Chronic Bronchitis and Asthma

Chronic bronchitis is a prolonged manifestation occurring from inflammation of bronchi, which results to excessive formation of mucous hindering the airflow into the respiratory system. To be labeled chronic bronchitis certain stringent criteria have to be adhered to these are:
- For two years in a row cough with expectoration for at least of a period exceeding three months.
- Different lung pathologies must have been carefully examined.
The most common complication that a person suffers is the shortness of breath so much so that it affects day to day activities.
One of the major factors leading to chronic bronchitis is smoking, and smokers have a high susceptibility of the same. In the initial stages of the condition, the patient is troubled by morning cough, but as the pathology of the condition manifests chronic the patient suffers from continued bouts of cough with expectoration of mucus. This occurrence in layman terms] is known as smokers cough.
In the inchoate periods of the condition the broader airways are affected, but finally even the smaller airways are affected. As the disease reaches this stage the patient's VP ratio (ventilation perfusion ratio) balance is affected i.e the balance between inspiration and expiration. The results of this deviated VP ratio lead to various conditions like less concentration of mixed oxygen in blood or hypoxemia leading to enhanced complications like heavy breathing which if not corrected finally leads to cor pulmonale.
As compared to acute bronchitis chronic bronchitis as the name points towards is a far dangerous condition, the patients suffering from acute bronchitis can be easily treated with antihistamines and antibiotics but the same cannot be said chronic bronchitis because of increased susceptibility of opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections.
Hence the patients suffering from chronic bronchitis are advised to take care of themselves and report the minutest of problems and get admitted into the intensive care units of hospitals till they feel better.
As the disease progresses there is decreased ciliary motility therefore the difficulty in coughing out the mucous, this coupled with inflammation of bronchi leads to reduced protection against air borne and droplet infections.
Chronic bronchitis is a complex condition often occurring in tandem with other respiratory ailments like emphysema and asthma. And in advanced stages of chronic bronchitis coupled with emphysema there is an overall decrease in the dead space volume and the condition may manifest blue bloaters in which the whole skin has a bluish discoloration or cyanosis for want of oxygen.
Chronic bronchitis as a respiratory condition grows slowly but unfortunately it has no cure and the only management are directed in towards alleviation of presenting symptoms.

By; by amycheung0402

Asthma Treatment for Kids

Asthma treatments and allergy treatments in a natural way for children are often sought after by parents who are weary of dosing their offspring with medications such as steroids or other chemicals. A reason why parents are searching for natural ways to treat asthma is because parents are concerned with side effects from treating asthma with today asthma medications. With so many side effects in asthma treatment drugs parents having kids with asthma are continuing to search for alternative methods of asthma treatment for their kids. One of the issues is the number of asthma attacks continues to rise in countries where today’s growing industrial age grows in areas once considered 3^rd world countries. Once these older countries join the industrial revolution in today’s global economy, pollution has increased along with signs of kids with asthma. With pollution rising asthma attacks in children show affects of asthma attack from be mild, moderate, severe or even life threatening asthma attacks. This has increased concern that we need to figure out natural ways of treating asthma in kids.

The distinction between asthma in adults and children is the ability to have a chance to document the history of asthma or different trends. With adults we have the opportunity to track when attacks occur of a period of time. During allergies and hay fever attacks the sufferer has difficulty with allergic rhinitis or sneezing, congestions, runny and itchy nose. An allergic rhinitis reaction may be either seasonal or perennial. Although allergies can precipitate an asthmatic attack it isn’t necessarily the case.

Most allergies present themselves as symptoms in the head, sinus or nose. However, when the allergic reaction moves into the chest with angioedema and constriction it comes under the associated name of asthma. One of every six Americans has some type of allergy. Many of these allergies as described in earlier posts are triggered by pollen, weeds, grasses, as are asthmatic attacks.

There are natural cures for asthma and allergies in children that help to decrease the severity and number of the attacks. Some use hydrogen peroxide in the humidifier or medication aerosolizer. Others use stress reducers to decrease emotional stress and therefore a potent asthma trigger. Some of the other natural methods include trying to reducing dust in common areas and routinely changing a toothbrush or switching to a Sonicare toothbrush to help avoid tiny mold spores that can grow and possibly ignite and asthma attack.

Current or popular brand names of medications used in asthma treatment of kids or Children include asthma medications such as Pulmicort, Beclovent, Flovent, Ventolin, Advair, and Prednisone. Unfortunately for parents these medications all come with side effects of some type. Children with asthma as well as adults seeking asthma treatment could experience, nausea, nasal irritation, dry mouth, delayed growth in children, infection, osteoporosis, cough and wheezing, headache, permanent loss of smell or taste, pneumonia, rash, cardiac complications, increased risk of glaucoma, liver dysfunction and worsening diabetes if the suffers from diabetes. A medication interaction can lessen, increase or completely change the way in which reacts to either of the medications. Although some of these may not occur it really requires a concerned parent or caretaker to ask the doctor or pharmacist to approve a natural cure or method for treating asthma and allergies in children.

