Manage Asthma

Asthma - One of the Leading Chronic illnesses in the US The breathlessness, wheezing and coughing fits have become a way of life for many people around the world. It is estimated that 23.2 million Americans suffer from asthma , with health care costs for asthma rising to a whopping $14.5 billion a year. The American Lung Association puts asthma down as the seventh-ranked chronic health condition in the United States and the leading chronic illness in children with the number of young sufferers rising. Asthma may seem like a rather benign illness but each year many severe asthma attacks require hospitalization and some result in death.

Triggers for Asthma
Asthma sufferers will be well aware of the effects of an asthma attack: the shortness of breath, a tight feeling in the chest, wheezing and sometimes a severe cough. However they may not always realize what the cause is as there are many triggers for asthma which can irritate the airways and result in broncho-constriction (constriction of the passage to the lungs). It could be sudden exposure to cold air or a specific allergen, heavy exercise or even emotional stress. Many have a predisposition to asthma; some develop allergies to pollen, smoke, foods, perfumes, chemicals, animal fur, insects, sudden weather changes and biological contaminants such as mold. Stress and viral infections could also cause asthma. Today one of the leading causes is thought to be pollution, though this has not been proved conclusively.
Asthma and your immune system
The disease is chronic when the airways become hypersensitive and inflamed. There is increased mucus production and the airway is obstructed often. It can be mild to life threatening and is usually controlled with drugs, diet and mild forms of exercise. Asthma occurs because of an oversensitive immune system. Usually the immune system protects the body against harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. Sometimes it reacts to normally harmless things like dander, dust, mold, strong smelling perfume and pollen. It could even react to chemicals like bleach and pollutants. Smoking for example triggers asthma in children. It has been seen that children of smokers tend to suffer from chronic asthma thanks to second hand smoke. The chances of allergies increase with hot, dry and windy weather. Most sufferers are able to predict roughly when the asthma attack may come as it is usually during a particular time of year.

Managing your asthma
With some care and the correct medication, the risk of asthma attacks and allergic reactions can be dramatically reduced.
Since asthma is an inflammatory disease, it can be affected by other mild allergies like hay fever. Many have found that wearing masks helps during the pollen season or when working with chemicals or pollutants. Keeping the windows shut and removing indoor plants can also get rid of some environmental triggers. For those who are allergic to dander, keeping pets out and using synthetic materials for bedding is advisable. Changing air filters monthly in heating and air conditioning systems, regular vacuuming and keeping pests like cockroaches out can also help in combating asthma and is a good move anyway for general health reasons! There should also be regular checks for molds and fungal growth as these are notorious for triggering asthma attacks.

Medication and natural therapies
Asthma can be managed, if not wholly cured, by a better understanding of the disease and by taking a few precautions and preventive measures. Asthma inhalers or bronchodilators are the most preferred form of medication for immediate relief. Antihistamines are also used to treat allergic symptoms. In extreme cases,cortisones are prescribed. Some prefer natural therapies such as homeopathy or acupuncture. For chronic sufferers, regular breathing exercises based on yoga are recommended. However, care should be taken not to overdo any form of physical activity as this could trigger off "exercise-induced" asthma.

Diets
Changes in diet are also advocated, because some foods may trigger asthma. Naturopaths ask sufferers to avoid mucus-forming foods such as dairy, chocolates, refined white flour, bread, cakes and white sugar.
Medical research has also pointed out that asthmatics have high levels of oxidants and low levels of antioxidants in their diet. In a sample study it was seen that those who suffer from asthma usually have a lower intake of fresh fruit and raw vegetables. So a diet that is balanced may go a long way in reducing the severity of the attack.
As we have found, every asthma sufferer should have a risk reduction strategy and household planning can go a long way to reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack .