What Is Asthma

There are about three million Canadians living with the effects of asthma. It is treatable, but can be severely disabling in the worst cases. Every year, 500 people in Canada die from the consequences of an uncontrolled asthma attack.

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airway passages of the lungs. It may be mild, moderate, or severe, even in the same person from flare up to flare up. The causes are not understood. There is often a family history of asthma or respiratory disease. The symptoms of asthma can vary from person to person. Most commonly, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and a sensation of tightness in the chest are experienced.

An asthma attack may be triggered by any number of things. When that happens, the lining of the airways gets inflamed and irritated, causing the muscles surrounding them to spasm. An excess of mucus may be produced, as well. It becomes difficult to breathe and, in the worst attacks, can become impossible, leading to an emergency situation. In an asthmatic, the airways are almost always inflamed to some extent, so that when exposed to a trigger they react quickly.

The most frequent triggers are allergens such as pollen, dust, and animal dander. Cigarette and fire smoke can also be triggers. Exercise, because you are asking the airways to process more air may lead to an attack. Cold air can trigger an attack because it is irritating to already inflamed tissues. Even stress can be a trigger for some people.

Despite the fact that asthma is a treatable condition, cases of disabling asthma have risen in recent decades at a disproportionate rate relative to the prevalence of asthma in the population. The reason for this is not fully understood. Some researchers believe that it is because more time is now spent indoors, where allergic and non-allergic triggers can concentrate while the sedentary lifestyle contributes to a decline in health.

The financial impact of living with disabling asthma can be considerable. The cost of medical treatment and medications, as well as lost wages from sick days, or from not being able to work at all, can all contribute to a strained money situation. In that case, any sort of financial help can be of great value to asthmatics and their families, enabling them to live more comfortably.

Asthmatics with a significant impairment in two or more aspects of daily life, and with marked impairment in one aspect, may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. The other main requirement is that the condition must have been, or be expected to be, present for a duration of at least one year. The tax credit can be taken by a supporting family member, if the disabled does not make enough income to pay taxes.

It is critical that the paperwork be complete and accurate. Denials are often the result of an error or omission to the documentation, when the applicant would otherwise have qualified. For this reason, it can be of benefit to have the filing prepared by an experienced professional.

Asthma affects about 16 million people in the United States, with 70% more women than men affected. The disparity in the rate of asthma in men and women may be related to the hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle which may inflame the airways. One of the ways to handle this for women with asthma may be choosing to use an oral contraceptive, however if it is not reasonable or safe to do so for health reasons, the doctor might have other suggestion. This latest recommendation is contradictory to older studies that suggested that birth control pills may make the symptoms of asthma worse in most cases.

In children, asthma affects twice as many boys but at the age of 20 it changes and the gender bias is three to one with women being more afflicted.

Risk factors, beyond the role of hormones, for developing or worsening asthma include obesity, allergies (especially to inhaled substances and foods), certain drugs, respiratory infections and cold air. Most people have perfectly normal lung function most of the time, but have occasional attacks. Some people rarely have attacks at all, while others may find it difficult to manage day to day activities because of the asthma. Getting control of the symptoms of asthma as well as managing as many of the risk factors and causes is vitally important. One of the easiest steps that people can take is losing weight and starting an exercise program. There are however some special guidelines for exercising with asthma:

- Use a bronchodilator before running or other strenuous exercise.
- Opt for indoor workouts, especially where there will be warm and humid air. An indoor swimming pool is ideal.
- Yoga, especially slow breathing focused yoga may be beneficial.
- Do not exercise in cold air if possible or wear a face mask to warm the air before you breathe it if you must.

In addition to these, it is important to know your triggers and to avoid them as much as possible. Common irritants include cigarette smoke, house dust, plant molds, cat dander, pollen and many perfumes or other sprays. It is important to take your medications as directed, including the emergency or rescue inhalers. Losing weight may make it easier to breath and may lessen the chance of having an asthma attack. To do so safely, it is important to use a healthy, well balanced diet, especially one that has been approved by the doctor who is treating you.

Weight problems can be the number one concern for nearly every person with asthma. Some of the medications that are prescribed to treat the condition may stimulate the appetite as well as cause fluid retention. It is also important to know that sulfites, a food preservative, are potentially dangerous in those who suffer from asthma. Although most of the most common foods that contain it have labels, there are other food sources that are not so obvious and not so clearly defined. These include: imported beers, shellfish, potatoes, salads and guacamole. If you are taking oral steroid drugs for your asthma control it is important to be careful with sodium content in food as well as added salt because of the increased risk of water retention.