After you have researched the natural remedies for treating asthma in kids you may want to stock up on products prior to seasonal and have them on hand before the symptoms of up coming asthma attack begin to appear in the child. In addition asthma attacks are often worse at night although the asthma type might not be nocturnal asthma and parents should be aware of how the child is breathing prior to going to bed incase they need to implement a quick asthma treatment for their kid.

Allergic asthma symptoms

Discussing asthma we can look at two forms of Asthma. There is allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma. Both are still asthma and the asthmatic still suffers the same type of asthma attack. However, it's the way the asthma is triggered that makes the final decision about whether the asthma is triggered or classified as an "allergic asthma" or "non- allergic asthma". Several studies discuss the connection between people with Allergies and Asthma. As with "Asthma Treatment" the best method for treating people with allergic asthma is avoiding those"Asthma Triggers" or allergens which may launch your body into an asthma attack.



People suffering with allergies which are exposed to conditions where their allergies are affected will most likely suffer an asthma attack stemming from the reaction to their allergies. I read somewhere that people living in the U.S. suffering from asthma are typically diagnosed as having allergic asthma. This is common and people that are considered an allergic asthmatic is based around the conclusion that their asthma attack would not have been triggered if they would have been treated for their allergies prior to or in conjunction with their "long term asthma treatment". The other factor besides "allergens" to initiating an asthma attack could be something as simple as an asthmatic who has physically exerted themselves or the asthma attack was started because of exercise or some other strenuous activity.



Although I have discussed in other posts that their are two forms of Asthma treatment. Treating asthma for people with allergies will also fit into either of the two categories asthma treatment categories. Short term asthma treatment and long term asthma treatment. This treatment depends on how severe your allergies are. Hopefully, your not like me and suffer from allergies year round. I also suggest people with asthma that seem to notice that their asthma only acts up during a certain time of the year I would recommend these asthmatics see an "allergy specialist"



Why see an allergy specialist? I suggest this on the basis of the results that you will receive from a "scratch test" that the allergist will perform. As I stated prior, I suffer from allergies year round. I could understand when my allergies flared up in the spring or fall. However for the life of me I could never understand why they flared up during the winter. I found my answer after meeting with an allergy specialist. I was highly allergic to molds and dust. Living in an area where it is winter 8 months out of the whole year now made sense why I still suffered from allergies.

Non-Allergic(intrinsic) asthma
As the phrase alludes too.. asthma is for non-allergic asthmatics is not linked to allergies, the asthma attacks mostly stem from issues such anxiety, cold air, dry air, smoke viruses or other irritants. This basically leads to the asthmatic to other symptons and most likely can be identified if the asthmatic has kept track of their history of asthma and when their asthma attacks hoave occured.
In order to help prevent these asthma attacks or decide how to treat asthma we have to revisit and identifiy what the asthma triggers are before we can be sure whether the asthma attack stemmed from an allergic or non allergic reaction. Still in the end the focus always shifts back to long term asthma treatment versus long term asthma treatment. Yet, non of these treatment options can be used if we can not figure out what triggers our asthma attacks.

Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment

Treating asthma naturally

Asthma Treatment offers several options, however the most enthusastic treatment discussions revlove around or creates interests when the discussions move towards dealing with the disease in a natural way or more specifically when dealing with asthma when its realted to an Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment. The difference is, the method and medication used to treat asthma.


The whole thought behind controlling and treating asthma naturally is the ability to assist the body's natural defences to encourage daily activities and nature to work together to fight any allergies that could possible cause an asthma attack; in doing so, you strenghten your body to fight asthma in an a naturistic way. Working on breathing techniques such as; buteyko, pranayam, or yoga is one method for treating the bronchial side of an asthma attack and it can be an effective form of "asthma treatment". Although this is only effective if used as a way to help prevent asthma attacks it most likely will not work if the person is in a full blown asthma attack. However, using these breathing techniques will assit the asthmatic until they can access vital asthma medications that they find effective when suffering an asthma attack. Whether the medications is in the form of a Naturist Treatment or whether it is a doctor prescribed medication such as advair, abuterhol or some other form of asthma medication to help controll asthma attacks or help prevent asthma attacks from reaching a full blown asthma attack that would eventually lead to a stay in the hospital.

To examine "Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment" we should break down the meaning of each word to get a better understanding of exactly what information we wish to attain by looking for a "natural treatment" of asthma.

To begin to break down the phrase we need to look at the aspect of Allergic. Allergic per the websters dictionary derives from allergy which further defines itself as abnormal or pathological reaction to envirmental substances such as dust, pollens, foods or microrganisims.

Second ,we need to define Bronchial, per the websters dictionary it is a chronic or acute inflamination of the bronchi. In which case, Bronchi is the large tubes leading from the trachea to the lungs. Here we can see that "accute inflamnination" of any tube leading to the lungs will cause difficulty breathing. Now that we know what the bronchial part is of Allergic Bronchial Asthma Naturist Treatment, we should look at the "Naturist" aspect of the term. I skipped over the "Asthma" portion becuase I assumed you know what the definition of asthma is. If you don't, do not fret that can be found under my "Asthma History" post.

Now, back to looking at the Naturist portion of bronchial asthma naturist treatment. To revisit websters dictionary Naturist is just another word for Naturalist. Decifering naturalist per the webesters dictionary it is defined as one who studies natural history or advocates naturalisim.
So, to get the best idea for treating asthma in a natural way we need to understand the history behind asthma and the history of the specific asthmatic to actually begin to either start asthma treatment or to help prevent asthma attacks.

