supporting supplement next to a multi vitamin. Flax seeds are beneficial to almost every system in the body. Take 1000mg flax seed oil supplement every day to help curb asthma symptoms.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory illness in the form of airflow obstruction. Most people experience this condition at a young age due to allergic reactions. Symptoms normally disappear as the person grows older but some are unfortunate to still have it up to their adult age. Below are some guidelines you can adhere to in coping with Asthma.

Signs and Symptoms

You can tell if a patient has Asthma by constant wheezing, shortness of breath, tightening of the chest and coughing. These signs manifest strongly during intense activities and taking in cold air in the morning or evening. Some may not even experience these symptoms unless they expose themselves to substances that trigger airflow obstruction. It may also be an underlying condition from a visible illness such as acid reflux, sinusitis, and sleep apnea.

Causes of the Condition

A number of factors can stimulate asthma. Be aware of these factors as they can tell the severity of the condition and possible treatments:

- Environment: The most common victims of these environmental aspects are the children. Simple exposure to air contaminants like carbon monoxide can induce symptoms. Hair particles from pets such as cats, dogs, and birds can also initiate the condition. Some perfumes may take the form of allergens that cause asthma.
- Hygiene: Like what causes colds and coughs, bacteria and viruses can also lead to asthmatic symptoms. Reports also say that Antibiotics can bring asthma as substantial amounts can prevent the immune system from fighting certain germs that may cause the condition.
- Hereditary: Recent studies show that genetic compositions also contribute to the cause of asthma. Patients are born with asthma, but there a just some genes that prove susceptible to irritants and environmental contaminants.
- Previous Illness: History of allergies that may have occurred in the past increases the chance of a person to exhibit asthma symptoms. Obesity can also cause the condition as a common side effect of it is shortness of breath.

Knowing these factors can be a stepping-stone for getting the appropriate asthma treatment.

Known Treatments

Due to the different asthma medicines available, some patients confuse themselves on which one to buy. You have to know that asthma medication come in two types. The first one is the "controller" type. Patients can take these medications every single day to prevent asthma symptoms and attacks. The second one is the "quick relief" type. Asthma sufferers can take this medication during the course of an attack and nullifies the symptoms. When looking to buy one, ask the pharmacist the specific type you want.

Preventive Measures

Patients may avoid asthma attacks if they recognized the symptoms immediately. It is true that asthma is incurable but sufferers can learn to manage them. A change of lifestyle is important in dealing with the condition. Avoid asthma stimulants such as allergens, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, and sulfite-containing foods. Maintain hygiene in the house for maximum deterrence of the condition. You can also ask you local doctor about long-term medications for asthma treatment

Here's an analogy for you to think about today: the patient who suffers from the medical condition known as asthma. What's going on here is this: although there is an abundance of oxygen in the air all around us, someone with asthma, during an asthmatic attack, experiences oxygen lack. They find it difficult to breathe in enough air. This is because their airways are abnormally narrow (for various reasons which I won't go into here).

The result is that this patient is ill. An acute attack of asthma can be really frightening for the one suffering from it, for it is a life-threatening condition.

Notice that although there is more than enough air to go round, the person with asthma still can't get enough into his/her body to meet physiological needs. The problem lies with the patient, *not* with the supply of air..

How does this relate to health, wealth and happiness? What's this got to do with success?

Think about it: there is more than enough of anything you could ever wish for, and just like the air you breathe, it's all around you but invisible. Abundance is the natural state of affairs.

In addition, if you don't suffer from 'mental asthma', you can convert the intangible, invisible supply around you into its physical, visible, tangible version of what you want.

The supply of all you need to live like a king today is unlimited. How much you receive (and therefore manifest) in your life depends on how patent your 'mental airways' are.

If you suffer from lack of anything in your life - health, wealth or happiness for example - the problem is not with the Source of all things (God, 'the Universe'). No, for everywhere you look, you find evidence that the very nature of things is abundance.

