Major Causes of Asthma Which You Must Know

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Cough, Cough, Cough

You know it is not just a bad cough when you keep on coughing to the extent that you are wheezing for air. You might have asthma.

Now, asthma is a disorder that affects the airways or the bronchial tubes in your lungs. The name itself hails from the Greek "to breathe hard". And indeed, for people who have asthma, they know how difficult they have to breathe just to get enough air into them.

To pinpoint asthma causes, one has to look at the different types of asthma: allergic asthma, intrinsic asthma, asthma caused by exercise, nocturnal asthma, work-induced/occupational asthma and steroid-resistant asthma.

Let's focus at the more common asthma causes: allergies, exercise and stress.

It's Not Just Itch!

One of the most common asthma causes is triggered by allergies. Allergies frequently affect children and it causes asthma that causes parents to worry (and send their young children immediately to the doctor's or the pediatrician). Allergens are the frequent asthma causes for childhood asthma.

Dust mites, pollen, cat fur and smoke are some allergens that would trigger asthma in sufferers. Normally, the only prevention for asthma sufferer is to avoid these allergens at all causes.

Cat fur is the most common allergen, as it is very fine and extremely potent for people with allergies or sensitivities. It is bad news for people who love cats and might already have one or two felines at home. It is either you give the cat away to another family who are not allergic or that you have to keep the house very clean with constant cleaning.

Dust mites are microscope creatures that feed on dead skin flakes and they thrive on areas like your bed, your bed-sheets, pillows and fabrics. Often as such, asthma sufferers end up wheezing, because of the dust mites present in the very clothes they are wearing or the beds they are sleeping on. To prevent further asthma attacks, change the pillows and fabrics to anti-dust mite ones.

Pollen is given forth by flowers and it is most prevalent during springtime. For some, it might be hay fever. For others, it might just trigger a bout of allergic asthma.

Because these allergens are so minute, it is often difficult to stop these tiny asthma causes, other than removing the sources all together.

Puffing, Puffing

For some, exercise or even stress can trigger off an asthma attack. Exercise, though positive and even invigorating, can contribute to a loss of heat and loss of moisture in the lungs, causing the individual to cough. Stress also has similar effects on the lungs.

Interestingly enough, a lot of the people suffering from asthma caused by exercise have family histories of allergies and are allergic themselves. You might say that they are already predisposed or more susceptible to asthma causes.

Stress or emotional upheaval can cause an individual to end up having asthma as well. We cannot stop stress and emotional upheavals from happening - the best thing for the sufferer is to be able to remain calm and breathe normally. Breathing quickly would just worsen the symptoms and turn the asthma into a full-blown attack. It is also likely that people who are prone to allergies might also be triggered off by stress or emotional upheaval.

These asthma causes can be maintained by medication and a fair bit of common sense. Know your body well and if your asthma is made worse by cold and dry conditions (when you exercise), it is wise therefore to make the decision not to exercise in such conditions. For stress, remain calm and remember to breathe normally.

Know Your Body

It is important to understand your body and how it works, especially if you are an asthma sufferer or are prone to allergens. If you are unsure about seeking treatment, go and talk to your family doctor. Or, if you are more inclined towards natural or herbal remedies, talk to your herbalist or natural medicine practitioners for helpful tips and pointers.

It is also crucial to do more research and reading-up on asthma. Most importantly, look for asthma support groups who might have just the right blend of help and cures for you.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. If you are looking for more information, read about Causes of Asthma at http://www.ayurvediccure.com/asthma/asthma-medication.htm. AyurvedicCure.com is the World's Largest Alternative Health Portal. You can also Participate in Health Questions & Answers, Discussion Forums and Blogs. If you are worried about your pet's health then read Dogs and Cats Asthma Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_John_Anne

Cure Your Asthma In Just One Week

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Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that is characterized by the inflammation of the airways. When a person has asthma, his or her airways get inflamed as a result of exposure to any range of asthma triggers. The airways, tubes proximate to your lungs that carry air to and from the lungs, constrict, limiting the amount of air that travels through the airway, swells, and becomes lined with excessive amounts of mucus. Some of the common symptoms that accompany asthma include a feeling of tightness in the chest cavity, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

When the symptoms of asthma are extreme, the situation is usually referred to as an asthma attack or an episode of asthma. Usually, these symptoms are managed with a combination of drugs (usually bronchodilators which are drugs that help open the airway) and a change in environment.