Oily fish (mackerel, salmon, and swordfish) are anti-inflammatory as well as being a good source of lean protein. Replacing another protein food source with these fish once or twice a week is a good way to get enough of their beneficial oils in the healthy diet. There is a common myth that people (especially children) with asthma cannot drink milk or have dairy products because they create mucus in the lungs. This is not the case and should not be adhered to: children especially need the calcium in the dairy products. However, if dairy is a trigger food for the asthmatic, it should be avoided and calcium supplied with other foods and supplements.

The diet that you choose should have all of the three macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates and fats as well as the vitamins and minerals that will give antioxidant protection.

Proteins - Proteins come from both plant and animal sources. Protein is good in a weight loss program because it is used by the body to build lean muscle mass while it also works to suppress the appetite. Whey protein for instance, has two bioactive components that release hunger suppressing hormones, CCK and GLP-I. The leaner the protein, the better! Keep in mind the recommendations of limiting some of the foods that may be a trigger for many people. The best protein sources for those with asthma are fish and soy as well as protein supplements.

Protein supplements come in powder, shakes, bars, and liquid supplement shots. Protein powders can be made from four protein sources: rice, whey, soy and egg protein.

Whey Protein Powders - Whey protein is derived from milk so it is not for the lactose intolerant. Whey protein isolate powder has less lactose and may be acceptable. In addition to hunger reducing benefits, whey protein is an immunity booster and is also thought to maintain healthy blood pressure.

Soy Protein - Soy and soy products are often recommended for asthma sufferers and protein powders made from soy can be a very easy way to get them into the diet. Soy is beneficial for heart health by lowering the blood pressure and the blood cholesterol level.

Rice protein - Because so many of those who have asthma also have food related triggers, sensitivities and allergies, the need to find a good hypoallergenic food substitute or protein supplement is important. Rice protein is good for asthma suffers with food triggers as well as vegetarians and vegans.

Liquid Supplement Shots - Perfect for use as a before meals or as a between meal snack because it stabilizes the blood sugar so there is no sugar rush /insulin spike that can lead to increased weight gain.

Carbohydrates - Despite all of the fad diets that would suggest otherwise, carbohydrates are a very important part of the healthy and balanced diet. Complex carbs should make up about 50% of the diet. Simple carbs, (the white flour and white sugar kind) should be avoided because they are the ones that cause elevated blood sugar levels that will in turn lead to increased weight gain.

Fats - Fat should make up around 15-20% of the daily calories and should be of the healthy variety. Avoid the saturated fats, which are the ones that are solid at room temperature. Hydrogenated vegetable oil is also a saturated fat and should be avoided.

Asthma attacks can be really dangerous, especially since it can escalate quickly and cause severe damages to your health. This is why learning how to relieve asthma is a necessity for people suffering from the disease, so, they can easily manage and recover from any asthma attack.

But how can one quickly deal with asthma? Here are five simple steps you can take to get asthma relief during an attack:

1. Calm down. An asthma attack can cause anxiety to some patients, but you should know that this can only make matters worse. By panicking, you'll only make your body need more air, which is already hard to do since your airways are already constricting due to the asthma episode. So, if you're already sensing the onset of an attack, make sure to keep your calm.

2. Grab your fast relief meds. Quick acting medications are always your number one aid when it comes to asthma attacks. So, as much as you can, always keep you fast relief medications like inhalers, at hand. This will help you prevent a full blown episode and may even save you from further damages.

3. Remove or get yourself away from the thing that triggered your attack. Generally, asthma attacks are triggered by something. Once your asthma episode has already kicked in, you should also immediately identify what has caused it, so you can get away from it. If its exercise, stop whatever you're doing; if it's environmental, get yourself away from it or have someone remove it in the vicinity so you can stop the attack from worsening and make your attack stop.

4. Monitor the developments. Sometimes, depending what triggered your attack and how severe your asthma condition is, fast acting meds won't work as effectively as possible. So, make sure to monitor yourself after taking the asthma drugs. This will not only help you recover, but it will also help you assess what to do next in case your medication didn't work.

5. Start on other ways how to relieve asthma. Aside from quick-relief meds, there are still other ways to deal with your condition. Make sure to learn these other ways so you can have more options in getting asthma relief.

Remember, asthma may be a common health condition millions all over the world suffer from, but it doesn't mean that it should be taken lightly. Make sure to really find ways how to relieve asthma so you can help yourself control and fully manage this condition, allowing you to live a normal, active life.