We don't have any regular herbs or spices to treat asthma. Yet, we can look at what triggers asthma attacks. Looking at the triggers and specific ways to monitor your breathing activites is the best method for treating a persons asthma.

In the end the best explanation of "allergic bronchial asthma naturist treatment' is the ability to see what the person is allergic to? What is it in their natural enviroment caused their airways (bronchial) to swell and become irratated and what was the affect on the asthma. Additionally, figuring out these factors is there a way to naturally avoid these triggers to help the individuals asthma treatment in a natural way without constantly use asthma medications to treat asthma.

Asthma Medication

Asthma Treatments and Asthma Medications

There are several methods of Asthma Treatments along with several Asthma medications such as Singulair, Advair which are Anti-inflammatory medications and are consider one of the best ways to treat asthma. Several people with a “history of asthma” use these “asthma medications” to prevent asthma attacks as a long term solution to asthma. However, these types of Asthma medications contain steroids, also called "corticosteroids," and help prevent asthma attacks as well work well as a form of “Asthma Treatment”.
Medications such as Advair act as a type of anti-inflammatory medication for patients suffering with a history of asthma. These asthma medications containing corticosteroids are intended to reduce swelling in the airways along with reducing mucus production in the airways. The reduction of the swelling helps airways to become less sensitive and less likely to affect Asthma triggers thus being an effective form of asthma treatment.

Bronchodilators are asthma medications are designed as a form of a quick relief treatment of asthma medications designed to relieve the symptoms of asthma by relaxing the muscles tighten around the airways. The bronchodilators act quickly opening airways by letting more air come in and out of the lungs being an effective form of treating asthma. Of course after this quick fix breathing improves. Bronchodilators also help clear mucus from the lungs. As the asthma medications start to work the airways open, the mucus moves more freely and can be coughed out more easily.


Inhaled corticosteroids – Asthma Treatment
These medications obstruct the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body. There are hardly any side effects produced by the inhaled drugs because of their local action in the lung.

Brand Name (Generic)

AeroBid; Bronalide (flunisolide ), Advair (fluticasone + salmeterol)
Azmacort (triamcinolone), Beclovent; Vanceril (beclomethasone)
Flovet (fluticasone)

Long-acting beta2-bronchodilators – Asthma Treatment
Asthma medication causes relaxation of the muscle surrounding the airways. These drugs are slowly vacate the patients body. These effects last approximately about an hour.

Serevent (salmeterol), Foradil (formoterol)

Theophylline bronchodilators – Asthma Treatment
Asthma medication increases relaxation of constricted airways by blocking the action of chemicals that cause contraction of muscles surrounding the airways. Oral, slow-release theophylline drugs are commonly used in asthma maintenance therapy. (A fast-acting intravenous form of theophylline is also available for emergency room treatment of severe asthma episodes.)
Theo-Dur; Theolaire (theophylline)

Oral corticosteroids – Asthma Treatment
These medications block the production or release of inflammatory chemicals in the body. Oral administration of corticosteroids for a prolonged time can produce several undesirable side effects.

Delta-Cortef (prednisolone), Deltasone (prednisone) Medrol; Solu-Medrol (methylprednisone)

Nonsteroidal antiallergics – Asthma Treatments
These medications block the release or action of inflammatory chemicals in the body, thus reducing the symptoms of inflammation, including relief of airway constriction
Intal (cromolyn ),Tilade (nedocromil)

Leukotriene modifiers – Asthma Treatment
These block the production or action of inflammatory chemicals called leukotrienes, thus reducing inflammation, relaxing the airways, and reducing mucus production
Accolate (zafirlukast ), Singulair (montelukast ) Zyflo (zileuton

Quick Asthma Treatment

“Rescue medication for use during an asthma attack”.

Short-acting beta2-bronchodilators – Asthma Treatment
These medications cause the muscle fibers surrounding the airways to relax, thus opening up the narrowed passageways. These drugs are rapidly cleared from the body, therefore, their effects last for a relatively short time (about 3 to 4 hours).

Brethaire; Bricanyl (terbutaline ), Maxair (pirbuterol), Tornalate (bitolterol),
Ventolin; Proventil (albuterol)

Anticholinergic bronchodilators – Asthma Treatment
These medications block the nerve responses that normally cause narrowing of airways. They are commonly used in combination with a beta2-bronchodilator such as albuterol

Atrovent (ipratropium)

Inhalers –Asthma Treatment
Asthma medications that are provided to treat asthma are inhaled. Inhaled medications do not have to be processed in any way by digestive organs in order to start working. Instead, they travel directly to the lungs, produce their effects quickly, and cause relatively few side effects. Several different inhaler devices are available to suit the needs of different people with different kinds of asthma. All of these devices have their own advantages and disadvantages. Below is a basic list of inhaler delivery systems available for adults with asthma are:
Metered-dose inhaler
Metered-dose inhaler with spacer
Dry powder inhaler
Nebulizer

Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) The medication is contained in a small, pressurized canister that releases a pre-measured or "metered" dose. Most canisters hold around 200 individual doses, but 50-dose and 100-dose inhalers exist for some drugs.
The pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) AKA "puffer" is because the asthma treatment medicine is delivered into the patients or users lungs as small "puffs".
Both preventer Asthma medications and reliever medications can be delivered in puffs to help prevent a sever asthma attack. In relation to “asthma treatment” the metered dose inhaler is one the most widely recognized forms of asthma treatment.

Asthma and Singulair

Allergy medication Side effects

The allergy and "asthma treatment" medication Singulair is used to treat asthma has been accused of "side effects" which can induce suicidal thoughts according to parents whose children suffer from asthma. Athma patients have used the medication "Singular" as a way to treat their asthma and allergies even though they find singulair may have side effects. However, their is not solid documentation that Singulair is the sole reason of suicidal thoughts when being used to treat asthma. Furthermore, many people have raved about how Singular has increased the quality of life especially for asthma patients, for people with a “history of Asthma”. The “side effects of Singular” are still being researched as well as the accusations of suicide for people using singular as part of their asthma treatment. Singulair has been proactive by placing a warning label on each box of singulair as well as, listing side effects for singulair on each box distributed for people using the medication to treat their "Asthma".

Some of the side effects of Singular include issues such as a headache, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain and cough. Merck the maker of the allergy medicine Singulair said it only recently added reports of suicide to Singulair's warning label, which already listed reports that deal with peoples behaviour as reported in their side-effects. The company of Singulair has updated the drug's label four times in the past year to include information on a range of reported side-effects, which also include tremors, anxiousness and depression. Singular in connection with "asthma treatment" continues to deny that their drug causes suicidal thoughts or death. However, they continued to place labels warning people of issues related to their medication. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, severe swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above Singular suggests patients suffering from asthma and using their medication contact their family doctor or pharmacist.

The biggest side effect of Singular seem to relate to people under age and using Singular as a part of their asthma medication. This seems to fall in the areas of children especially, teenagers and the suicidal deaths related to Singulair after using the medication to treat their asthma. Although there are by far more successes than failures it is still a concern for patients using this medication and parents seeking a safe method of "Asthma Treatment". In addition to the possibilities of singular causing these tendencies some people have complained that allergy and asthma medication may play a role for singulair side effects may be causing Churg Straus Syndrome? Furthermore, with Singular the possibility causing death people for people with allergies and asthma complain about the contents of singular's medication. Singulair's asthma and allergy medication contains ingredients in their 10mg tablets which contain lactose, many asthmatics and allergy prone people have a problem with lactose. The lactose in the allergy and asthma medication could also be the cause to some patients suffering side effects which upsets their stomach.

Although singulair seems to have issues similair drugs can relate or be blamed for some sort of death whether related to suicide of not. Finally, people continue to praise the drugs ability to prevent asthma attacks thus increasing the quality of life for people who have went through an asthma test and now uses Singulair as one of the main components of their asthma treatment. Regardless of the fears of Singulair and suicide there is still much research needed before making final conclusions that Singular pushes people to have these thoughts or that people should stop using the medication Singulair to treat allergies and asthma regardless of Singulairs side effects.

Testing for Asthma

How do doctors test for Asthma before treating asthma?

Some common questions asked when testing for asthma tend to be geared towards questions such as, do you have trouble breathing when you exert your self from doing things such as manual labor or other activities which require physical exertion? If so, is this what caused you seek asthma treatment or seek asthma testing? There are many similar questions used for testing for asthma. Prior to Asthma treatment doctors will ask many questions related to daily activities. Many of the questions are trying to detect if you have issues breathing. Another method for testing for asthma is using X-rays of the chest or an X-ray for the sinuses. However, questions before treating asthma revolve around questions geared towards your difficulty breathing. Additional questions address the following symptoms such as: wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing or discussing issues like difficulty sleeping because of the symptoms of have you awaken because of wheezing, coughing or difficulty breathing? Common Asthma tests used prior to asthma treating are tests such as, Spirometry, Pulmonary Function Testing. All these tests could be used prior to starting an asthma treatment program if the doctor concludes you have a history of asthma.

Spirometry testing involves a person breathing into a tube to attempt to measure the individual’s lung volumes. Most spirometry tests are conducted in hospitals or doctors offices. The spirometry testing unit is about the size of a laptop with unique card that attaches to a flow sensing device.

Pulmonary Function Testing is more far-reaching spirometry which requires the person being tested to sit in “body box” which is basically a closed booth which provides superior accuracy and provides an assortment of measurements. The point of being in enclosed space is to accurately measure the actual amount of air in your lungs. Otherwise, doctors are only able to measure what you are able exhale. Pulmonary function tests are normally performed by a licensed Respiratory Therapists.A pulmonary function test with methacholine is a challenge is where the patients has been measured using the all the tests and questions described above, and then doctors administer a drug named methacholine which can cause an asthma attack. You would be given a predetermined dosage of methacholine through a special nebulizer increasing dosages until a 20% decrease in lung volume is detected (in order for it be a positive test). A person that does not have Asthma shouldn't react to methacholine. The pulmonary function test with methacholine is one of the more accurate asthma methods for testing for asthma prior to asthma treatment.

