What Is Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory disease that makes breathing difficult, particularly while exhaling. Pollens, allergens, irritants and bacteria can prompt an asthmatic attack. These include diet that causes allergy and environmental factors such as dust, dampness, smoke etc. Asthma home remedies can prove to be very useful and help to prevent an asthma attack.Here are few effective and simple asthma home remedies that can provide the much needed relief from the symptoms of asthma attacks:Lemon and Water:Lemon and water are known to restrain purifying properties. Water flushes out the toxic substances and purifies the blood, whereas lemon or lime has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and expectorant agents that can easily break-down mucus.Figs:Fig, a fruit that helps to heal many illnesses, is also beneficial in asthma. Figs make the patient feel comfortable by depleting the phlegm. Clean 2-3 figs thoroughly with lukewarm water and soak in water overnight and have it first thing in the morning.Bananas:Bananas provide fast remedy for serious attacks. Heat a ripe banana in the microwave or on the stove, sprinkle black pepper powder on it and eat. This will open the air ways temporarily and allow free-flow of air which will help to subside the pain from an asthma attack. Though it is only a short term treatment; bananas offer one of the best asthma home remedies for instant relief.Garlic:

An asthma trigger is anything that brings on the symptoms of asthma; it does not cause the asthma itself, but because asthma sufferers have sensitive airways, it causes an attack. Everyone's asthma is different and may have several triggers. An important aspect of controlling asthma is avoiding triggers. There are a lot of well known common triggers, some asthma triggers are obvious in as much as they would probably cause some form of reaction from anyone. For example: extremely cold air, cigarette smoke or bonfire smoke, but there are also some that are not known.So the first step in managing our daughter's asthma was to understand the various asthma triggers that affected her. My daughter's asthma triggers appear to be mainly:(1) Emotions such as over excitement or stress
(2) Most cats, guinea pigs, some dogs and other furry/feathery animals, but not her pet rats.
(3) House dust.
(4) Common cold and flu viruses.
(5) Hayfever.
(6) Heat - hot weather or an over hot house

People with asthma or chronic bronchitis often develop asthmatic bronchitis. Patients who suffer from asthma develop asthmatic bronchitis when their previous respiratory condition becomes severe and persistent, causing permanent obstruction of the respiratory tract. People with asthmatic bronchitis also have the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and previous treatments for asthma are no longer effective in clearing the airways clogged with mucus.Clinical physical examinations are unable to establish an appropriate diagnose judging only by the symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthmatic bronchitis all generate the same symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest discomfort when breathing) and therefore it is very difficult to correctly distinguish between them. In many cases, respiratory illnesses are diagnosed upon patients' reports of their symptoms, which aren't very revealing in indicating the exact cause of illness. Asthmatic bronchitis can be effectively diagnosed through the means of laboratory tests and careful physical examinations.Asthmatic bronchitis is a common respiratory condition among chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Bronchitis generally causes inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tract. The mucous membrane, bronchial tubes and other organs and tissues involved in the process of breathing become inflamed due to exposure to irritants (dust, pollen, chemicals) or infection with viruses. The respiratory tract has many natural defenses against irritants, but under some circumstances, external agents can break through these barriers.The bronchial tubes produce mucus, a protective substance that covers the respiratory organs. Also, the mucous membrane, bronchial tubes and other soft tissues are covered with cilia, hair-like prominences that prevent irritants and viruses from reaching inside the lungs. However, prolonged exposure to external agents enables airborne particles and viruses to penetrate these defenses, causing inflammation and infection. The bronchial tubes start to produce an excess of mucus, obstructing the airways and perturbing the process of breathing.Asthmatic bronchitis is mostly caused by exposure to external irritants rather than viruses and bacteria. It is believed that severe childhood respiratory conditions, weak immune system and hyperactivity of the respiratory tract are all factors that facilitate the development of asthmatic bronchitis. Smokers who suffer from chronic bronchitis are also very exposed to developing asthmatic bronchitis. The most common symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis are cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort when breathing.Considering the fact that asthmatic bronchitis mostly involves obstruction of the respiratory tract, medical treatments should be effective in both unblocking the airways and fighting against bacteria. In most cases, medical treatments with antibiotics are accompanied by steroids and inhaled medicines. These medicines are called bronchodilators and they are useful in decongesting the airways clogged with mucus.Just like chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis can lead to serious complications (pulmonary bacterial infections) and require ongoing medical treatment. Patients with asthmatic bronchitis are advised to stay away from external irritants (cigarette smoke, pollutants, chemicals, alcohol vapors, dust) as these factors can temporarily aggravate the illness. In some cases, patients with severe asthmatic bronchitis need hospitalization and medical monitoring until their symptoms are ameliorated.

