Asthma
Recurrent attacks of wheezing and breathlessness –known as asthma –can develop at any age. But they usually begin early in life and sometimes lessen or clear up completely by age, but they usually begin early in life and sometimes lessen or clear up completely by adulthood, the condition is becoming more common; it affects more than 2 million Australia’s and 550,000 New Zealanders and at least 15 per cent of children have some of asthma.
Asthma occurs when the small airways in the lungs become overly sensitive , reacting to one or more substances that no effect on non- asthmatic people . This reaction makes the lining of the airways swell and produce mucus , reducing the space available for incoming air. Principle symptoms include breathlessness (with particular difficulty in exhaling) , wheezing , coughing , and tightness in the chest . Attacks vary in severity , and can range from mild breathlessness to life –threatening respiratory failure frequent asthma attacks can interfere with everyday life .
Some people have an inherited tendency to get asthma , while many develop it for no known reason. Asthma is caused by an allergic reaction in 1 in 20 children and in 1 in 30 years old. A wide variety of things can trigger the oversensitivity of the airways that underlies the condition.
There are several possible reasons for the increase in asthma. The improved living conditions of people in developed countries mean that they have fewer early childhood infections and parasitic infestations. Because their immune systems don’t have the early stimulation derived from exposure to foreign organisms, they may overreact not only to these organisms, but also certain other substances later. The widespread use of antibiotics to treat relatively minor childhood infections also makes asthma more likely to occur. Antibiotics may disturb the development of normal immunity by altering the population of bacteria in the intestine. As children grow older , they are more likely to overreact to viral infections and to substances in the environment . Environmental pollutants – from , for example , nitrogen dioxide , sulphur dioxide , ozone and airborne particles in vehicles exhaust emissions- are also to blame.
PREVENTION
Try to identify your asthma trigger and take steps to avoid it. In cold weather, wind a scarf loosely around your nose and mouth so that you breathe warmer air. Air pollution is often at its worst when it’s hot and humid , so you may want to stay inside on those days. Don’t use spray products , and make your home a no- smoking zone .
If allergy tests reveal a sensitivity to dust mites, consider replacing wall-to wall carpets or rugs with hard flooring , such as tiles or wood. Vacuum upholstery and curtains frequently , and clean them regularly. Wash bedclothes often, at high a temperature as the fabric can withstand. Put your pillow and mattress in allergen –proof covers. Buy a vacuum cleaner or air purifier with a high – efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or install such a filter in your heating system. Dust mites thrive in moist conditions , so purchase a dehumidifier if indoor humidity is high.
Once a week, kill dust mites in soft toys by laundering washable ones and putting others in the freezer overnight. If a pet causes asthma, you may have to give it away, though bathing it weekly may help.
Diet supplements:
A healthy diet reduces the risk of wheezing. A magnesium supplement may help , and vitamin C and E may lessen the frequency of asthma triggered by smoke or air pollution . Garlic tablets may reduce the production of mucus , which can contributes to narrowing of the airways . Take measures to identify and exclude any foods to which you might be allergic.
Exercise:
Improving your general fitness with a daily half an hour of strenuous exercise will boost your sense of wellbeing and your lung fitness.
Breathing and yoga:
Regular breathing exercises , can increase your ability to relax your chest muscles. They may also improve your control over anxiety and other stress responses that can a narrow the air ways . Together these skills will make you less susceptible to frequent or severe asthma attacks.
Frequently episodes of feeling overstressed can readily instill the habit of rapid breathing. This eliminates too much carbon dioxide from the body, reducing the bloods acidity and thus diminishing the oxygen available to cells. All this leads to ‘air –hunger’, a desire to get more oxygen by breathing even more rapidly.
Herbal remedies:
Certain herbal remedies may help relax airways and expel mucus. Useful remedies include Echinacea, liquorice, hyssop and thyme. Vervain and chamomile are especially good if you feel tense. Drink one to two cups of one of these teas daily.Caution for safety.
Asthma triggers :
Allergens (inhale or eaten ) , activities or conditions may set off an asthma attacks .
Include :
- Dust mite or cockcroach droppings
- Pollen
- Dander (hair and skin scales) shed by pets
- Certain foods (such as peanuts , shellfish and eggs)
- Mites in food ( cereals , flour, and other dried foods ) well past the expiration date
- Mould spores
- Respiratory infection
- Cigarette smoke.
- Vehicles exhaust fumes
- Vapour from air fresheners, perfumes, finishing chemicals in new clothes , dry cleaning solvents, paints, glues, shoe waterproofing sprays , and pesticides.
- Nitrogen dioxide in burnt gas fumes from gas appliances .
- Industrial chemicals and other substances for example, dusts from paper, wood and flour; fumes from welding and soldering , vapour from hardening agents and isocyanates)
- Cold air or a sudden temperatures change
- Exercise
- Strong emotion
Tiny trouble maker
The dust mite, is at 245 times life-size , thrives in the modern super-insulated , heated home . Soft furnishings and wall –to –wall carpets provode its ideal environment. Dust mite droppings are one of the most common asthma triggers.
Spotting danger signs early
You may want to buy a peak flow meter and use it each morning and evening to measure how fast you can expel air . If your performance decrease , you can step uo preventive actions.
TREATMENTS
As soon as you feel an attack coming on, remove yourself , if possible , from any trigger, stay in a warm room and summon help.
Breathing exercise during attacks: Sit comfortably upright, put one hand on your chest and other on your stomach, and concentrate on relaxing , taking slow , easy breaths through your nose and filling your chest by using your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move farther up and down with each breath than the one on your chest .
Massage to avert an attack
If you feeling stressed and sense that you may be on the verge of an asthma attack, ask a friend to perform the back massage described below to relieve chest tension . You should lie on your front with your head to one side, while your friend follows these instructions:
Kneel at a right angle to person’s back and place the heels of your hands on the far side of the upper back , avoiding the spine.
Learning forwards and pressing firmly , slide your hands over the ridge of muscle running alongside the spine from top to bottom.
Repeat the action , moving the starting point slightly down the spine towards the waist each time , until reaching the bottom rib. Do the same on the other side.
Homeopathy:
The following remedies may relieve a mild attack of asthma. Choose the one that most closely matches your symptoms.
Arsenicum:
if attacks often occur at night and make you feel restless and anxious.
Ipecacuanha:
if you feel that your lungs are congested with mucus and have coughing along with nausea.
Natrum sulphuricum:
if attacks are brough on by damp conditions.
Pulsatilla :
if you feel better in the fresh air.
Other therapies:
Acupuncture can help some asthma sufferers.
When get medical help
- You need to find cause of your asthma.
- Preventive measures don’t stop attacks.
- You have an attacks along with a worsening upper respiratory infection.
Get help right away
You feel very breathless or dizzy, turn pale or bluish , or have chest pain during an attack.
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