Asthma Treatment & Information

According to the 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) report, over 3oo million individuals have asthma worldwide. The study also reports that asthma is responsible for approximately 255,000 deaths per year. These numbers are increasing at an alarming rate and some countries are reporting a 20-30% incidence of asthma in some areas. Although asthma is a chronic disease, in most individuals it can be controlled with proper diagnosis and management.

In December 2007, the Global Initiative for Asthma Organization (ginasthma.org) published an update to their Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention publication to help health care providers and asthmatic individuals classify whether or not their asthma is under control. Asthma control can be divided into three different categories: controlled, partially controlled and uncontrolled.

*Controlled asthma-less than 2 episodes per week of daytime symptoms, no limitations on activity, no nighttime symptoms, no exacerbations of symptoms (increased shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, or chest tightness), 2 or less uses of rescue medications (albuterol or other short-acting bronchodilators), and a peak expiratory flow that is normal for that individual

*Partially controlled asthma–more than 2 episodes per week of daytime symptoms, any limitations on activity as a result of asthma symptoms, any nighttime symptoms,using rescue medications more than twice per week, or a peak expiratory flow rate which is less than 80% of predicted or personal best

*Uncontrolled asthma–3 or more events of any of the above

Unfortunately, many asthmatics are so accustomed to not being able to breathe normally that they have difficulty being able to tell when their asthma is getting worse. Because of this, they often delay seeking treatment until their symptoms become extremely severe and therefore are much more difficult to get back under control. All asthmatics should obtain a peak flowmeter from their physician’s office or from their pharmacy to more accurately measure their lung status. Readings should be obtained at least once a day, possibly more often in those whose asthma tends to fluctuate in severity. They also need to obtain an asthma action plan from their physician so treatment can be attuned on a daily basis based on changes in their symptoms and peak flow readings. With proper daily monitoring and adjustments in treatment, complete control of asthma should be an achievable goal for most individuals.

Asthma is a lung disease very common to kids. This disease attacks following a trigger or an allergen. When it does, the small airways in the lungs narrow and swell. Asthma attacks can be anywhere from mild to life threatening. It is very important for people who are suffering from this disease to always take their medications and never ignore their condition once they feel difficulty in breathing.

But more than medical treatment, prevention is the best cure for asthma. While doctors can prescribe millions of drugs to treat this disease, there is a more natural way to combat it. And that would be through vitamins. Vitamins are the essential substances needed by the body. And of all types of vitamins, Vitamin C is the best candidate to treat this disease.

Cure Asthma with Vitamin C

Vitamin C is long regarded to be the vitamin that ensures the body of a healthier immune system. This vitamin is most helpful if the cause of asthma is allergens. But aside from strengthening the body’s immune system, Vitamin C is also a good antioxidant. It helps free the body of harmful toxins that could give rise not only to asthma but to a host of other diseases as well.

Aside from Vitamin C, there are other Vitamins that can be vital in the treatment of asthma. Beta Carotene or Vitamin A for instance, can protect the lungs. It makes sure that the mucus membranes of the lungs are good an intact. The membranes ensure the health of this vital organ.

Vitamin B6 for Asthma

Intensive research and studies have lead experts to the conclusion that deficiency in this B vitamin could cause asthma. They have found out that asthmatic patients tend to have high kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid content in their urines. These two acids are produced if the metabolism of serotonin and tryptophan are altered, which is a direct result of the deficiency of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B3 To Prevent Asthma Attacks

Role of vitamin B3 in the body, as far as asthma is concerned, is somehow similar to Vitamin C. This vitamin is believed to prevent asthma attack caused by allergens. That is because vitamin B3 produces an antihistamine effect in the body. Vitamin D and Vitamin E can also be used to cure asthma because they can help in strengthening the body’s immune system. Asthma has been a major health problem since the 17the century. Thanks to these two vitamins, people were able to develop stronger bodies that can fight off the detrimental effects of the disease altogether.

Vitamins can be found naturally in the foods that we eat or in specialized chemical supplements. To make sure that your body gets its recommended daily allowance of the essential vitamins, be sure that you eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in them. Citrus fruits are good sources of Vitamin C. Yellow and orange vegetables are rich in Vitamin A. Add these foods to your daily diet and you will be surely cured of asthma in no time.

For vitamins that can’t be obtained directly from foods, there are many over-the-counter supplements that are available in the market today. The B complex vitamins are good examples of vitamins that are not readily available from food as the body synthesizes them. For these types of vitamins, you can take the especially formulated pills and capsules to make sure your body don’t get deficient with them.