Asthma is related to the problems in respiratory system or in lungs. It sometimes results in choked breathing. There may be a number of causes of asthma but major one in current times is the increasing pollution, especially the inhaling of dust, smoke, fumes and carbon or lead particles which are the outcome of rapid industrialization and automobiles.Before it is increased to a severe level, it is always suggested that you should visit the doctor for asthma treatment. The worth mentioning point for asthma treatment is that prevention is better than cure. Doctors advise medicine keeping in view its duration, frequency and the age of the patient. By the way, age is not a significant factor for this disease as it may happen to a newly born child or to an old man.In case of extreme bronchi problem, patients are usually given nebulizers or nasal sprays as immediate asthma treatment to get the immediate soothing effect. But it is important that excessive use of such things make patients their addict and they have to keep these things all the time with them. For the patients of this disease, it is advisable that they avoid wall to wall carpeting in their homes as researches have proved that carpets are one of the main reasons. The dust particles are never removed completely from them even if you clean it and these left over particles often suspend in the air to cause trouble to asthmatics.Some times asthma is the out come of some severe respiratory allergy but it does not pop out immediately. It evolves gradually. The best way to avoid allergy in asthma treatment is to keep an eye on the things (may be certain eatables or some biotic factor) that harm you. Research is going on for asthma treatment but still there is no final solution to it.

The person suffering with asthma needs regular treatment for longer duration to bring the disease under control that is why natural remedies are preferred over normal medication as these remedies do not cause any adverse effects. There are many reasons for asthma and they differ from one individual to another as allergies are assumed as biggest causes for asthma but not everyone who has allergy may have asthma too. This disease can happen due to allergy, heredity, choked lungs, inflammation of respiratory organs, blockages in nostrils, weather conditions and other irritants. These triggers can cause narrowing of breathing track especially trachea to cause problems in breathing.Holy basil leaves can provide few remedies which are very good in preventing asthmatic attacks. Chewing few holy basil leaves with honey as first thing in the morning, chewing holy basil leaves with rock salt can prevent coming asthmatic attack, drinking tea made by mixing holy basil leaves regularly helps the body in countering asthma due to allergies and swelling in respiratory organs and for temporary relief from asthmatic attack chewing holy basil leaves with black pepper is very helpful. Another very trusted natural remedy for asthma is consuming a paste made by mixing one teaspoon of turmeric powder in one tablespoon of honey. This remedy is treated as most effective for asthma. Consuming a ripe banana heated on a low flame and black pepper powder sprinkled on it will relieve the asthma attack immediately, this is not a curative remedy it just help preventing a severe attack.Half teaspoon of licorice roots mixed with a cup of water and boiled on a low flame for sometime is good natural remedy for asthma. Two teaspoons of spiegel seeds boiled with water and consumed twice a day is also a good remedy. Another very effective natural remedy can be prepared by mixing one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds with 250 ml of water and boiled on a low flame till its volume is reduced to half, later adding one teaspoon each of ginger juice and honey with the mixture and consuming it everyday is an excellent remedy for asthma. Linseed also provide an excellent natural remedy which can soften and help the body in removing dried cough in the lungs, the removal of cough relieves asthma substantially. Take 20 grams of linseed and boil them on low flame with 300 ml of water till water is reduced to half, strain the mixture and add 10 grams of sugar in it. Sipping this mixture one teaspoon at a time in an hour is extremely effective.There are certain precautions which a person can take to avoid asthma attack and these precautions also work as natural remedies. Dusting bedroom everyday or every alternate day with vacuum cleaner will help in keeping allergens away to prevent attack. Avoid using perfumes, cover mattresses with plastic cover and wash them weekly, avoid using brooms for cleaning, wearing scarf will avoid hot and cold air reaching sensitive airways and avoiding dairy products, meat and greasy food stuff which are difficult to digest will help in preventing asthmatic attacks. Increased intake of apples, leafy vegetables, carrot and tomatoes helps the body in countering triggers of asthmatic attack.

