Natural Asthma Remedies

Are you tired of having to use medications that make you feel bad and the inconvenience of nebulizers to control your asthma? While these are the methods that your doctor has given you for asthmatic treatment, there are many natural ways to regain control. Learn what these natural treatments have to offer and see if one is for you.

While it is not recommended for you to stop the treatment your doctor has prescribed for your asthma, there are many home remedies that you can try. See how you do with these treatments and you may be able to wean yourself off prescribed medication altogether.

Diet

Controlling your asthma doesn’t involve just one area of your life, but all areas including your diet. Foods that you eat can affect the severity of your asthma and the frequency of the attacks. Try some of these tips to see if they help you.

* Avoid food additives

* Avoid processed foods

* Eat whole, organic foods

* Decrease sugar in your diet

* Avoid products treated with sulphur dioxide and other preservatives

* Drink plenty of water

Environment

Always be aware of your environment and what is surrounding you. Many of the things in your environment will trigger your asthma and cause you to have an attack.

* Avoid tobacco smoke

* Keep your home free from dust and pollen

* Add plants to your home to clean the air – they clear out formaldehyde and other airborne pollutants

* Reduce the amount of chemicals you use in your home

Lifestyle

* Try relaxation techniques like yoga

* Exercise to strengthen your lungs

* Try meditation for the calming effect

Home Remedies

You just never know about home remedies. They work wonders for some people and for others they have absolutely no effect. Read through this list and try what others have tried to see if they give you any relief.

• Radish-Honey-Lemon Juice – Buy each of these items separately and blend together for about 20 minutes. After you blend them, place the mixture in a pan on low heat until it is warmed. Drink this remedy every day for best results.

• Breathe in steam when you feel an attack coming on. To do this, go into your bathroom and run the water at its hottest temperature. Stay in the bathroom and breathe in the steam.

• Rub Eucalyptus oil on your upper lip where you can breathe it in.

• Drinking a drink that is high in caffeine will open your airways. Try hot, black tea or hot, black coffee. The caffeine will open your airways and the heat from the drink clears mucus.

• Soak one teaspoon of the herb Fenugreek seeds in a cup of water for about eight hours. Strain the water and add one teaspoon of ginger juice and one teaspoon of honey to the water. Drink this in the morning and at night every single day.

Vitamin Supplements

While home remedies seem to be "hit and miss" and vary from one person to another, Vitamin supplements seem to work consistently.

• Vitamin C is high in antioxidants. The average recommended dose is 98mg. To get the benefits of vitamin C, try taking a higher than average dosage of Vitamin C – 200 mg. Studies show that this lowers asthma attacks by 30%. Vitamin C seems particularly effective for exercise-induced asthma.

• B6 has also shown dramatic decrease in the frequency and severity of wheezing attacks.

• Magnesium, has a bronchodilating effect and helps relieve asthma symptoms. It has been shown that asthma sufferers have low Magnesium stores.

Herbal Supplements

Herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years. Pick up some of these at your local health food store and try them. Be careful to only try one new herb at a time and start with low doses. The amount needed of a particular herb varies from one person to the next.

* Comfrey – Decreases swelling and repairs tissue

* Jimson – Relieves spasms of the bronchi

* Mullein, Garlic and peppermint all work as an expectorant

Look through these suggestions and try the ones that look appealing to you. Hopefully, by trying some of these remedies, you will find relief from your asthma symptoms.

Source: Health Guidance

Asthma in Children

Asthma is a disease that is characterized by prolonged respiratory difficulties such as difficulty in breathing and wheezing. It is a most common serious chronic disease in childhood, affecting nearly five million children in the United States alone.

An asthmatic child is anxious and pale, and breathes with difficulty which causes a slight noise. Asthma is characterized by the intensity of cough, respiratory effort which is attributed to the respiratory muscles. It is also characterized by the collapse of the sternum and the intercostals spaces and nasal flapping movements of the neck muscles and a tight chest, shortness of breath and wheezing.

Causes of Childhood Asthma

An asthmatic attack can be triggered by an allergen that causes the disease, which can also be attributed to psychological conflicts.

To make a diagnosis and control of childhood asthma, it is necessary to consider:

- If there is any family history of children with asthma;

- Which allergens (dust mites, pollen, and mold by moisture) is the child exposed to;

- The frequency and severity of symptoms;

- Other respiratory infections that can present the same symptoms.