Helping your Asthma

Steps to getting help before an Asthma attack

Asthma being a chronic, inflammatory lung disease, it is important to quickly seek out "help for your asthma". Getting help for asthma starts with recognizing the history of your asthma attacks and what triggers these attacks. The individual needs to recognize the subtle symptoms prior to an asthma attack. Some subtle symptoms range from irritability, scratchy throat, dry mouth, or just being tired. If you measure your peak flow on a consistent basis, a tell tale sign you could be heading for an asthma attack is a drop in your peak flow meter reading. You need to identify and recognize your "triggers for asthma" in order to help asthma before an attack occurs. Although, these don’t help you with your asthma they can help you prepare mentally for the possibilities of being faced with an asthma attack.

Seeking out help should always start with your doctor. However, many people not only have to deal with seeking help for their asthma, they have to deal with the monetary side of dealing with Asthma, this Is why prior to seeing your doctor you should contact your insurance company to see what they cover and more importantly what they don’t cover. The simple fact is if your doctor prescribes a medication that you can not afford and your insurance company will not cover you most likelywill not purchase the medicine or take the medicine as perscribed. This also causes unnecessary stress on the individual and does little to help their asthma. It is better to obtain medical coverage information related for helping your asthma before you ever visit your doctor. The point is when you finally sit down with your doctor to discuss the maintenance of your asthma or how to help asthma you will already know what is covered under your insurance.

Questions you should ask your insurance provider prior to visiting your doctor. Is there classes provided to help deal with your Asthma? Does the provider recommend a doctor that specializes in helping asthma patients? If the doctor suggests you purchase a peek flow meter will the insurance cover this cost? What asthma medication does the insurance cover? Will they cover brand name drugs or do they just allow generic medications treating asthma. Will the generic drugs have the same effect to help asthma? What are the generic medications covered by the insurance’s pharmacy? Additionally you will want to know how often I can refill my prescriptions. Does the prescription plan allow you buy 30, 60 or 90 day supplies? The benefit of purchasing your prescriptions based on 90 day supply is the individual only has to worry about purchasing medications 4 times a year. Whether it be singulair,advair or another form of asthma medication it still helps to have a supply available.

To help asthma there are some basic lifestyle steps which can be completed. One of the first steps to help asthma is to agree on a treatment plan with your doctor. The second is to continue to follow the plan you established with the doctor by routinely taking medications. Third, if you smoke then immediately stop, if you are around people who smoke you need to come to some kind of consensus to stop or briefly remove themselves by letting them know this does not help asthma.. Fourth, as with asthma prevention the best way to help asthma is to keep your surroundings dust free. Fifth, practicing controlled breathing when you have not having an attack. Finally, another way to help with asthma is to avoid allergens or a typical asthmatic trigger which of course does not help asthma.

Asthma Treatment

Using medications for asthma treatment.

An individual concerned about "asthma treatment" should begin researching two methods for asthma treatments which both use different types of asthma medication. The first treatment of asthma is based around long- term relief asthma medication, while the second method of asthma treatment is focused on short-term control medicines. Recognizing when an asthma attack is about to be triggered is where an asthmatic would use the quick relief method for treating their asthma attack. Additionally, long term control medicines should help prevent asthma attacks from occurring less often, if not preventing an asthma attack altogether in the long term.

Long-Term Asthma Treatments

Long term asthma treatments or controllers are focused on reducing or preventing inflamed airways or blocking chemicals in your body which cause your airways to tighten and swell. Long term asthma treatments concentrate on blocking chemicals in your body which are prone to cause allergy symptoms. Controlling allergy symptoms is a part of preventing asthma triggers which in turn can start an asthma attack is apart of recognizing patter of history realted to asthma attacks.

A part of the goal for long term "asthma treatment" is medication that should not only relax their airways it should also help to reduce inflammation of the airways. Evaluating whether an individual should consider a long term asthma treatment the patient should realize doctors seem to convey a consistent message stating “if you experience difficulties with your asthma 3 or more times a week, then your long term treatment of asthma should be evaluated and discussed with a doctor”. It is also important to discuss what you are doing to prevent asthma attacks through avoidance of asthma triggers. This helps with diagnosing asthma as well as well as the different methods treating asthma.

Some long term asthma treatment consist of inhaled corticosteroids. There are several types of inhaled steroids. Although these are steroids they are not the same type of steroids used to build muscles. These corticosteroids are designed to reduce swelling in the airways while strengthening the lungs. Some common brand names of this inhaled steroid are Flovent, Azmacort, Advair, Beclovent, Aerobid, Pulmicort even singulair and asthma as medications. These medications are taken orally and are normally taken 2-4 times a day. This type of medication can come in the form of a round disc or other mechanical object providing the ability to inhale the medicine. Although these medications have proved to be effective for some asthmatics some of these have side effects and should be discussed with a doctor prior to treatment. In addition to the former there are also Leukotriene Modifiers which comes in the form of a pill. Common brand names of Leukotriene Modifiers are Serevent, Fordil or Volmax. These are also designed for long term treatment and provide no quick relief. These are designed to also reduce swelling in the airways and longs. Leukotriene is used both alone and in combination with other medications such as corticosteroids in the treatment of mild to moderate asthma.