For most asthmatics, a combination of short- and long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled steroids work well to control asthma symptoms including cough, chest tightness and wheezing. However, approximately five percent of asthmatics have a severe resistive form of the disease that does not respond well to conventional treatment. In these individuals, a currently investigational non-drug procedure called bronchial thermoplasty may be helpful in the future.

In bronchial thermoplasty, a bronchoscope is inserted by a pulmonologist into an individual’s trachea and into the bronchial tubes that lead to the lungs. Heat is applied through a special catheter attached to a radiowave generator to remove some of the smooth muscle that constricts and causes airway spasms during an asthma attack. The temperature reaches approximately 149 degrees and reduces the muscle mass but does not cause scarring or damage to the lung tissue. Studies have shown that although initially there is a slight increase in respiratory problems, six weeks after this procedure, most asthmatics are able to reduce the amount of short-acting bronchodilator needed and many could taper off oral steroids. All of the trial participants reported a significant increase in symptom-free days. The procedure lasts less than an hour and is done as an outpatient. No general sedation is needed. Approximately three treatments are needed to treat the entire lung tissue.

As with any bronchoscopic procedure, risks include an initial increase in coughing or wheezing, infection, irregular heartbeat, or bleeding. Most side effects were transient and resolved within one day to one week after the procedure. The benefits of the procedure seem to persist for at least one year and will most likely be permanent lifetime improvements. Although this procedure is helpful in significantly reducing symptoms, it does not cure asthma and maintenance medications will continue to be needed, although most likely in decreased dosages.

Although this procedure is not yet available out of the research population, these patients continue to be monitored closely and will hopefully be obtainable soon by other severe asthmatics.

Early Onset Asthma or Atopic or Extrinsic Asthma: Its onset is in early childhood and generally occurs in atopic individuals who form IgE antibodies to commonly encountered allergens. These allergens can be easily identified by skin hypersensitivity tests which produce positive reactions to a wide range of common allergens. Other allergic diseases, like allergic rhinitis and eczema, are generally present. There is also a family history of asthma.

In this type of atopic asthma allergens are inhaled (inspired) through air and are derived from animal dander, feathers, house dust, mites and fungal spores etc. These allergens provoke bronchial constriction and an inflammatory reaction of allergic type in the bronchial wall. If a patient is already allergic to such allergens, his asthmatic symptoms will aggravate as soon as he again comes into contact with them. Similar effects may be created by ingested allergens derived from food items like eggs, fish, wheat, milk, yeast which are said to enter the bronchi by means of blood stream.

Late Onset of Asthma : Majority of asthma patients develop asthma in later years of life and they are called, Non-atopic individuals. There is not much evidence to prove that this type of asthma is triggered by extrinsic factors, hence it is rightly called ‘intrinsic’ asthma.

Chronic Asthma: Wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, along with spontaneous cough, labored breathing or breathlessness on exertion are symptoms of chronic asthma. Recurrent episodes of frank respiratory infection is common in this variety of asthma.

Episodic Asthma : Here the patient has no respiratory symptoms between two episodes of asthma but paroxysms of wheeze and dyspnoea (shortness of breath) may occur at any time and may be of sudden onset. Episodes of asthma can be caused by exercise, viral infections, allergens, common cold or else may be apparently spontaneous. Attack could be either severe or mild and may last for hours, days, or even weeks/months.

Episodes of asthma can be triggered in atopic patients but asthma is often aggravated by non-specific factors such as respiratory viral infection, emotional stress, acrid fumes, dust, cold air, tobacco smoke. Drugs, such as aspirin, NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), beta-antagonists, may also cause asthma.

Who is More Likely to Suffer from Asthma?

Asthma is a worldwide disease, more common in urban than rural areas and accounts for about 25 per cent of all non-tuberculous chest diseases. It may occur at any age, but in 50 per cent of the patients, it starts before the age often. It is more common in boys than in girls, but at the age of 30 years, the incidence is equal. About 25 to 30 per cent of asthmatic children spontaneously recover during adolescence, while a few recover several years later. Asthma occurring during adult life is more serious. The attacks are more frequent and prolonged.

Treatment

With the advancement in the methodology of treatment, the life expectancy of asthmatics have been considerably increased than in the past. The management of bronchial asthma includes specific treatment aimed at removal of the cause and symptomatic treatment.

Specific Treatment

If the cause of the asthma can be discovered, every effort should be made towards its removal to provide complete and permanent relief. If the patient develops symptoms of allergy, such as skin rashes, itching and pruritus and running nose the possible allergen (substance causing allergy) should be identified. Its removal is the most effective way of controlling allergic asthma. If this is not possible, desensitization by using an extract of specific allergen should be attempted. In many cases of allergic asthma, the specific allergen is not identifiable and anti­allergic drugs are tried. A few patients of seasonal asthma are benefited by temporarily moving to another town before the onset of a particular season, but this is not always feasible.

If infection is the cause, the person should protect himself from stress and strain due to extremes of weather. Frequent attacks of common cold may lead to asthma. Intensive treatment with a specific antibiotic must be instituted immediately. The most common offending organisms are Pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae. In these infections, broad-spectrum antibiotics like amoxycillin, cefuroxime or ampicillin are usually effective.

Symptomatic Treatment

The drugs used for providing symptomatic relief are those which prevent bronchospasms or cause broncho-dilatation. These can be divided into two groups: 1) for treatment during acute attack; and 2) for prevention and heatment of chronic asthma.

For Acute Attack

Adrenergic Beta:-Receptor Simulants: Salbutamol (Asthalin, Bronkotab, Ventrolin), Terbutaline (Bricanyl), Adrenaline

Stimulation of the adrenergic beta-receptors of the lungs causes relaxation of the bronchioles and opens up the respiratory airway. Salbutamol and terbutaline are most effective.

Salbutamol (Albuterol)

It is the most commonly used drug to produce dilatation of narrowed airways in asthma. For acute attack it is given by inhalation (patient inhales the drug by a deep inspiration with nose pinched; training is needed for optimal results). Two types of inhalers are available.

Adrenaline

It has been the time tested’ gold standard’ for the termination of acute attack of bronchial asthma. However, because it disturbs the heart rhythm it is now used rarely and its use should be avoided. For the same reason Isoprenaline is not used today.

Direct-Acting Drugs: Theophylline, Aminophylline, Deriphylline

Theophylline and its preparation, aminophylline, cause dilatation of bronchioles by direct action. Aminophylline which contains theophylline and ethylenediamine as a dissolving agent, is very frequently used for providing immediate relief during an acute attack of bronchial asthma. In this condition, aminophylline is given in a well-diluted solution by the intravenous route. Theophylline is also given by the oral route along with ephedrine and other drugs, for prevention of reoccurrence of asthmatic attacks. These are discussed at the end of this chapter. Theophylline is more effective when given at night to prevent occurrence of night time attacks.

Dosage: The average oral daily dose of theophylline is 100 to 200 mg given 3 to 4 times a day. This is generally not tolerated by most patients. To provide immediate relief, aminophylline, containing 250 mg of theophylline, is diluted in 20 ml of5% glucose and injected intravenously, very slowly, over a period of 5 to 10 minutes. Deriphylline causes less gastric irritation and is better absorbed.

Adverse Effects and Precautions: Theophylline is irregularly absorbed and an effective dose given by mouth causes irritation in the gastro-intestinal tract. So it should never be taken on an empty stomach. The most common adverse effects are nausea, anorexia, and vomiting. A very quick intravenous injection of undiluted theophylline may cause a sudden fall in blood pressure, and irregular beating of heart.

Can asthma be cured? What can be done to help asthmatics live normal, productive lives? Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma but flare-ups can be prevented by identifying your triggers and avoiding them. Learn all you can about the disease and take an active part in treatment so you won’t be bothered by asthma again.

Work closely with your doctor to develop a comprehensive asthma action plan. This will enable you to be active and sleep well at night without any symptoms. It will also reduce your medical bills by keeping you away from the hospital and let you attend work or school regularly.

More importantly, choose your doctor wisely. Remember that asthma is a long-term disease which means you’ll be working with your doctor for a long time. Choose one whom you can approach easily, who can explain things clearly, and whom you can trust.

Together with your physician’s help, you can conquer asthma. By routinely monitoring your breathing capacity and properly using the right medications, you can live a normal life and do what you want. Two types of medications are used to reverse and prevent the symptoms of asthma. They are referred to as “relievers” and “controllers.” How do they differ?

Relievers work by opening up constricted airways, allowing you to breathe easier. That’s why they’re called bronchodilators. They’re also labeled as rescue medicine since they quickly relieve asthma symptoms like cough, chest tightness, and wheezing and make you feel better. However, they provide only temporary relief and don’t prevent or reduce the underlying inflammation or swelling that causes your symptoms.