Treatment of Asthma in Children

Administration of vaccines during the crisis consists of bronco-dilators and steroids, which must be supplied only by the physician. Sometimes it is necessary to administer oxygen.

Once diagnosed with the disease, the physician has to monitor childhood asthma by reducing the factors that could act as triggers and promote a healthy lifestyle

, using the right medicine, and preventing the symptoms which affect the child’s day to day life.

Besides, it is necessary to protect children against irritating elements such as smoke, pollution, etc. because they can cause chronic irritation in the child’s airways. Some studies show that babies born to smoking mothers or living with someone smoking, are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections and asthma.

Source: Health Guidance

The Link Between Asthma and Eczema

Many parents across the world are all too familiar with how eczema and asthma are two very closely linked conditions. In theory it makes sense, as they are both allergic reactions much like hay fever or hives, yet in a lot of cases one appears months or even years before the other.

Recent developments made by scientists who are studying the link between asthma and eczema have found some interesting evidence. Researchers at Dundee University in Scotland, UK for example discovered in 2006 that people with asthma and/or eczema are actually carrying a mutated gene. This individual gene is the one which codes for protecting the skin with a protein called filaggrin. As a result this lack of filaggrin allows allergens to pass through the skin and cause an allergic reaction, where they otherwise would be blocked, either on the surface of the skin (eczema) or within the lungs and air passage (asthma).

For sufferers of eczema and asthma this discovery is profound. All scientists need to do to prevent each condition from occuring, or cure them completely is to be able to replicate the gene that produces filaggrin and have it expressed in the patient. However, studies and developments on genes and DNA is complex and time consuming. It could be years before this discovery is taken to the next level.

In May 2009 researchers then made a second discovery about the actual link between the two disorders and why one can appear before the other. It has been proven that skin damaged by eczema sends a message to the brain saying 'your protective system is ineffective, find an alternative'. In turn the brain tells the skin to secrete a molecular substance called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (abbreviated to TSLP) which causes an enhanced immune reaction to anything that could be a threat (I.e. allergens). TSLP is able to pass through the skin and into the blood stream very easily, and while it will get to all parts of the body, it is the lungs which are most susceptible to its effects. As a result, tissue in the lungs performs an enhanced immune response and the symptoms of asthma occur.

So while sufferers wait patiently for researchers to replicate the gene that codes for filaggrin production, they could be in for a promising substitute. While neither condition can be cured, if scientists can work out how to prevent skin production of the TSLP molecule, then those with eczema could have a far lower chance of developing asthma too. It may not be the breakthrough cure that doting parents of allergic children are looking for, but it's certainly a development that provides hope and relief from at least one distressing illness.

Source: Health Guidance

Coping With Asthma During the Winter

There are several forms of asthma, some with differing symptoms and some exacerbated by differing triggers. One thing that scientific research has shown is that one of the most common forms of asthma worsens during winter. As a result there are a range of things that parents and sufferers can do to reduce asthmatic symptoms during the colder months.

Between 80 and 90% of people with asthma find that exercise makes their symptoms worse. Couple this with the fact that cold air is a very common trigger too and you have a lot of people reluctant to exercise when it gets near to winter time. Considering asthma can also worsen when you're overweight, this combination of triggers can be dangerous and exercise is not something we should avoid. As a result, asthmatics should go about finding indoor alternatives to outdoor pursuits. For example, finding an athletics group to join. Many of these groups move to indoor tracks in winter, or you could try joining a gym with an indoor track too. If you're lucky enough to be able to afford it, treadmills are the ideal way to get you running but without facing cold shots of air straight to delicate lungs too.

If running isn't your thing and you prefer competitive sports to get your heart beat racing then look to indoor alternatives too. Ice hockey is one possibility as even though the ice you play on is still cold, it's possible to wrap your nose and mouth up in a scarf so you're not directly breathing in freezing air. Netball, indoor hockey, basketball and table tennis are all other possibilities.

Don't forget swimming, yoga and Pilates if your asthma is particularly bad when you exercise. These forms are all very calming, without needing to raise the heart rate and instead stretching and toning muscles slowly. Yoga and Pilates teachers may even teach you how to breathe more effectively while you're exercising.

