ASTHMA

ASTHMA
Causes, symptoms and herbal cure
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that, like bronchitis and emphysema, causes a tightening of the chest and difficulty in breathing. In the case of asthma, however, these symptoms are not always present. They come in attacks set off by various environmental or emotions “trigger” such as pollen, animal dander, tobacco, smoke and stress. Some people with asthma experience only mild and infrequent attack, for them the condition is an occasional inconvenience. For others, attack can be frequent and serious, requiring emergency medical treatment.
If you have asthma, you should be monitored by a physician regularly, and you must seek immediate medical attention for a serious attack. By identifying your triggers, you can learn to lessen the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks and perhaps even avoid them completely.
Asthma is not a problem with breathing in, but with breathing out. During an attack, muscle spasms and swelling bronchial tissues narrow the lungs’ tiny airways, which then become clogged with excess mucus. So stale air gets trapped in the bottom of the lungs, forcing you to use the top part to grasp for air. Mild and moderate attacks consist of short incidents of breathlessness and wheezing. In severe cases, the lungs airways become so narrow and clogged that breathing is impossible.
An attack may pass quickly or last more than a day. Sometimes symptoms occur suddenly. Sometimes symptoms occur suddenly and with surprising intensity. This “second wave” attack can be more severe and dangerous than the initial attack and may last days or even weeks. Although asthma is seldom fatal, it is quite serious. If you have asthma, you should seek the help of a doctor trying alternative therapies.
CAUSES
Asthma has no single cause, rather, attacks can be brought on by a variety of factors, working or in combination. Allergies are the primary offenders. Between 50 and 90 per cent of people with asthma have allergies. The most common allergies or allergy causing substances are pollen, grass, dust, mold, tobacco and smoke. When inhaled, these substances can trigger the release of tamine and other body chemicals, causing an allergic reaction and asthma attacks. Other allergens include chemical fumes, aspirin or aspirin like compounds, such as phenylbutazone, indomethicin, ibuprofen and nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDS) and sulfites high concentrations of which are found in some food and liquids. Another factor in allergy related asthma is heredity: Scientists have discovered a gene that appears to make people susceptible to the disease.
Lung infection can also induce asthma bronchiolities, a vital respiratory infection that usually affects children aged two and younger is a common cause of childhood asthma. Adults may develop asthma as a result of upper respiratory infection such as bronchitis. Other asthma triggers include exercise, emotional stress and environmental stress such as air pollution.
SYMPTOMS
1. Restlessness
2. Insomnia
3. Increasing relative painless tightness in the chest
4. Mild to moderate shortness of breath
5. When breathing, a wheezing or whistling sound that can range from faint to clearly audible.
6. Coughing, sometimes accompanied by phlegm.
TREATMENT
If you have asthma, you see a doctor regularly, for severe attacks, conventional medical treatment is always necessary. However, a number of alternative treatment can be helpful when used in conjunction with conventional therapy.
HERBAL THERAPIES
Elecampane (Inula helenium), a root that acts as a soothing expectorant, may help the body of excess mucus. To prepare an infusion, shred the root to yield one tea spoonful and add a full cup of cold water, let the infusion stand for 10 hours, then strain and drink it hot three times. An infusion made from mullein (verbascum thapsus) is recommended for soothing the mucuous membranes, especially during night time attacks.
PREVENTION
Learn to identity your triggers; keep a diary detailing all the environmental and emotional factors that affect you everyday over the course of several months, when you have an asthma attack, go back to your diary to see which factor or combination of factors might have contributed to it.
Monitor the shifts in your lung capacity at home using a peak flow meter, a device that your doctor can prescribe for you. Reduction in your ability to exhale, you can take precautions and lessen the severity of an asthma attacks.
Avoid food and drinks that have high concentrations of sulfites such as beer, wine, vinegar, instant tea, grape juice, lemon juice, fresh shrimp, pizza dough, dried fruits (such as apples and apricots), canned vegetables, instant potatoes, corn syrup, fruit topping and molasses. Some nutritionists recommended that you also steer clear of foods that cause excess mucus production such as milk.
A daily dose of B-complex vitamins (50 to 100 mg) and magnesium (400 to 600 mg) may help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
ASTHMA MYTHS AND FACTS
MYTH: Asthmatics shouldn’t exercise.
FACT: Exercise is as important for people with asthma as it is for anyone else. Equipped with the proper medication, people with asthma can exercise normally.
Note: Many doctors recommend swimming for people with asthma, as humidity ease breathing. But the chlorine in swimming pools may cause an allergic, triggering asthma attacks the ages of two and ten seem to “outgrow” the disease, in many cases it reoccurs when they reach their thirties. It is also possible to develop asthma as an adult even if you did not have it as a child.
MYTH: You will grow out of it.
FACT: This is both true and false. Although about half of the people who had asthma when they were between the ages of two and ten seem to “outgrow” the disease, in many cases it reoccurs when they reach their thirties. It’s also possible to develop asthma as an adult even if you did not have it as a child.
MYTH: Allergic mothers shouldn’t breastfeed.
FACT: Infant who were breast-fed are less likely to become allergic than those who are not.