Short –Term Asthma Treatments

Short term "asthma treatments" were established to quickly provide relief to muscles surrounding the airways which often tighten at the onset of an asthma attack. Using the quick relief treatment should be utilized as soon as the individual begins to feel chest tightness, begins coughing, wheezing or experiences shortness of breath. Quick asthma treatments consist of short acting Beta-2 agonists treatments. This is by far the most recognizable medications related to asthma. These are the easily recognized by inhalers asthmatics often carry. Unfortunately, these in-halers are for temporary relief and are short lived. These inhalers help reduce anxiety and the stress that quickly evolves as the person suffers an asthma attack. Using short –term asthma treatments more than twice a week usually constitutes that the individuals asthma is not in control and the person should seek medical advice to achieve a better control over their asthma. Bronchodilators are the most recognized inhalers are Albuterol. However, there other beta-2 agonist medication which is used for short term asthma treatments. Other inhaled medications are Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex, Maxair, Alupent or Atrovent. Each of these medications seems to have the same side affects which causes slight tremors with an increase in the individuals heart rate.

In summary, there is a two tiered approach to treating asthma or preventing asthma attacks. The first is a long-term treatment with the second being a short- term treatment of asthma. The main goal is to reduce the affects of allergens, reduce inflammation of the lungs. In the end using the two tier step while monitoring your asthma with tools such as a peak flow meter will help the individual to be successful in their asthma treatment using the right "asthma medication".

Asthma Prevention

Preventing an asthma attack

There is no documented way to prevent Asthma, how ever there are several methods for asthma treatment. The same questions discussed in “diagnosing asthma” play equally important role in trying to prevent Asthma attacks along with treating asthma.
Identifying triggers asthma attacks as well as their “asthma history” is only one part of the process used to help prevent Asthma Attacks and while seeking effective "asthma treatments".

When discussing asthma prevention and asthma treatments they go hand in hand are can be used almost interchangebly. In otherwords you want to treat asthma prior to an asthma attack. this in turn leads to a proactive type of asthma prevention even though once you have been diagonosed with asthma you will likley deal with the disease and the ways to treat your asthma for the rest of your life.

The individual and especially children can have Asthma attacks from simple exposures to things such as mold (spores), dust mites, smoke (also second hand), weeds, pollen or strong smells. This is especially important if a child has asthma and is often subject to attacks due to exercise. These are only some of the things to consider when dealing with asthma and trying to find ways to prevent asthma attacks or deciding the best form of asthma treatment.

The initial response to attempt to prevent Asthma is not really prevention in as much, as it is avoiding asthma triggers that help launch the asthma attack. To help the indvidual with asthma the strategic approach should look at trying to prevent an asthmatic episode or asthma attacks from triggers. Initially, the person needs to identify if the asthmatic has allergies. Such ways to help prevent asthma attacks is to ask questions such as, What is the person allergic to and what can be done to prevent the trigger from being launched, this is best method from treating asthma or preventing asthma attacks?

How do you find what are the asthma triggers? This can easily be identified at an adult level by getting the scratch test or allergy test. However, finding ways to identify triggers due to allergies may prove a little more difficult in children with the constant changing of their body. However, quickly identifying triggers is the most effective way to prevent asthma attacks.

In hopes of preventing Asthma attacks an allergist will typically scratch the individuals back with an object like pin that has been dipped into a predetermined type of animal or plant compound. For instance, I had a scratch test. I found I was highly allergic to horses. I was also allergic to cats, dogs and even more surprising was when I found out how allergic I was to mold and dust mites. In esseance the best form of "asthma treatment" or best way to prevent an asthma attack was to stay away from those triggers.

Learning what the asthmatic is allergic to helps prevent irritation which leads to discomfort and coughing which in turn leads into wheezing and most likely an Asthma Attack. So, the key to preventing an asthma attack is learning what the Asthma triggers are for each individual. This why someone should help the asthmatic create an asthma log of what was happening when the asthmatic episode started. This is an excellent way to track a child's asthma history as well as diagnosing asthma.

My research says mold is not really considered a large trigger for asthmatics. I would tend to disagree from my personal experiences. However, if the individual is allergic to mold and the person lives in a damp place then chances are likely the person will suffer an attack from triggers created by mold spores. However with the proper medication and asthma treatment this can be avoided.

One thing to consiser about preventing an asthma attack is to look at where the asthmatic sleeps. If the asthmatic sleeps in a basement they should try to move to an upper level room to sleep. If this is not possible then the person should consider regularly using a dehumidifier. However, the dehumidifier should be emptied and cleaned regularly as to avoid the growth of mold spores.

Dust Mites are often overlooked and are the most abundant trigger to Asthma Attacks. Although most people don’t have the time to do nothing but clean and sweep one area should never be neglected and needs continuous cleaning, the bedroom needs to be vacuumed and dusted weekly. Sheets need to be changed and pillow cases need to be cleaned weekly. Pillows gather large number dust mites and should be replaced annually or as often as possible. This is all related to preventing asthma attacks as well as a prelude to treating people with asthma.