The problem therefore lies with you, if you are not experiencing abundance in any aspect of your life.You are very likely suffering from 'mental asthma' - your mental airways are too narrow to fully receive all that is freely available to you as part of God's creation.

You may have heard of this condition being referred to as 'limiting beliefs'.

If you hold limiting beliefs in any area of your life, that part suffers from lack of abundance. Limiting beliefs narrow your 'mental airways' and lead to 'mental asthma', a serious condition. Therefore you need to seek the cure for this condition, for it is as life threatening, if not more so, than its medical counterpart.

The treatment of asthma, the medical condition, involves giving drugs that widen the patient's airways. With more patent breath pipes, the person easily breathes in as much oxygen as they need to function properly.

The treatment of 'mental asthma' involves giving you 'drugs' that 'widen your mental airways'. This can be done in various ways, such as reading mind-expanding books, listening to positively charged audios, bombarding your mind with images and thoughts of abundant health, wealth and happiness. The aim of all this is to get you to habitually think thoughts that allow the abundance around you to easily flow through you.

And believe me, for a condition as chronic as 'mental asthma', you need mega-doses of this stuff if you are to (totally reprogram your mind and) experience abundance in your life.

There are a lot of adults and children who would love to live a more physically active life, unfortunately, asthma can be quite debilitating at times. I've lived my whole life with asthma and as a kid growing up, the usual child's play such as bicycling, jump roping, roller skating etc. was very few and far in between for me. I lived a sedentary life for more than half of my life, until weight became an issue. Since exercise is such a huge part of weight loss, and balanced living, then the question remains, how can one become physically active, while keeping asthma under control?

Asthma, simply put, is a chronic lung disorder, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Most asthmatics think that exercising just isn't an option for them and that it does more harm than good, I too used to feel that way, but as a Certified Fitness Trainer living with asthma, I know longer agree. Now, Strength training, Jump roping, hiking, kick boxing and more, has been a part of my life for more than eight years. Exercising regularly has slowly built up my endurance and strengthened my heart and lungs. However, I'm never too far away from my inhaler. The severity of asthma does differ from person to person, so you should always consult with your doctor and have a thorough evaluation before starting any sort of exercise program.

Every Breath You Take

Correct breathing is crucial for someone suffering from asthma. There are many breathing techniques that will improve your heart and lungs. Below are two simple breathing exercises that you can do almost anywhere.

Deep Breathing. While standing or lying down, inhale as much oxygen as you can and then exhale gradually. You can do this anywhere, while you are working out, cooking or driving. It's just that simple!

Abdominal Breathing. Lay on your back in a comfortable position. Put one hand on your chest and another on your abdomen. Inhale deeply and slowly and feel the pull at your mid section. Ideally, while you do this, the hand on your belly will rise higher than the one on your chest. Now, exhale only through your mouth. Then breathe in from your nose and hold it for close to 7 seconds. Breathe out till you finish counting up to 8. As you come close to finishing this, squeeze your abdominal muscles to make sure there is no residual air. This is one of the easiest exercises for increasing lung capacity.

Exercise Tips

*Slowly build up your cardiovascular system and start with low intensity aerobic exercises.

- Take short brisk walks around your neighborhood, and every 4-6 weeks increase your pace and distance. Cold air could possibly trigger an asthma attack, so monitor the weather conditions and bring your inhaler. If outdoors is not for you, take advantage of a treadmill and apply the same rules as if you were walking outside.

- Go swimming this improves your cardiovascular system, helps you lose weight, and sculpts your upper and lower body muscles.

- Take a Yoga or Pilates class to strengthen, tighten your core, and tone your whole body. This will get rid of some of your stress, and over time you will adopt a new breathing pattern. You will begin using your abdominal muscles and the lower part of your diaphragm, while relaxing your chest muscles.

- Don't forsake strength training. You can increase muscle mass, have a more defined body, while working up a sweat, all without experiencing an over rapid heart rate. Children can also start a strength training program, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine and National Strength and Conditioning Association. Children as young as 7 or 8 years old, are old enough to learn the proper way to do such exercises as; a sit-up and push-up, under the strict guidance of a Certified and trained professional.