Asthma is one of the more popular conditions that affect people and has been increasing in prevalence over the years. To date, one in four urban children are affected with asthma, and an approximate 20.5 million Americans have asthma.

The condition was identified by Greeks with the term, aazein, which meant "sharp breath". While the word aazein first appeared in Homer's Iliad, it was only used to describe the said medical condition around 450 BC by Hippocrates. Hippocrates noted, during this time, that the spasms relating to asthma were common among tailors and metalworkers. Galen, six centuries later, studied asthma in great detail and observed that the symptoms of asthma included bronchial obstruction. It was later on studied by the influential medieval philosopher, rabbi, and physician Moses Maimonides in 1190 AD, who wrote a treatise on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of asthma. The connection between asthma and organic dust was made in the 17th century by Bernardino Ramazzini. It was only in the year 1901 that bronchodilators became widely used, and not until the 1960s that physicians recognized the need for anti-inflammatory medication in order to deal with a previously unrecognized inflammatory aspect of asthma symptoms.

Based on the symptoms displayed by those suffering from asthma, there are four basic levels of asthma severity. The first level is called mild intermittent, which means that the person suffering from asthma has asthma attacks twice a week or less, has regular lung function, is bothered by symptoms at night at least twice a month, and experience no other symptoms. This is a sort of asthma that more or less "comes and goes" and causes no particular discomfort to a person affected by it.

The second level is called a mild persistent asthma. Mild persistent asthma causes asthma attacks more than twice a week but no more than once per day. A person with mild persistent asthma is bothered by asthma at night at least twice per month, and do experience the other symptoms of asthma sufficiently to affect his or her activities.

Moderate persistent asthma means that asthma symptoms manifest themselves everyday, causing discomfort from nighttime symptoms more than once a week. Asthma attacks themselves pose effects to most activities.

Severe persistent asthma, the highest of these four levels, means that asthma symptoms manifest themselves throughout the day on most days, with nighttime symptoms causing inconvenience often. With severe persistent asthma, limits to physical activities exist.

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Signs and Symptoms of Asthma

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Most people with asthma have warning signs before symptoms ever appear. The warning signs are not the same for everyone. Even your own warning signs may differ from time to time. By learning what your warning signs are, you can start treatment sooner. This may keep you from having a serious asthma attack. Some of the warning signs of asthma or signs of an asthma attack are listed below.

• Abnormal Breathing – This includes breathing faster than normal, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. • Persistent coughing – This coughing may be worse at night or early morning. • Tightness in the chest. • Fatigue, of a feeling of always being tired. • Wheezing, head congestion, and/or scratchy or sore throat • Rapid heartbeat. • Head congestion

There are many things that can cause an asthma attack. Below are some of the most common triggers.

• Air pollution. • Animals. • Cold weather. • Dust. • Exercise. • Foods. • Lung infections. • Molds. • Pollens. • Smoke. • Stress.

Asthma is divided into 4 broad categories or “levels”

•Intermittent Level: This is the least serious level of asthma. A person is considered to be in this level when they exhibit asthma symptoms no more than 2 times a week and are not awakened at night with asthma symptoms more than twice a month. At this level, an asthma attack may last from a few hours to a few days, but there are no symptoms between asthma attacks. Between asthma attacks the peak expiratory flow or "PEF" is normal or varies less than 20%. The PEF is a measure of airflow to your lungs. A peak flow meter is used to get a PEF reading.

•Mild persistent: A person at this level has asthma symptoms more than 2 times a week but not on a daily basis, and will have nighttime asthma symptoms more than twice monthly. At this level, asthma attacks may slow daily activities. The PEF reading will vary by 20% to 30%.

•Moderate persistent: A person at this level has asthma symptoms every day and has nighttime asthma symptoms about once a week. Asthma attacks may occur at least 2 times a week and last for several days. At this stage, a person will use a short-acting inhaled asthma medicine every day. Asthma attacks do not just slow down daily activities but may actually prevent some of them. The PEF reading may vary by more than 30%.