Reducing pet dander is also a key to succeeding in Asthma prevention. People who can not give up their pets after they find they have asthma need to really pay attention to grooming of their pets. To reiterate it not the pet hair that triggers the asthma attack it is usually pet dander or saliva from the animal. This is why it is essential pets are bathed if they live in the home and hands are always washed after touching animals.

I recently experienced an asthma attack as an adult when giving my outside dog a bath because he was going to be staying inside the house for couple of weeks during upcoming freezing temperatures. I started to give him a bath inside, about midway through his bath my eyes started to get red and I started to have hard time breathing. The fact that I had not had an asthma attack such as this since I was a kid is proof how pet dander can affect an asthmatic. With my Asthma history I should have thought it though and asked the wife to give the dog a bath. Although these are some of my experiences the only thing Asthmatics can do is identify what the triggers are and avoid those triggers to prevent Asthma attacks while being proactive in treating your asthma.

Asthma Diagnosis

An Asthma Diagnosis Preview

How I would Diagnose Asthma

Diagnosing asthma is usually pretty easy. However, for a proper Asthma diagnosis an individual should seek attention from their physician. There are some main symptoms associated with an Asthma Diagnosis. Some of these symptoms are: continued wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing, and chest tightness. These symptoms if present can often become worse at night. Additionally, some triggers of Asthma can be cold air, exercise or exposure to allergens such as pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites or similar allergen triggers. All of which people dealing with asthma or asthma patients should be concerned with when addressing asthma treatment.

A part of the Asthma diagnosis is seeing if the patient is wheezing, this can be identified when a slight whistling sound is heard when a person breathes in and out. Wheezing can be heard slightly with a stethoscope by placing the scope on the back and chest. One of the first tools a used to diagnosis asthma is the doctors’ stethoscope; this tool can help detect wheezing which may not be obvious to the patient or family or friends.

Wheezing that is inherently heard out loud is usually obvious by a louder whistling sound when the person inhales and exhales. The person with the problem wheezing usually has noticeable problem breathing. The doctor will quickly recognize this when trying to diagnosis asthma. A interesting observation from my doctor was he said patients usually has become so accustomed to the difficulty breathing that it is a part of their daily lifestyle. I know this is true for me and often don’t realize when I am wheezing.

Due to patients not noticing how difficult their breathing has become, the doctor attempting to diagnosing asthma will usually ask someone close to the person if they notice the patient having difficulty breathing.

If you have been around a smoker, the wheezing and trouble breathing from a person suffering from a mild asthma attack can easily be compared to anyone that has been around a long term smoker. Wheezing is not only common to people with Asthma it is also a temporary problem for people suffering from bronchitis. Coughing as a symptom of Asthma most likely is a prelude to asthma attack and is only one of many symptoms to occur. Although coughing could be as simple as a tickle in an individuals throat it could be the beginning of something worse for an asthmatic.

An example of a trigger for coughing could result from exercising or being involved in a similar strenuous activity. The asthmatic could start to partially cough, then continue to cough harder. Most likely the next symptom of the beginning of an Asthma attack will be trouble breathing; this is usually after their coughing spell has subsided. If this experience is observed it will be beneficial to share with the doctor trying to Diagnosis Asthma. My experience is trouble breathing with slight wheezing is an excellent indicator that an asthma attack is about to occur.

Trouble breathing as related to asthma is usually caused by the combination of allergies, physical exertion or something irritating the individuals normal breathing pattern. If there has been coughing, wheezing followed by trouble breathing chance are person is likely on the verge of a full fledged asthma attack. Chest tightness and shortness of breath with the combination of wheezing is a prelude to the asthma attack. This is why it is is important to seek some form of asthma testing.

Although the following isn’t an “asthma diagnosis” it is still important to recognize what a possible attack is in the event you need to describe what you witnessed if a diagnosis needs to be made. Once the asthma attack is at the height of its final stage the individual will not be able to take a full breath and most likely rapid breathing begins in the hope they can be able to breathe normally. However, rapid breathing is a part of the problem and the person should try to prevent rapid breathing, this only cause’s tightness of the chest and some panicking, a partially panicked person can not get their breath. The problem with rapid breathing is the person having the attack is not taking in enough air to keep oxygen in the blood. This also can lead to dry land drowning as is with toxic chemical exposures. Although this is my version and experience of an Asthma attack it is still up to the doctor to accurately decide if he is correct in an asthma diagnosis.

Asthma History

Researching Asthma History

Researching the history of my Asthma

The Researching Asthma history was difficult and little was found about the first documented incidents where people had their first Asthma attack with symptoms such as difficulty breathing and coughing. In additon little was available for Asthma treatments. However, when researching the history I found on many occasions where many researchers noticed asthmatics were genetically prone to being born with Asthma. This information was disconcerning know that their not really all that much you can do when comes to asthma prevention. Being a new father this really bothered me that I may pass this along to my kids or grand kids. Thus, passing along my asthma history.

Some of the best in information I read was about the "history of Asthma" was obtained from the Melbourne study and a posting by the New England Journal which also provided excellent examples about asthma treatment. In researching asthma history I found a couple websites stating 70% of all asthmatics had asthma within the first 3 years of their lives. A common reoccuring theme during my research was surprisingly enough wheezing can not necessarily classify infants as having Asthma because many children have smaller airways and as their lungs and airways grow they may outgrow wheezing. So, know this people should jump to conclusion if babies are wheezing. They should be concerned with Asthma testing rather than Asthma Treatments.