Common foods that are known to trigger an asthma attack and can hinder exercise

• Dairy- eggs, soy, ice cream


• Peanuts


• Fish- shellfish


• Wine and Beer


• Spicy foods

Some weather conditions that can labor your breathing and provoke an attack

• Cold weather and dry temperatures


• Damp weather


• Hot and humid condition


• Cold and windy weather

If you suffer from asthma and you're looking to become an advanced workout junkie or even a pro-athlete, consider this: Jackie Joyner- Kersee Track and Field star was diagnosed with asthma as a freshman at UCLA. Joyner-Kersee went on to become a four time Olympian and three time gold medalist. Jerome Bettis a.k.a. "The Bus" a retired running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers was diagnosed with asthma at age 15. Bettis went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL and won a super bowl in the process.

Importantly! Always stay under close doctor's supervision. Seek out the expertise and training assistance of someone who has worked with asthma sufferers. Asthmatics can enjoy a full and active life just like everyone else. The key is understanding the severity of your asthma. Start off slow, and work your way up to the success you want to be.

Author,

Joy Liddell

Asthma (pronounced AZ-muh) is a chronic (long term) inflammatory disease that makes the bronchial airways particularly sensitive to irritants such as air pollution. It affects people of all ages causing breathing difficulties, shortness of breath and wheezing.

It is the leading chronic illness in children and is becoming increasingly common in the developed world and is now the most common chronic condition in the west.

Asthma sufferers are often described as "being allergic to modern life" as air pollution, processed foods and centrally heated, double-glazed houses (an ideal breeding ground for house dust mites) are thought to be major contributing factors.

Asthma can affect anyone, at any age, anywhere and about one in eight children and one in thirteen adults have asthma in the western world, and rates are on the increase.

Although there is no cure, it can be controlled or managed in most patients so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and can live an active life.

Asthma attacks

Asthma suffererers have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways that narrow due to a mixture of factors. The muscles around the air passages in the lungs can contract and at the same time the airway lining can become inflamed and swell. This results in narrowing the airways that can get further blocked by the secretion of excess mucus.

This is described as an asthma attack with symptoms including a feeling of tightness in the chest, a wheezing or whistling noise when breathing, coughing, breathlessness and difficulty breathing.

This feeling of fighting for every breath is one that some asthmatics describe as being a sensation similar to drowning.

Asthma attacks vary not only between patients but for the same patient from a slight tightness or breathlessness to a severe attack when the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen reaches the vital organs causing a life threatening medical emergency.

Managing the disease

If you have asthma, then learning to self-manage it becomes an important part of your life. This may mean restricting exposure to things that trigger your attacks and taking medicines as directed by your doctor.

By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all normal activities and reduce the time lost at school or work.

Anyone with asthma should seek long term medical help as a doctor will not only prescribe the necessary medication but also monitor its effectiveness.

This is important as asthma is a chronic or long term illness and the effectiveness of medication can decrease over time and symptoms can return.

Drugs that resemble natural hormones help fight asthma.
Adrenaline (epinephrine in the USA) based drugs act as relievers to provide almost instant relief from symptoms and hydrocortisone (a steroid) is the base for longer term drugs that try and reduce the sensitivity of an asthmatics airways, thereby reducing the chances of an attack.

Asthma can change progressively during the lifetime of a patient affecting them in very different ways.

Some patients suffer acute episodes but then enjoy long periods with few symptoms.

Others may have childhood asthma and then grow out of it only for it to return in later life.

At a Glance ... What is Asthma All About?

o Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants such as pollution, and this is characterized by difficulty in breathing.

o If untreated, asthma can be a life-threatening disease.

o Asthma affects people of all ages and is the leading chronic illness of children.

o While asthma cannot be cured it can be controlled, reducing the frequency and severity of attacks.

o If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your life as taking medicines and reducing contact with things that bother you can cut down time lost at work or school.