Since the airways are inflamed in asthma and obstructed by increased mucus production, you also need anti-inflammatory medicines to remedy this condition. These drugs, which are called controllers, stop the irritation of the airways and prevent them from becoming chronically inflamed and swollen. They also decrease the amount of mucus in the lungs. Unlike relievers that act quickly, controllers take time to act and have to be taken daily even when symptoms seem to be controlled. By preventing asthma, they help lower the dosage of bronchodilators needed to calm symptoms.

Medical experts agree that inhalation is the most direct and best way of delivering medicine into the lungs where it is needed. Since they reach the lungs faster, inhaled medicines don’t circulate throughout the body. Therefore, the drug is not wasted and there are fewer side effects. By delivering high doses of the drug straight into the airways, inhaled medicines act more quickly compared to oral medications. They also reduce the need for other oral medications.

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Asthma is a chronic and a common condition that occurs when the main air channel of the lungs and bronchial tubes become swollen. It causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and difficulty in breathing. Asthma is a treatable condition. Treatments usually seek to reduce the frequency, severity and duration of your asthma attacks.

Though Asthma cannot be cured permanently, asthma treatment if managed effectively can prevent asthma attack. One of the Asthma treatments that are usually followed is using medications which can be taken orally or inhaled in vapour form. They reduce inflammation in your airways and prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into your airway tissues.

Asthma therapy needs to be flexible according to changes in symptoms, which should be determined thoroughly by your doctor and then the treatment can be adjusted accordingly. In case the asthma is kept well under control, your doctor may prescribe less medicine. However, if your asthma is not kept under control or has worsened, your doctor may accordingly raise your medication dose and also advise more frequent checking.

Asthma can be treated through several types of medications. A combination of long-term control medications and quick relief medications is generally used. The main types of asthma medications include:

Long-term-control medications, also called as preventers are used regularly and are taken long term to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. These medications are generally used every day for a long time, in order to control chronic asthma.

Quick-relief medications, also called as relievers are used for speedy, short-term relief during symptoms of worsening asthma attack. Medications for allergy-induced asthma reduce your body’s reaction to a particular allergy and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergies.

Due to a lot of different factors involved in asthma, a treatment plan will be different for different patients. Your doctor may prescribe and change the medications according to the severity of the asthma attack. It is advisable for you and your doctor to work together to control asthma, reduce severity and frequency of attacks and help lead a normal and active life. source

Do you want (or need!) to get more active, but you find yourself coughing, wheezing and so out of breath you have to stop and go back to your television program? You may have what doctors refer to as exercise-induced asthma. Exercise can trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals, but it can also help your body transfer oxygen in and out of your body more efficiently. Studies have shown that individuals who are overweight tend to have more trouble controlling their asthma than those who keep their weight to recommended levels. The key to exercising with asthma is to take a few precautions before you begin. Here are five ideas to consider before you begin your new exercise program:

1. First, consider the type of exercise that might work best for you. It is thought that exercise may trigger asthma attacks by exposing the lungs to cold, dry air. Our noses function to warm and humidify the air that we breathe in, but when we exercise, we tend to breathe through our mouths. Sports that involve prolonged constant activity or that take place in cold weather may cause more problems than other activities. Sports that may make your asthma worse include soccer, hockey, basketball, and long distance running. Sports that tend to be better for asthmatics include swimming, walking, football, and golfing because they involve shorter bursts of energy. Swimming in indoor pools can be particularly good because the air around the pool tends to be heated and humidified.

2. Talk to your doctor about using inhaled corticosteroids prior to exercise. A recent study by Dr. Hans Haverkamp published in the July 2007 issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that using inhaled corticosteroids prior to exercise improved pulmonary gas exchange and performance and may increase arterial oxygenation.

3. Singulair (montelukast) has also recently been found to have a preventative effect for asthmatics when taken two hours before exercise and may last for up to 24 hours.

4. Use a short-acting albuterol inhaler (like Proventil or Ventolin) about ten minutes prior to exercising and carry the inhaler with you at all times. Remember, long-acting bronchodilators (like Serevent), inhaled corticosteroids and Singulair only help to prevent asthma attacks–they won’t help you improve your breathing when you are having an acute asthma attack.

5. Drink plenty of water, especially on warm days. Warm up slowly and cool down slowly when exercising.

Few things can lay you low like an asthma attack. If you suffer from asthma then probably the first thing you do when you feel an attack coming on is to reach for your inhaler. But with the side effects of all drug based remedies becoming more apparent, many people are looking for alternative treatments and ways of avoiding an attack altogether.

This article will examine a few options you have for avoiding asthma attacks and introduce a simple exercise that can bring fast relief when an attack comes. Your doctor will surely have told you about pollens, dust mites and cigarette smoke being likely causes of your asthma, so this article will not go further into that aspect. We’ll look instead at a couple of lesser known causes and what you can do to avoid them.