In a recent study about diagnosing asthma I read they took a sample of 1000 children and about 800 of these children has some type of wheezing by age six. The study of "asthma history" also said that children with continued wheezing were likely to develop asthma. One of the interesting studies regarding Asthma history in children for the first six years of life was the study stating children born with asthma usually had normal lung function until the age of 10 or 11 then they slowly loose lung function over time due to Asthma regardless of Asthma Treatment.In additions other studies shows having a mother with a history of asthma doubles the risk of childhood asthma. In this case I tried to find way to treat a fetus in a pregant woman, as expected their was no information available regarding that type of Asthma treament.

One of the progressions of Asthma history into which I fit was a study of people that have asthma at age 42. A study I read said there was 30-70% chance that the adult would have clinical remission in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, 27% of asthmatics being monitored that had wheezing ended up in remission, unfortunately 12% who had undergone a remission eventually had some type relapse of Asthma no matter what type of Asthma treatment they had. As a part of my reading on Asthma History I found statements from research were the estimated that 70% percent of children with Asthma were likely to be male. Unfortunately, after adulthood the majority of adults with Asthma were women.

Some common questions regarding Asthma are establishing the Asthma History. Some questions used to establish a history of asthma is questions such as, does the child wheeze, show dyspnoea (shortness of breath) or cough which transfers to shortness of breathe? Is the children’s sleep disturbed because of wheezing or trouble breathing? Additionally another question to establish if there is a asthma history, ask if the person, child or adolescent has trouble breathing after exercise. Another quantifying “asthma history” question related to the number of times the individual thinks they missed work or school because of possible asthmatic episodes with or without a treatment of asthma

I was hoping to find more information relating to the history of Asthma however most of my research showed how to research and establish if a person that is not sure if they have asthma has had factors in their past history that would point to them being an asthmatic. Some of these had to deal with allergens but also had to deal with emotional stresses as establishing treatment of Asthma and their Asthma history.

Dealing With Asthma

My Asthma Story

This blog is presented by an individual who has had "ASTHMA" since birth and continues to deal with Asthma. I am not a doctor and I am interested in sharing my experiences both good and bad. This blog will discuss and review commonly accepted facts or truths as presented in the community regarding asthma, asthma treatment, asthma triggers and ways to prevent "asthma attacks". This blog will also discuss some of the methods used to control "asthma" whether it is by using over the counter Asthma medication, breathing techniques or potential herbal remedies or other various methods of Asthma Treatment. Again, I am not a doctor and anything represented here in is a product of either experience or by research online of through communication with others. This blog will only give you clues I have expereinced and read about when it comes to Asthma and diagnosing asthma.

Any treatment of asthma should be reviewed, discussed and approved by the patient and their physician. I can't ephazise more than enough how this blog is only here to share experiences and opinions related to Asthma and various methods of asthma treatment and asthma prevention. I hope to provide "Asthma help" through my experiences "dealing with Asthma". I spent many nights in the hospital because of Asthma, compounded by sinus problems. I have used all types of asthma medications and a variety of Asthma treatments since 1973. I plan to discuss and research the following information about asthma as it relates to me personally, while sharing my research I have found as relating to asthma treatments and asthma medications. I inted to start out discussing the "history of Asthma", "Diagnosing Asthma", "Asthma Prevention", ways of "testing for Asthma" prescriptions used for Asthma, using Asthmatic tolls such as a Nebulizer, dieting and asthma, common asthma statistics and possible asthma prevention. I have no idea which I will address first. I will most likely share the history of asthma and asthma statistics.

About me:

Dealing with Asthma as a kid I remember my parents trying to sit me in a warm bath as was suggested by doctors as a form of Asthma Treatment. As a kid I did not want to do this. So, my point is if a kid continually does not want to do something during an Asthma attack or asthmatic flare up don’t make them do it. Of course, this is after trying the same kind of Asthma treatment a couple of times. If the kid has tried it and doesn’t want to do it, I suggest you don’t make them do it. Kids know what works and what doesn’t. I say this because my experience has taught me that being in a warm\hot place when having an asthma attack makes things worse for me. For instance anyone that has ever gone swimming and went to the deep end of a pool can feel the pressure on their body and chest. Think about a child having trouble breathing and throwing them into a warm bath. Does this not put more pressure on their chest making it even more difficult to breathe? If having something warm helps when they are having an asthma attack, put them in a warm shower. I also remember doctors telling us that extreme cold helps "trigger" Asthma Attacks. I would tend to agree it aggravates my asthma. However, my earlier experience my father cracked open my bedroom during the winter thus helping freshen up my stuffy room and helping me breath (maybe something was triggering my attack). This relaxed me and helped me with my Asthma.

My point is something that assit kids in treating their asthma, is finding something that relaxes them. This is not the same as distracting them. Sometimes the simple stoking of the hair on the head of a child could help the child to relax. If you are interested in adding a story about "dealing with Asthma" or a successful for of Asthma Treatment, let me know