Adequate Air Conditioning Air Filtration May Help Prevent Asthma Induced Breathing Complications

National statistics accumulated via multiple authorized health agencies suggest that nearly 22 million US citizens suffer from asthma related health complications. This chronic illness affects 6.8 million children and causes as many as 13 million annual absences from school. It is also identified as the third-ranking reason that children under fifteen years old are hospitalized.

Likewise with allergies, often considered minor by those unaffected by the effects of this chronic disease. Over 50 million US citizens suffer from allergies. Pollen allergy, hives, swollen throat issues and chronic sinusitis are common throughout the US.

For the unaffected, a bit of dust in the home air conditioning system is rarely noticed. However, the people who suffer from allergies and asthma can quickly identify home cooling systems that lack quality air filtration units. If your current home AC is due for upgrade or replacement, perhaps you can benefit by including additional filtration components.

Understanding the Home AC Air Filtration Process

The technology may vary, but every home air purification system provides an extended set of user-benefits. However, air filtration systems also bear the weight of certain additional complications. To overcome the obstacles, a buyer must learn how to combine technologies in a manner that best resolves a given air filtration problem.

This guild will give you a heads-up when dealing with your local air conditioning installation center. Perhaps you can help assemble the right components to eliminate the disadvantages, accumulate the positives and find new relief for your allergies and asthmatic complications.

1) Air Filters - The Core of Home Air Filtration Systems

The basic high-quality air filter is designed to eliminate contaminates down to 0.3 microns in size. The typical high-quality air filter provides the following advantages:

** Removes some bacteria

** Removes most dust, mold spores and other allergens

** Captures most solid particles.

Shortcomings in the basic high-quality filtration unit include:

** No effects on gases, chemical fumes or smoke odors

** Fails to capture germs, viruses or other ultra-fine contaminates

** Is limited in range and effectiveness

** Can enable enhanced breeding grounds for microorganisms.

2) Technology That Increases The Effectiveness of Basic Air Conditioning Filters

People who suffer from allergies and asthma react differently to different types of "triggers." For some people, dust is the primary "trigger." For others, microorganisms can induce major physical discomfort. When selecting a high-quality air purification unit, consider technologies that enhance and complement basic filtration methods.

You and your doctor are the only people with a clear understanding of what "triggers" your specific allergies. Even if your complication is related more to asthma than allergies, that too has "triggers" that may be specific to you.

Review the following advanced filtration systems. Perhaps one type or another will zoom down on your major "trigger."

Air Ionizer Systems - Designed to change the polarity of airborne particles, air ionizers create negative ions, which cause a magnetic bonding of the affected airborne particles. As a result, even ultra-fine particles become too heavy to remain airborne.

Strengths of Air Ionizer Filtration Include:

** Removes particles up to 0.01 microns

** Neutralizes bacteria, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and viruses

** Extended range of effect.

Weaknesses include:

** No collection method

** Fails to remove odors

** Captures but does not kill germs, fungi and some viruses

** Limited effect on airborne chemical particles.

Activated Carbon Filter Systems - Primarily purposed to capture odors, this high-quality air filtration system uses highly adsorbent, molecular size pores to create a chemical bond that traps gases, liquid contaminates and other odorous particles.

Strengths of Activated Carbon Air Filter Systems Include:

** Most technologically advanced filter for capturing odors

** Retains captured contaminates

Weaknesses include:

** Poor performance against dust and other common allergens

** Ineffective against microorganisms

** Limited range of effect.

Other Advanced Air Filtration Systems Include:

1) Germicidal UV Lamps designed to destroy bacteria, germs, fungi and viruses

2) Highly reactive oxidant Ozone Generators designed to destroy bacteria and chemical related odors.

Conclusion

Not every air filtration system is right for your needs. But, if you work hand-in-hand with your local HVAC service center, you can possibly put together a package that provides long-term relief - at least while you are enjoying family time at home.

- Disclaimer. The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. The sponsor of this article and any associated subsidiaries or affiliates shall in no event be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or exemplary damages. Use at your own risk.