•Severe persistent: This is the most serious level of asthma. A person at this level displays asthma symptoms all the time both day and night. Asthma symptoms severely limit a person's physical activity, and asthma attacks are common

You and your doctor will develop a plan to treat your asthma. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may or may not need medication to control your asthma. Generally, asthma medicines fall into 2 categories; long term control and quick relief medicines

1) Long-term control medicines are taken every day to control persistent asthma by decreasing inflammation in the airways. This group of medicines keeps airway swelling from starting.. This medicine is put into an inhaler through which you breathe.

2) Quick-relief medicines are taken to quickly open your airways and to treat symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath. This class of medicine is known as bronchodilators. Bronchodilators relax muscles that have tightened around the airways. Once these muscles relax, the airways open to help you breathe easier.

In summary, educating yourself is crucial. You need to learn to watch for signs that your asthma is worsening as well as what to do to stop an asthma attack. You can usually care for yourself at home during an asthma attack. However, if your breathing does not improve with medicine or treatments, you should contact your doctor as alternative treatments may be necessary.

If you have asthma, you may feel frightened or anxious. Some people blame themselves and think they have done something wrong. These are normal feelings and should be discussed with your doctor or with someone close to you. Ask your doctor about support groups for people with asthma. Such a group can give you support and information Call or write the following groups for more information:

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 611 East Wells Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: 1-800-822-ASMA Web Address: http://www.aaaai.org

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 550 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Phone: 1-800-842-7777 Web Address: [http://allergy.mcg.edu]

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 402 Washington,, DC 20036 Phone: 1-800-727-8462 Web Address: http://aafa.org

National Asthma Education and Prevention Program National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute National Asthma Education and Prevention Program P.O. Box 30105 Bethesda, MD 20824-0105 Phone: 1-301-592-8573 Web Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm

Don Rondeau is an engineer, writer, and is living with loved ones with asthma. His revews of asthma products can be found at http://www.asthmasolution.com/help, This article can be re-printed and/or published online or offline for free, provided this resource box remains intact Questions or comments are welcomed and should be sent to don@myinfoabout.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Rondeau

Asthma Action Plan

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Asthma action plan is a plan on how to manage asthma. This is a condition that affects the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs. When the flow of air is not normal, this causes a negative effect. For one to manage asthma, one has got to know what causes it. It is after that, that one can begin to plan on how to manage it and one must therefore know the treatment.

These treatments are inhalers, therapy and tablets. Inhalers are of two types; preventers and relievers. Preventers are used for prevention of asthmatic attacks while relievers are used to give relief to the patient during attacks. Therapy is used to ease the condition on the patient. It is given in different ways in relation to these conditions and even age, whether child or adult. This is good because it helps to control the condition.

Asthma action plan needs a bit of care and involvement. The strictness should be adhered to for best results. Discipline should be practiced in whatever form of treatment. When this plan is followed, the patients health begins to progress because the irritations that bring about the symptoms are taken care of. These symptoms include; coughing, wheezing, tightening of chest, running out of breath and heavy breathing.

Another way of having an asthma action plan and using it is by knowing the causes that trigger ones kind of asthma and avoiding the cause. These causes may include, air pollution, weather, fungi, molds, house mites and sex. Vigorous exercise could also be a cause and sex falls under this because one runs short of breath as the lungs are exposed to too much pressure yet the airways are not carrying sufficient air into the system.

Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on asthma and its management. Asthma - Who Gets It? Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mercy_Maranga

Combat Asthma, Allergies And Indoor Air Pollution The Three Best And Most Cost Effective Solutions

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Indoor Air Pollution, You Just Can't Live With It Anymore

If you suffer miserably from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory illnesses, you should pass the housecleaning chores to someone else, especially when vacuuming or dusting. Accumulated allergens in our homes, schools, and work places, have been increasing annually since 1980. The need for "energy conservation" led to improved construction methods which were implemented in the late 1970's. The negative fallout of constructing "air-tight" buildings resulted in a gradual increase, year after year, of poor indoor air quality and escalating cases of allergies and respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Asthma (and asthma deaths) especially among children, have steadily increased over this same time period.

Health organizations and government agencies have only recently drawn the correlation between the two. The EPA states that today's children spend 90% of their time indoors and that indoor air quality is 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor air quality and sometimes as much as 100 times worse. Unfortunately, those persons who are most susceptible to the ill-health effects of poor indoor air quality are those persons who spend most of their time indoors such as; infants, toddlers, young children, the elderly, and persons with chronic illnesses.