Not all asthma attacks are created equal and hence not all asthma cures are sufficient for the world's 300 million asthmatics. This complex disease is influenced by a wide variety of factors that are not entirely known today. Factors such as the environment and genetics all play a role in determining the type and degree of asthma. Throughout history, different remedies have been prescribed both within the medical field and without. Thus, a wide range of prescription drugs exist in the market today to address asthma on different levels.To date, there are literally hundreds of prescription drugs and delivery mechanisms that all try to address the symptoms if not the disease itself.Loose classification of such asthma cures are as follows:1. Liquids - A few examples of which are Airomol Liquid, Airomol Liquid PD both by Caimol. Albutamol Syrup by Centaur. Betasma Plus Syrup by Vilco Lab.2. Tablets - Bambudil Tablets by Cipla. Betaday Tablets by Solares. Betnesol / Forte Tablets by Glaxo. Coszin Tablets by CFL.3. Inhalers - Asthalin Inhaler / Ecopack Inhaler / Rotacaps by Cipla. Azrol Inhaler by Solares. Beclate Inhaler / Rotacaps by CiplaThese are but a few of the cures for the pulmonary type of asthma. Development is constantly pursued to guarantee a comprehensive solution. Also in this list are the myriads of home and natural remedies that abound in the industry today.Nasal and oral sprays are now being considered for application to asthma as viable alternatives to the trial and error approach most often encountered by parents who are constantly looking for a cure for their child.It must be understood that diagnosis is not a simple matter of identifying symptoms and conditions as various patients exhibit different reactions to different kinds of treatments. While some forms of non fatal asthma are easily cured by home remedies, severe variants of the disease may be harder to diagnose correctly. A thorough evaluation of the patient's genealogical history and blood work may be helpful as certain types of the disease are transmitted genetically.

Pollution is one factor that has become increasingly common in exacerbating asthma symptoms among sufferers. Other factors include our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, our lack of exposure to dirt and germs so that we don't build up immunities, and the like. As with the other factors, pollution can and should be controlled, to ease symptoms. Although steps are being taken to control pollution, there's still much present in the form of car exhaust, contamination from chemical plants, and cigarette smoke, plus a myriad of other sources.Children are perhaps most at risk for developing asthma because of exposure to pollution. This is because of their relatively small size when compared to adults. Their lungs are smaller, as are they, so that the pollution affects them more. In other words, they are exposed to the same density of pollution as adults are, but they receive a much greater concentration of it, because they are proportionately smaller than adults. Therefore, if children live in a house where smoking takes place and/or they live in an area that is smog filled, their health problems as a result of this pollution exposure will be much greater than those of the adults around them.In addition, those who already have asthma may see symptoms getting worse than they used to be. More sufferers are needing visits to the emergency room, whereas previously, they may have simply been able to treat symptoms at home.Simply put, pollution is an asthma trigger that can and should be reduced. Of course, we as citizens should write our public officials and make sure they keep controls in place to reduce pollution, and put them in a place where more needs to be done. Personally, we can control pollution ourselves by keeping our homes and lives as pollution free as possible, including reducing cigarette smoke and driving cars that have the lowest emissions possible. We can also take public transportation or carpool instead of driving ourselves, alone, in our cars to places we need to go to. Finally, in addition to getting public officials to put "green" power sources into place, such as solar and wind energy, we ourselves can cut down our energy consumption and thus reduce the amount of coal and oil that need to be mined to meet our energy needs. Even though we ourselves are not burning that coal and oil personally, if we use electricity in our homes, we are requiring that power plant that generates our electricity to burn coal to produce it. Therefore, we ourselves are responsible for those coal emissions as well. Therefore, we can take steps now to be prudent with our energy use, including efficient use of lighting and appliances, as well as other energy-saving measures in our homes.In addition, ask your doctor for measures you can take to keep your own home as pollution-free as possible. In addition to his or her advice, some other methods include commonsensical things, like not smoking in your house and not letting other people smoke there, either. Use air filters in your home to reduce airborne pollutants like dust, pet dander or hair.Finally, as stated above, drive as little as you can, carpool when you can, and use public transportation. This will cut down on smog from vehicle emissions, which is another major asthma trigger. Since asthma is also helped by exercise, if you suffer from asthma, bicycle or start walking more instead of taking your car for shorter distances. Just watch what results this will produce. Not only will the reduced pollutants in your area improve your asthma, but the exercise will help your symptoms improve as well.

Exercise and asthmatic symptoms for many asthma sufferers cannot be separated. All types of exertion such as playing sport, exercising or even brisk walking or running can trigger asthma. The medical community has even coined the name Exercise Induced Asthma to describe it.Exercise is very important for everybody especially asthmatics. Sufferers will often find that their asthma is often improved when they are regularly undertaking exercise.When partaking in exercise, carbon dioxide levels increase along with hydrogen ions which stimulates your breathing rate to expel the excess CO2. It is not a lack of oxygen that creates the increase in breathing rate rather the increase in CO2. When CO2 levels decrease so does the breathing rate. It's normal for this chain of events to occur, more oxygen is required by our muscles during exercise. But this is when many asthmatic sufferers experience problems. Problems occur because often breathing becomes out of control and hyperventilation can easily occur.The reason why you will experience an asthma attack whilst exercising is because you are hyperventilating. Therefore the key is to control your breathing, more specifically control your carbon dioxide levels.It 's a good idea to important to warm up your breathing before you exercise and gradually build up intensity. Let your body build up carbon dioxide levels slowly and don't go all out from the start will ensure you don't have an asthma attack when exercising.The Second Wind Asthma sufferers won't have high levels of carbon dioxide within their lungs to cope for very long exercising. Because their levels are so low to begin, when their level of CO2 is further decreased as in when over-breathing and expelling it, the lungs will start to narrow in defence.If they can go through the first stages of exercise, your body will start to produce and store more CO2 and consequently open up your airways. The Second Windas it is often called. That is when about 15 minutes after beginning exercise, the body is producing enough carbon dioxide to keep airways open allowing for much easier breathing. You can exercise as if you are on steroids, and technically you are and it's your body's natural one.Another important thing to remember is to breathe through your nose when exercising just as you should at any time. The nose is acts like a filter and an air-con for your lungs and makes hyperventilation much harder.

Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States affecting a reported 1 in 13 school-aged children. These children lead the way in school absenteeism due to a chronic illness, with over 14 million missed school days per year in the US. The near future does not look more promising, with the percentage of children with asthma rising more rapidly in preschool-aged children than in any other age group.While many factors are to blame for poor indoor air quality and airborne toxins in the classroom, a few simple changes can make a huge difference to the health of a classroom...and our children. A recent study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the U.S. has revealed that cleaning supplies used in schools could be polluting classroom air with more than 450 distinct toxic contaminants, including chemical agents linked to asthma and cancer. The good news is that Green Seal and EcoLogo have certified green cleaning products, which can emit 80 percent fewer contaminants into the air compared to non-certified cleaning products. Certified green cleaning supplies like Marauder, Glance NA, and Alpha HP resulted in cumulative emissions that were only one-sixth of the total emissions from conventional cleaning products.Another source of toxicity in the classrooms is the use of traditional whiteboard markers, many of which contain xylene, a chemical that occurs naturally in petroleum and tar. Xylene is classified as a neurotoxin and can be responsible for some neurological effects such as headaches, fatigue, memory loss and lightheadedness. It can also result in laboured breathing, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Even markers designated 'non-toxic' are triggering symptoms in people with chemical sensitivities.There are several xylene-free choices on the market, but AusPen eco-friendly dry-erase markers stand out for their non-toxic properties and for their low environmental impact. The pens are refillable, using ink made of vegetable dyes, and they are recyclable, cutting down on the approximate 500 million non-biodegradable markers thrown out annually by North America teachers.The long-term low-level exposure to the cocktail of chemicals found in our classrooms is troubling, to say the least, especially since there are so many unknowns about its effect on children with asthma. Testing for human health effects is normally done on single chemicals, leaving us simply to speculate about their combined impact. Armed with certified green cleaning products and non-toxic classroom supplies is one way, happily, to help everyone breathe a little easier.

To be honest, the asthma attack isn't over, and it's been going on for two months. It's better, but not under control. At first, it was blamed on a severe sinus infection, but that's been cleared up for weeks. No, the answer isn't just my lungs. It's also my emotions.About five months ago, our eldest daughter, aged 26, disappeared. As she's an adult, very little can be done to find her, as most officials state that she's of an age to do what she wants. That's true. It's also painful. I was warned of the possibility of my asthma going out of control, and it sure did. Hopefully, what I've gone through can help you.1) Know of the possibility. That has probably saved my life. If you know that an event or emotional problem is likely to create physical problems, prepare. Make sure all your needed prescriptions are up to date...and know where they are. After four years with zero attacks, I couldn't even find my old inhaler. That's probably good, as these things do expire.2) Know the symptoms: I have never had an attack like this one. The cough seemed to be coming from my toes. Mostly, I just get chest tightness and a strangling sensation. Ask your doctor if the symptoms are likely to change or intensify, and what to look out for. The sooner you realize what's wrong, the faster you can get it under control. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.3) Know When to Get Help: Your doctor can help you with this. A peak flow meter can be a good guide, but there are also symptoms to watch for. If your skin, lips or nails start to turn blue, you need immediate help. If you are coughing so much it's hard to breathe, you need immediate help. These are emergencies. Any time you find it difficult to breathe, it's time to be concerned.4) Understand your Inhalers: You have to follow the instructions on your inhalers exactly. Your rescue inhaler cannot be used more than a certain number of times per day, usually limited to two puffs twice a day. If you need to use it more than twice a week (let alone twice a day), your asthma is not under control.Your maintenance inhaler has to be used exactly as prescribed. It won't help you during an active attack, its job is to keep you from developing one. If you don't use it properly, it won't do you much good.Asthma is a serious disease that can have deadly consequences. If you've been diagnosed with it, you need to learn as many facts as you can about it. Talk to your doctor, especially if you have questions. He or she can help you avoid further problems.