Cold air can affect asthma sufferers when they're out and about too and nobody can stay inside for the whole winter. Try wearing a long, thick scarf that you can easily wrap around your nose and mouth too. If it helps, wear ear muffs to keep it up or put your hood up to keep it in place. This provides a barrier between your lungs and the harsh cold air, warming it up before you breathe it in. Also, before you venture out make sure you take asthma medication (not once you're out there and can feel the effects). This goes for before you do exercise, too.

If you can take a Thermos flask or a travel mug full of hot tea with you then this can help immensely. Cold and dry air together are awful triggers for asthma, so keeping your oesophagus warm should help warm up your airway as it's next door, and inhaling a bit of the steam before you take a sip will help too. If you have time, try making some chicken broth as this has wonderful anti inflammatory properties as well as enhancing your immune system, so you could fend off some nasty colds and coughs at the same time.

Remember to take it easy during winter if you suffer from asthma. There are always indoor alternatives to outdoor activities and just because you have to avoid harsh outdoor air, that doesn't mean you have to stay in the house for months on end!

Source: Health Guidance

What to Do When Someone Near Has an Asthma Attack

If you've never experienced an asthma attack yourself, or you've never seen someone else have one before then they can be quite scary. There are a few things that absolutely everyone should remember, should they find they're in the presence of a sufferer in distress. But first, you should be able to recognise the symptoms and signs of an asthma attack:

* Severe breathlessness

* Wheezing

* Tight chest

* Getting no relief from medication

* Dizziness

* Distress

Remember that a person does not need to be exhibiting all of these symptoms to be having an asthma attack. Some people are good at hiding their respiratory distress and can feel embarrassed by their condition.

Firstly, always sit the person down and tell them you know they are having an asthma attach and ask them to nod if they want you to help them. Remember you are a stranger to them and no matter how much you want to help, they might be nervous and anxiety can make asthma attacks worse. If they seem uneasy, ask if they would prefer you to call an ambulance and then leave them alone. Don't be offended if this is what they prefer; asthma attacks are terrifying and often only the reassurance of a trained health professional is what can calm you down.

If they agree to you helping, undo any tight collars, take off hats and scarves. Anything that might be preventing their airways from opening fully. If it's a cold, wintery day with dry air, hand them a coat, scarf or jacket to breathe through, as cold air hitting the lungs can trigger an allergic response.

At some point the sufferer might hand you a card or a dog tag with their asthma details on it. Read what it says and take into account what they may be allergic to and what medication they take. The card may say to call an ambulance immediately if you find this person having an asthma attack, so follow the guidelines.

If they haven't got their asthma medication (often a blue inhaler) and they aren't taking it, ask them where it is. They might have simply forgotten to take it out of their bag. If they have it, tell them to take one puff every minute until they're feeling better. If 5 minutes passes and they don't feel an improvement then call an ambulance. Similarly, if they don't have it and they're still having an attack then it's time to dial 999 and inform the paramedics that the person is without their medication. From here you should simply stay with the person until the ambulance arrives, if that's what they want. Well done! You have done your bit and no doubt the person you helped is incredibly grateful for what you did.

Source: Health Guidance

What Causes Asthma?

Someone once said that having an Asthma attack is like being a Goldfish out of water, you can do all the mechanical things to breath like taking in large gulps of air, snatching breath or just breathing very deeply, in fact you are doing those things very actively, but the person suffering an Asthma attack (the state that describes the worst Asthmatic conditions) just cannot get air into his or her lungs and they feel as though they are drowning in air.

So what is Asthma? Simply put Asthma is a condition of varying severity that affects the airways in the body. The ‘airways’ of the body are the small and very small tubes that enable air to pass into and out of the lungs.

The reason why the airways are affected is not particularly well understood in the medical profession but the mechanics are reasonably well understood and it is understood that when someone who suffers from Asthma encounters an "Asthma trigger" the airways react to whatever the Asthma trigger is. This contact them begins a chain reaction, the irritated airways cause the muscles that surround the walls of airways tighten.

When the muscles that surround the airways tighten the airways become very narrow or in some cases close altogether. As they muscles press into the airways they react and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell up. Often a Phlegm or sticky Mucus will begin to build up in the airways, which in turn causes them to narrow even more.