Visit the EPA's newest website for more info: Indoor air quality in our homes, schools, and work places can be improved. The three best and most cost-effective methods to achieve this are:

1). Education and knowledge, through public service announcements available on the EPA's new website. Contact your local media outlets and have the messages broadcasted.

2). Control the sources, utilize "offensive" tactics to remove or reduce indoor air pollutants and allergens

3). Ventilation, more "tightly" constructed buildings have led to allergen and pollutant build-ups. Increase ventilation with fresh air to dilute contaminated air and exhaust pollutants to the outdoors.

Several multi-million dollar industries and many corporations, all with very "deep pockets," market and promote their own self-serving solutions to indoor pollution while doing a huge disservice to consumers. The "defensive" products that are aggressively advertised, are merely band-aids to the indoor air quality problem and do not go on the "offense" to attack the sources. As an example, costly air purifiers, dust mite-proof mattress pads and bedding, filters, and vacuum cleaners, are all claimed to be, by the manufacturers, the "be all/end all" solution to consumers' indoor air problems.

In our homes, the bedroom harbors the most quantities of allergens. The bedroom also happens to be the one area we spend most of our time...sleeping in our cozy, comfortable beds. When we arrive home from school, work, or play, the bedroom is where we normally go to change our clothes. We inadvertently transport many allergens into our homes and in particular, our bedrooms, on our clothing, shoes, coats, hair and hats. The bedroom becomes a "dumping ground" for allergens such as pollen, molds, mildew, pet dander, and even insects. Supposedly safe and cozy in our beds, our bodies provide warmth, humidity and food, for a microscopic ecosystem to thrive. Dust mite allergens (DMA's) are the #1 indoor allergen just as pollen is the #1 allergen found outdoors.

It should be no wonder then, that the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) has suggested that 50% of ALL ILLNESSES may be caused by, or further aggravated by, poor indoor air quality. The wonder should be...what took so long and why hasn't the public been informed of the severity of this problem before.

Attacking the #1 source of indoor allergens (DMA's) living, thriving, and breeding in our unhygienic mattresses, followed by utilizing new found knowledge and improving housekeeping practices starting in our bedrooms, not only makes sense, but will also allow each of us to live a more comfortable life.

The most comprehensive list of tips available on the Internet, can be found in the no-cost ebook "76 Tips to Reduce Dust Mites and Indoor Allergens" at the following link: http://www.sterilmattress.com/ebook_dust_mite_removal_tips.html

For additional information on the harmful effects of Indoor Air Pollution please refer to:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Asthma,-Hidden-Asthma,-And-Allergies-&id=430592

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Asthma, Allergy And Vacuum Cleaning

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Now, at the beginning of 21st century every 4th person in Europe is allergic and every 6th suffers from some form of asthma.

Allergies (allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, eczema, conjuctivitis) usually have one common trigger which is the contact of the person with the allergens (dust mite excrements, pollen, mildew).

Who (what) is to blame?

Sure, the general pollution of the environment is the first and major reason (allergies are considered the civilization deseases and the pollution comes hand in hand with the civilization development) but we can also blame our life-style.

Nowadys, people spend 80% and more of their time inside (their flat, office, restaurant, tube). For our body the (in terms of allergies) most dangerous are the smallest particles (viruses, scigarettes smoke, mite droppings) which circulate in the air and are inhaled (and in such closed spaces like flat/office/tube you exhale them and other people inhale them and vice versa).
And also the average temperature in our buildings increased over the last 30 years by 4-5 Celsius degrees offering great living conditions for mites or bacteria.

Wet or dry vacuum cleaning?

In the 1990s, the wet vacuum cleaner producers came with the idea to win the battle with the dry vacuum cleaner producers persuading people that the dry vacuums are unable to catch as much microscopic particles causing allergies as the wet vac cleaners.
It seemed logical for people. The wet vacuum cleaner sucks in the dust and the water catches and separates it. But the experimets have shown that the ,,truth is out there" and what works for larger particles doesn´t work for the smallest ones. Simply, the allergens were circulating in the air in the same amounts no matter if it was before or after the wet vacuuming.

So tell me - wet or dry?!

I - really - am not depreciating the abilities of the wet vacuum cleaner, I only state that water filter is not sufficient if it is the only filter your vacuum cleaner has. If you have a wet vacuum with the additional filters like HEPA, they probably do a great job and you do not have to change them for anything else.

