Asthma

How Asthma Can Be Managed And Treated

Asthma is a condition affecting the lungs and the breathing airways, and it is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. In Western countries especially, incidences are far in advance of where they were half a century ago, leading to speculation that modern building materials or factors in the environment could be causing the problem. The condition is becoming more common throughout the world, however, and there is still no consensus of opinion as to what the exact causes are.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. It's possible that breathing low levels of VOCs for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems. There are several studies that suggest that exposure to VOCs may worsen symptoms in people who have asthma or are particularly sensitive to chemicals. These can be and are much different exposures than occupational exposures to VOCs.

Several studies exploring the causes and treatment of asthma could lead to the development of drugs to help fight these debilitating conditions. Although different diseases, asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can and do affect the human body in a similar way. In asthma for example, allergens irritate the lungs. In COPD, the lungs are irritated by cigarette smoke. This irritation inflames the sufferer's airways, closing the muscles, and thus creating a narrowing effect.

It is possible to stay germ-free which can prevent the spread of disease and infections; however, leading a clean and germ-free lifestyle may be responsible for an increase in allergies among children. This is called the hygiene hypothesis by a doctor named Marc McMorris. He is a pediatric allergist at the University of Michigan Health System. He says the following: "we’ve developed a cleanlier lifestyle, and our bodies no longer need to fight germs as much as they did in the past. As a result, the immune system has shifted away from fighting infection to developing more allergic tendencies."

Many studies have shown that asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs (bronchioles). The prevalence of Asthma is caused by ongoing inflammation of these passages. Because of this, the breathing passages (airways) of the child or adult with asthma is highly sensitive to a number of "triggers."

When a person does not get enough oxygen in his/her blood and the lips and fingernails turn a pale blue color, it is a condition know as Cyanosis. This is often caused by poor circulation or not breathing in enough oxygen. It is possible that a person with asthma may develop cyanosis. This is a danger sign to the asthmatic and emergency care should be taken right away.

Often, there are reasons or risk factors that predispose a person to asthma and respiratory problems. It is safe to say that asthma does not just happen randomly to anyone without asthma risk factors.

A peak flow meter for a person with asthma is like a thermometer for a patient that has a fever. These peak flow meters help to determine how open one's airways are, rather than having to guess how one feels. So a peak flow meter is just a simple, portable device (and inexpensive) which is able to measure air flow, or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). There are several meters available which vary a little in accuracy, how long they will last, and price. If used correctly, a peak flow meter can be an important tool in managing asthma. These peak flow meters are readily available over-the-counter; however, they should be used with the recommendation of a doctor.

Even defining what is asthma and what is a related breathing disorder is somewhat problematic, as there is no defined diagnostic procedure which can allow a physician to state beyond doubt that an individual is suffering from that condition. It is usually diagnosed following a monitoring of symptoms over a period of time. This is made more difficult be the fact that there is more than one type of asthma, including those which are caused by allergens and which are closely related to food and other allergies. These allergic asthmas can often be more difficult to treat, as there is a need to eliminate exposure to the allergen while at the same time controlling the breathing and reducing symptoms enough to allow the patient to live a normal life.

Attempts to define asthma are made more difficult by this uncertainty as to the absolute cause, although it seems inevitable that there are different types of asthma with different causes. Where an allergen is not the cause, it is likely that environmental factors will be the initial cause of the condition. This is apparently borne out by the dramatic rise in the number of sufferers in polluted Western city environments. Even in rural areas, the air quality is often severely affected and it is easy to see why children and young people growing up in a polluted environment are severely affected.

Even where environmental pollutants are not the direct cause of asthma attacks, they can clearly be an exacerbating factor in making the symptoms worse. This is seen at its most dramatic with cigarette smoking, as this takes poisons and pollutants directly to where they can affect the breathing the most. When you think that even smokers who do not suffer from asthma are prone to wheeze and cough, you can imagine the effect smoking will have on those which do have a genuine asthmatic condition. Giving up smoking and avoiding smoky environments is the first essential in controlling asthma.