Asthma is one of the most common health conditions that exist in our country. The difficult aspect of this health condition is that you truly do not know when an asthma attack will occur. There is really no predicting factor to help anticipate an attack and prepare for it. In general, for this type of respiratory condition there does not even exist a method of curing it. However, there does exist a way of controlling the symptoms and help treating the condition. The most effective way thus far is through using medication such as Albuterol. The current statistics point to close to 20 million individuals in the U.S. who live with one form or another of asthma. Of this amount there are over 9 million children who have been diagnosed with this health condition. It is well known and agreed to in the medical arena that this respiratory condition is the leading chronic health illness in children. However, there have been recent developments in health technology that has in fact played a key part in reversing these ever increasing statistics. Such technology is known as a nebulizer and its use is now in the millions by individuals all over the world.

Nebulizer technology works in a very simple way but serves a very important function for anyone that is suffering from this health condition. Essentially what happens is that the patient receives a prescription from their physician for a specific asthma medication. Once this medication is received then they place the medicine inside the device and at that point the device will automatically transform it into vapor form. This has helped a great deal in not reducing the number of cases of asthma but in actually reducing the number of cases of attacks and even ones that have led to the emergency room. On a yearly basis this health condition causes over 2 million emergency room visits and for those that have actually experienced this they know how devastatingly difficult and frightening it can be. By using a nebulizer on a continuous basis and taking it with them wherever they go they can rest assured that they have quick and easy access to their medicine in order to quickly reduce their symptoms. By taking these steps the statistics regarding emergency room visits has actually reduced dramatically and will even continue to do so as more and more individuals learn about this method of treatment and prevention.

A person suffering from asthma, will have an attack, when ones immune system reacts to the inhalation of various irritants. These irritants can take the form of dust, smoke, and even cold weather. Stress can also cause an attack of asthma. This irritation activates the immune system and causes inflammation of the nasal pathways. It also causes the muscles at this area to become constricted. This leads to the near closure of the airway and causes wheezing and breathing trouble. The immune system causes mucus to build up in the lungs, and an asthma patient, will experience a coughing fit.

The portable asthma inhaler aids in providing the required drug to alleviate the asthma attack. The asthma inhaler works by reducing the inflammation in the airways. The inhaler delivers the required dosage to the patient. The drug can be delivered by inhaling through the mouth or nasally. The drugs used will depend on the asthma attack faced by the person.

There are various types of inhalers and can be classified as pressurised metered dose inhalers (MDIs), breath-activated inhalers - MDIs and dry powder inhalers, inhalers with spacer devices and nebulizer.

The pressurised metered inhalers use an inactive gas to inject the drug. Pushing down the top of the inhaler, releases the drug and it has to be inhaled. It is also small and easy to carry. Some inhalers have meters which can indicate the number of doses that remain for use. Otherwise, one will have to count the doses to keep track. The drawback is that, it requires coordination, as the person has to press down and inhale at the same time.

The drug is discharged by just breathing on the mouth piece and is easier to operate than the pressurised one. Though, Inhalation has to be done forcefully for the drug to be released.

Inhalers with spacer devices are much easier to operate than the other kinds. Inhaling through the mouth piece causes the spacer to releases the drug. A valve stops the drug from exiting the spacer when one breathes out. In some types of spacers, a face mask can be fitted instead of a mouthpiece.

Nebulizers convert the drug into the form of a mist. This can be breathed in with a face mask or mouth piece. This drug delivery system is used in hospitals where there are severe cases of asthma.

One must consider several issues, before choosing inhaler for use. This is because, some medications can only be used with certain of inhalers. People suffering from asthma should take adequate precautions to avoid being exposed to stressful situations, dirt, dust, smoke, or anything that can trigger an attack. In choosing the right inhaling mechanism, they can overcome an asthma attack.

Read through the search results on asthma and beta blockers, and the news seems to be all doom and gloom. If you don't dig deeper, you'd be forgiven for thinking that asthma sufferers should not take this cardiac medication. Yet with further research, the picture becomes a little less clear cut. You see, fortunately for those with conditions that are classified as 'Reactive Airway Diseases', advances in medical technology and drug research have benefited heart health too. Not only that, but new studies have questioned whether any cardiac patients - asthma sufferers or not - really benefit from beta blockers anyway. This article will look at these points, as well as what alternatives are available.