The person suffering from the Asthma attack will be in considerable pain, be wheezing and fighting for breath and movement will become more and more difficult as the level of air in the body and in turn life sustaining Oxygen drops, first in the Lungs, then the blood and then to other major organs and the Brain the patient’s condition deteriorates significantly.

In extreme cases if the Asthma attack proceeds untreated the patient will die, it takes up to an hour for this to occur, but Asthma attacks can last for several hours without being fatal.

Around the world there are over 200 million diagnosed Asthma sufferers and it is thought ten times that number of undiagnosed sufferers, 20% of all sufferers are children.

The most common Asthmatic symptoms are; tightness in the area of the chest, coughing, distressed breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, these symptoms are general and people who have Asthma may exhibit all of them at the same time or just one, shortness of breath in severe Asthma sufferers is the most common symptom.

What causes Asthma? It is easy to ask why something happens but to actually identify what is the cause of something as general as Asthma is almost impossible. There is evidence to suggest that pollution from cars, airplanes and modern life is a common Asthma trigger.

Studies have suggested that Asthma is also hereditary; families with a history of Eczema or Allergies are more likely to have Asthma.

There are also the usual suspects, smoking during pregnancy, smoking in general, viral infections and just modern life, food additives, agricultural practices and so on.

Source: Health Guidance

Can Children Grow Out of Asthma?

Asthma is a condition characterized by narrow and inflamed airways that secrete abnormal amounts of mucus, aggravating further problem. Here is the focus on how children are affected with asthma.

Causes: Major cause for asthma is sensitivity to non-infectious substances termed as allergens. Some of the common allergens that cause asthma include pollen, pet hair, medicines, dust, and certain foods. It may also be caused by viral infection of airways or lungs. Other factors that contribute to childhood asthma include:

• Smoking during pregnancy results in birth of babies with lowered lung functionality.

• Increased exposure to tobacco smoke also poses the risk of asthma in children.

• Hereditary is another cause for asthma. Children with a family history of asthma are more likely to be attacked compared to others.

• Exposure to cold air especially at nights.

• Increased emotional stress like laughing or crying aggravates the symptoms.

• Boys and children who are black are at more risk than girls and white children.

Symptoms: The primary symptom is inability to breath due to blocked airways. Airways secrete more mucus as a protective action to drive away the irritating substances. This will further block the already inflamed airways. Symptoms that are characteristic of asthma include coughing, wheezing, sleeplessness, unable to involve actively in physical works like exercises, disturbed sleep and rigidity of the chest region.

Diagnosis: Asthma can be easily characterized by reducing ability to breathe. However, diagnostic test that helps to estimate the severity of the condition is done by allowing the child to exhale air into a device peak flow meter that records the rate of the air flow. Skin tests are carried out to find if the child is allergic to any substance. Chest x-ray helps to rule out other lung disorders.

Treatment: Any sign of asthma in children has to be given utmost care. It cannot be clearly stated whether a child will grow out of asthma or not. In most of the cases as the child grows, the immune system develops and may stop responding to substances that were allergic in the childhood, but the symptoms may revert back at a later stage of life. If asthma is due to other reasons, 99% of the children will grow out of asthma. If asthma is left untreated in childhood it may result in damage of the airways.

If the symptoms are mild, use of an inhaler which drives medicine when inhaled will relieve the symptoms. In cases where children will be unable to talk due to lack of breathe have to be given an emergency care. The condition will be more critical in cases of toddlers and infants, who cannot express their difficulty. They can be identified by their difficulty in crying due to restricted air paths.

Relievers either with short term or long term effects are used. Short term relievers clear the air ways and enable the child to breathe within a very short period of using them.

Steroids are prescribed to children who are allergic, to prevent the onset of symptoms. If controlling the asthma cannot be gained by a regular use of short term steroid relievers, long term relievers are prescribed.

Preventers which are used to prevent the onset of symptoms have to be taken regularly without fail. Regular use of preventers helps to gain control over asthma, within a period of six weeks eliminating the need of inhaler. Increased use of steroids may cause mild side effects.

Other measures that help to gain control over asthma apart from medicines is identification of the possible allergen and keeping the child away from them. Regular use of a diary to note the symptoms and possible cause will help to identify the allergen very easily.

Source: Health Guidance