Those learning all about asthma quickly realize that there is no actual cure for the asthmatic condition, and that the best that can be achieved is a controlling of the symptoms and a management of the condition to the extent that the patient lives a relatively normal life. This is easier to do once the signs and triggering factors can be ascertained and determined, although there will still be environmental pollutants which will be difficult to avoid without a major change of lifestyle. There are cases which respond well to a physical move to where the air is less polluted.health policies and programs

Please know that school health policies and programs provide the framework for a safe and supportive environment for students with asthma. In a recent study, for example, 80% or more of schools have allowed students to carry and self-administer asthma medications. They also obtained and kept asthma action plans. However, there are far fewer schools that have the recommended polices or programs; of an important note, less than one third of schools had a full-time Registered Nurse. So it is evident that improvements in many school policies and programs are really needed. This is so that students have a safe and supportive school environment in which to help them control their asthma while away from home.

There are many cases of asthma (and many faces of asthma) where the signs and symptoms are so severe that they can even be life threatening (a person could die) if not controlled (i.e. asthma triggers such as: wheezing, chest tightness and coughing, anxiety due to shortness of breath). Having access to the right drug treatments which can be quickly applied is essential, which is why many asthma sufferers carry inhalers which can dispense Salbutamol and relieve symptoms quickly. Long term drug treatments can also lessen the risk and severity of attacks when they occur, so make sure that any drug prescriptions are adhered to strictly. Inhalers are also often used as an effective way of dispensing the long term medications.

Any source of information about asthma will tell you that the prognosis is good once the diagnosis has been made and appropriate treatments started. This is true, with the given understanding that the patient will be able to follow those treatments which are recommended. It is far easier, for example, to tell someone to quit smoking than it is to actually do this, especially if you have been addicted to tobacco for a long period of time. If techniques such as hypnotherapy need to be used to complement the medication being taken, this should be done as the situation could be serious.

There are asthma controller medicines which can help prevent asthma symptoms when taken every day as prescribed by the doctor. There are several different categories of these preventive asthma medicines. Each of them works in unique ways, and some are more appropriate for certain levels of asthma severity then others.

Inhaled steroids, which are also known by the name, inhaled corticosteroids or ICS, have become one of the mainstays of asthma treatment for persistent asthma in children and adults. These inhaled sterioids are safe and effective. They make a significant difference in the quality of life for people who struggle with asthma.

There are several goals of asthma treatment and one is to help you maintain normal and healthy living. This includes exercise and other physical activities. So follow your asthma action plan by taking the medications as prescribed by your physician, avoiding any triggers, and also monitor your symptoms and lung function. This will help you achieve this very important goal.

If asthma symptoms prevent you from participating fully in activities, talk to your asthma doctor. A small change in your asthma action plan may be all that is needed to provide asthma relief during exercise or activity.

If you are a person who has asthma, you need to take necessary steps to prevent the flu. With asthma, any respiratory infection, including the flu, can affect your lungs. This causes inflammation and the narrowing of the airway passages. It is very important to take the preventive cautions and measures to stay healthy. So be aware of any asthma symptoms, even mild symptoms, so that you can avoid an asthma attack or severe asthma emergency.

Researching asthma, and learning facts about asthma which can help you to manage the condition and live as normal a life as possible, is easier than ever before thanks to the wealth of information which is available online. You can find comprehensive and detailed reports of the current diagnosis and treatment of asthma in countries around the world, including from some highly regarded authorities such as the British National Health Service. This advice can be a great help to you, but never let it take precedence over the advice given by your own practitioners, who have first hand knowledge of your own case of asthma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Articles

• Asthma
• Asthma Inhaler
• Asthma Diet
• Asthma Attack
• Adult Onset Asthma
• Asthma Education
• Asthma Research
• Treatment Of Asthma
• Asthma In Infants
• Children With Asthma
• History Of Asthma
• Allergy Asthma
• Asthma Action Plan
• Asthma Diagnosis
• Asthma Facts
• Childhood Asthma
• Exercise Induced Asthma
• Asthma Symptoms
• Cause Of Asthma
• Asthma Doctor



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