Beta blockers (also called Beta-adrenergic blocking agents) are used for:

* high blood pressure

* migraine prevention

* angina (pain originating from the heart muscle)

* irregular and fast heartbeats (treatment and prevention)

* the symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland

* congestive heart failure

* preventing performance anxiety in musicians and others

* a number of other conditions.

They work by blocking the effect of the hormone adrenaline, as well as chemicals related to it that are also associated with this 'fight or flight' mechanism. These drugs actually come in two classes. Old style medications are called non-selective beta blockers. Newer ones are known as cardio selective beta blockers. The difference between them relates to the fact that the older class of drugs block two of the three types of beta receptors in the body (1 and 2, located in the heart, as well as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, uterus and other areas). The newer drugs are more precise. They can block either beta receptor 1 or 2 - hence the name.

This is good news for asthma sufferers, as evidence exists that cardio selective beta blockers are actually safe for asthmatics and those with certain other serious respiratory problems. The problem with the older style of drug was that it had the potential to cause severe asthma attacks. The risks were just not worth it, so people were rarely put on them.

The new drugs don't pose such a threat, however, at least for those with mild to moderate asthma. This change of medical opinion came about after an analysis of a number of published studies, after they had been qualified as eligible to be considered. It is important to note, however, that long term use is still not suggested for asthma patients. And in the case of severe asthma, beta blockers are still contraindicated.

One very interesting report in Science Daily threatens to throw the whole issue out the window. They cite a Cochrane Review of 13 randomized trials that altogether had more than 91, 000 people in them. The Review analyzed whether the studies involved found beta blockers effective in controlling the progression of heart disease, or preventing death from it. And they found that it was not significantly better than a placebo at either. The beta blocker used was called atenolol, which is a cardioselective beta blocker that has an affinity for beta receptor 1.

Whilst the Science Daily article points out that more work needs to be done before this information is extrapolated across the board to all beta blockers, they also note that the chief cardiac alternatives fared better. These include calcium channel blockers, thiazides, and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors.

This is all good news for asthma sufferers with cardiac problems. It means that there are classes of drugs available to them that are safer for their airways, and more likely to actually protect them from the problems associated with heart disease. As always, discuss your options with your doctor, and if you're not happy with the results, get a second opinion.

References:

1. Medscape

2. MayoClinic

3. American Academy Of Family Physicians

4. Cochrane Reviews

5. Wikipedia

6. Science Daily

Ever feel short of breath from little physical activity, despite being in decent shape? Does your child suffer from coughing episodes without any perceivable trigger? You or your loved one may be developing asthma, and should seek asthma testing and consultation for this difficult, but manageable respiratory disease.

For a rudimentary understanding of what asthma is, the classic definition is a chronic inflammatory disease that obstructs airflow due to a variety of triggers and causes. Though prognosis is generally positive, asthma can have debilitating consequences and create serious complications when compounded with other illnesses.

If you do not have asthma, there is a simple exercise to get the feel for what it may be like to struggle with a respiratory disease. Try breathing through a straw for a length of time. The restriction of airflow to your lungs is similar to the constriction of airflow caused by an asthma attack. For the asthmatic, an attack can happen at anytime due to one of several common triggers.

While asthma can be genetic, certain environmental factors or irritants can cause asthma attacks. The most common of these triggers are allergies and air quality. Allergic reactions are immune system response to normally harmless substances, usually through the symptoms shortness of breath and inflammation. Environmental factors include presence of allergens, or the quality of air in regards to irritants such as cigarette smoke and pollen. The combination of all of these factors contributes to the prevalence and severity of asthma and asthma attacks.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be asthmatic, scheduling an asthma testing should be the immediate first step in treating the disease. With very simple procedures, today's asthma doctors can run tests that will effectively isolate the allergens that can trigger your respiratory problems in under an hour. Treatments are varied and can include anything from steroidal inhalants that halt inflammation, to injections that weaken allergic reactions that induce asthma attacks.

Being proactive and seeking a consultation is the first step to health and wellness. As stated before, asthma isn't a death sentence; but ignoring asthma can lead to serious health complications. Statistics show that nearly a quarter of emergency room visits are asthma related, and asthma has a hand in over 10,000 deaths every year in the United States. Protect yourself and your family by consulting an asthma doctor about allergy and asthma testing, while it's still manageable.

Babies are susceptible to respiratory infections and may commonly be seen coughing or wheezing. However, mostly these symptoms are related to colds, or infections of the upper respiratory tract. However, coughing or wheezing may also indicate asthma.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a respiratory condition in which the tubes that transfer air in and out of the lungs become sensitive and inflamed. Upon contact with a trigger, the muscles around the walls of these tubes tighten further, making it difficult for the person to breathe. Since these airways are small in babies, even a small degree of inflammation or contraction is sufficient to give rise to symptoms of asthma.