I am allergic, so what vacuum cleaner should I buy?

In my opinion, the one that has Gore-Tex or multi-layer HEPA filter - no matter if dry or wet.
They both (Gore-Tex and multiple HEPAs) are able to catch 99,99% of the loose dust particles and allergens.

To keep your flat clean it is necessary to vaccum it 3-4 times weekly (or 30-40 times if you have small children, let´s say 2-5 years old - I am joking, of course), not only the carpets and floors but also the beds, linen and furniture.
It is also recommended to get rid of heavy, old curtains, drapery as well as grand-ma´s teddy bears or other plush toys.
The buildings should not be over-heated and over-humidified

Standard flat inner temperature should not exceed 21 Celsius degrees during the days and 19 Celsiuses is enough for nights.

The average humidity should not exceed 50% and it is recommended to ventilate the room at least 2 times daily, in the morning and in the evening (take another sweater or glass of whisky - or both - and open all windows fully for at least 15 minutes).

If you have an allergic person in your household you should seriously consider the chance of buying an air purifier (not the humidifier, it only humidifies the air without cleaning it).
With their performance and low noisiness they are much more effective than the wet vacuum cleaners.

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Getting The Upper Hand On Asthma Allergy

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Asthma allergy is the number one form of allergy today. And since asthma allergy is inherited, one can get it at a young age. The diagnosis process for asthma allergy is a simple and very straightforward test and will immediately determine if you do have asthma and not just some other type of allergy.

Symptoms of an asthma allergy

An asthma allergy reaction can vary in degree, from mild to severe. The following are symptoms of an asthma allergy:

· Headache

· Fever

· Chronic coughing

· Chest pain or tightness

· Difficulty in breathing

· Rapid breathing or wheezing

· Scratchy or sore throat

· Itchy, watery eyes

· Runny nose

· Continuous sneezing

· Restlessness

Some of the mentioned symptoms have the same indicators to conditions like pulmonary disease; sinusitis and influenza so make sure you see a doctor for a more precise diagnosis. What you thought as an asthma allergy may actually be something else.

An asthma allergy reaction that is mild to moderate in degree can be identified with tightness of the chest, spewing and coughing up mucus, having difficulty sleeping and constant wheezing.

A severe asthma allergy attack may be characterized by the person having difficulty in speaking, a bluish color to the person's lips and fingernails, and breathlessness. When this happens, the patient must be ready with their medication.

Asthma Allergy Treatment

The asthma allergy is treated by medicines prescribed by the doctor. These medicines reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane and help normalize the air passage of the person with asthma allergy. Called "controller medicines", they help ease the pain of the asthma allergy attack:

· Mast cell stabilizers - non-steroidal medications that control the inflammation by stopping the body from releasing inflammatory chemicals.

· Corticosteroids - another anti-inflammatory medication.

· Anti-leukotrienes - it stops the production of leukotrienes that are responsible for the increase in inflammation that causes constriction of the airway muscle and close the windpipes of the patient.

The drugs mentioned are used to help patients with asthma allergy to gain control of their asthma and keep on living a normal life. They are available in capsules, tablets and inhalers. A person suffering from asthma attacks should always bring their medicine along especially since these attacks are unpredictable.

Asthma Allergy Prevention

An asthma allergy attack cannot be prevented since doctors are not sure what causes asthma. But there are ways that a person with an asthma allergy can reduce the symptoms or totally avoid having an attack.

· Keep a clean and dust-free environment by vacuuming the house.

· If you live near a dusty road where cars frequently pass by, pour water on the road in front of your house. This will stop the dust from flying into the home.

· Regularly clean the fan, air-conditioning and other ducts that come in contact with air.

· Avoid places that have plenty of environmental allergens like molds, pollens, animal dander and secondhand cigarette smoke.

· Wear a mask when cleaning the house or going to a place full of allergens.

· Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.

In the end, the only way to defeat asthma is to learn how to live with the condition. Healthy living is a great way to turn one's life around when a person has asthma. And with the help of modern science, it is not impossible to lead a productive life. Despite an allergic reaction, one should not stop enjoying life even if they have asthma.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Charlene J. Nuble 2006. For answers to All your frequently asked questions about asthma allergy, please go to: http://asthma-allergy.allergyanswers.net/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlene_Nuble