You should consult the pediatrician if your baby:

• Wheezes on more than one occasion.


• Has continuous bouts of coughing that get aggravated at night.


• Displays an unusual form of breathing.


• Suffers breathing problems in response to a cold, or allergens such as dust or smoke.

Here are some facts related to asthma in babies:

• An isolated episode of wheezing is no reason to suspect asthma. If wheezing is recurrent, the pediatrician may prescribe tests to check for asthma.


• Most kids who wheeze as infants outgrow it and do not have asthma when they get older. Less than a third of babies who regularly wheeze during the first three years of their lives, continue to do so as they grow older.


• Asthma if uncontrolled can, over time, seriously damage babies' lungs. To avoid this, the pediatrician may prescribe asthma medications to babies who have symptoms of asthma, even if the diagnosis is not confirmed.

An allergy occurs in a person's body as a response to any substance which results in a reaction even though the substance is not harmful in itself. A person who is allergic to a substance suffers some amount of inconvenience because of it. There are various similarities and also differences between asthma and allergies.

The similarities between asthma and allergy are as follows:

• Both are immune based diseases and doctors have given them a common diagnostic name which is Rhino bronchitis or Allergic airway syndrome.


• They can have a common trigger like pollen, dust, mold and sometimes even pets.


• Asthma and allergy release chemicals like leukotrienes and histamines in the body of the sufferer.


• Both are capable of causing inflammation of the respiratory system. Allergies can also lead to asthma especially in children, while an asthmatic attack can be an allergic attack as well.

Although asthma and allergy are similar and in some cases and one leads to the other, the differences between the two conditions are:

• Asthma or an asthmatic condition is a part of a patient's body which the sufferer cannot get away from. An allergy is generally triggered by a substance which is outside the patient's body.


• Asthma is a disease that can be controlled with medications and avoiding the things that trigger an attack. It usually remains the same in a patient and can sometimes get worse over a period of time. But allergy can change over a period of time and a person can get rid of certain allergies over the years.


• Chronic asthmatic attacks can damage the lungs and the respiratory system of the patient. But an allergic reaction apart from causing an attack of asthma can affect the other parts of the body.


• While asthma is a respiratory condition, an allergic reaction is usually caused by an immune reaction.

When you are suffering from asthma, you need to make huge changes to your diet. When changing your diet, there are some foods you need to include while there are some food you need to exclude. A healthy asthma diet often involve choosing healthier choices like fruit and vegetables over unhealthier processed.

The main aim of any asthma diet is to lose weight since there is such a strong correlation between weight and frequency of asthma attack. Here are some foods you should exclude to make it more asthma friendly.

Avoid white food. What I mean by white food is food like white bread, white rice and refined sugar. The problem with these types of food is that they are very starchy and lead to weight gain easily. White food consists mainly of simple carbohydrate which means the body will burn these foods pretty quickly causing to get hungrier faster and eat more instead.

Instead of eating white food, choose whole meal food like brown rice and whole meal bread. Professional runners and ironman personally prefer carbo-loading with complex carbohydrates it makes them last longer.

About 70 percent of asthmatics suffer from GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. When someone has GERD, stomach acid has a tendency to flow back into the esophagus, creating a burning feeling sensation. These acids can often irritate the lungs, causing the asthma to become worse.

These are food that aggravate the acid reflux effect

Stay away from fatty or acid food. Reason being is that the body find it hard to digest them. You can always opt for them to be baked or boiled instead.

If you are an herbal remedy fanatic, you might want to stay away from peppermint for a while.

Stay from chili or any other spicy food like curry as these foods already irritate your lower esophagus.

Avoid gassy drinks like Coke. These gassy drinks caused you to burp a lot.

Now it's some time to clean out the unwanted food in your refrigerator. Here how you can clean your refrigerator.

First, take out any food that is in your refrigerator for more than six months. Chances are that foods that are around for this long may have bacteria that can trigger asthma.

Take out all snacks and sugary treats. Great examples will include cookies, chips and candies.
Take out any leftover canned food or any frozen vegetables in sauce.

Lastly, take out some all your soda can drinks or any other sweetened drinks.

Of course, you cannot hope to combat asthma through dieting alone. Other crucial factors will include asthma proofing your home, leading an active lifestyle and learning breathing exercises to strengthen your diaphragm.