1. If you’re in a room with a wood fire then try and establish if the fire draws the air into it well and the room itself is well ventilated. A wood stove is not so bad as long as it is airtight.

2. Very cold weather can also sometimes set off an attack. If you have to venture out in such conditions then make sure you are wearing a scarf wrapped around your neck and face, covering your nose and mouth, so the air you breathe in is warm and moist.

3. Although it’s usually thought of as helping asthmatics, sometimes your car’s air conditioning can bring on asthma. Avoid setting it to bring in outside air and cooling it.

4. Sometimes certain kinds of food can set it off. The principal culprits are milk, eggs, nuts, seafood, and especially table salt. Try and establish if any of them have been to blame for an attack, so you know what to avoid. Just being in the kitchen when the food is being prepared is often enough to trigger an attack. And realise, too, that food additives can often have just as big an effect as the food itself.

5. Finally on this point, and perhaps most importantly, be aware of how you breathe. If you breathe through your nose, as you should, you will give yourself the best chance of avoiding an attack. The microscopic hairs lining the inside of your nose and its cavities catch nearly all the millions of tiny particles that enter with each breath and start a process of rendering them harmless.

Finally, a deep breathing exercise to bring relief

This is a powerful exercise that helps increase your resistance to many allergies and it is particularly potent against asthma. It is very health giving and helps you regain your strength and energy after illness or an accident.

1. Lie flat on your back on the floor with your knees bent slightly and your feet flat on the floor. Take a deep breath through the nose and slowly reach upwards with both arms towards the ceiling. Hold your breath and clench your fists, tensing all the muscles in your arms.

2. Exhale slowly through the nose and slowly draw your fists down towards your chest. Keep your arms tensed and your fists clenched throughout. Your elbows will go out to your sides.

3. When your fists touch your chest relax them, together with your arms. You should by now have fully exhaled.

4. Repeat several times, remembering always to inhale and exhale through your nose and making use of your diaphragm movements rather than consciously breathing in and out. Emphasise the tension and tightness of your arm muscles when pulling them down towards your chest, as if pulling healing energy into your lungs. Conversely, when you are reaching up your arms should be relaxed and you should stretch right up as far as you can without straining.

5. Stop the exercise when you’ve done it a few times, but continue lying on the floor for a few minutes until you feel you’re ready to rise. Relax your arms at the side of your body palms up. Breathe deeply through the nose and visualise healing energy being directed to where in your body it’s required.

I hope that, by carrying out this exercise from time to time as you think best, and following the advice on how to avoid asthma attacks as far as possible, you can start to regain control of your life and feel less vulnerable. source

How can inhaled medicines help asthmatics? One important benefit is that they help you save money in the long run and keep you away from the hospital. This is good news for asthmatics considering that the health-related costs of asthma are great. The disease results in less income due to less productivity from lost days at work.

In New South Wales, for example, asthma is one of the top ten reasons for visits to doctors and accounted for 55,000 emergency room visits to public hospitals. In Sweden, persons with asthma accounted for 23,000 hospital admissions, while in the United States, asthma is responsible for more than 460,000 hospitalizations and 1.8 million emergency department visits.

By relieving symptoms and preventing further attacks, inhaled medicines reduce the need for hospitalization and they allow patients to live normal, productive lives. Bronchodilators are used to treat asthma flare-ups and acute attacks and help prevent exercise-induced asthma. They are often used only when you feel it is needed or when you have symptoms less than once or twice a week. In moderate or severe attacks, they can be used more often but no more than 3 or 4 times a day.

To treat moderate to severe persistent asthma, inhaled steroids are usually prescribed. Since they don’t act immediately, they must be taken regularly every day. They won’t prevent attacks if you take them only during flare-ups. When used daily, studies show that these controllers improve lung function, reduce symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, and improve the quality of life.

Generally, inhaled medicines have fewer side effects than their oral counterparts. Common side effects include a fast heart beat, muscular shaking and nervousness. These side effects are transient and usually disappear with continued use. There is no need to stop your medicine.

Likewise, inhaled steroids have little side effects. The most common are mouth and throat irritation accompanied by coughing or an oral yeast infection (thrush). These can be eliminated by using a spacer (a large plastic cone attached to the inhaler) and by gargling with water after each use.

Keep a diary of your symptoms and any side effects you’re experiencing. Show this to your doctor to get the most out of every consultation and follow the prescribed dose. Don’t overuse your medicines. Your doctor can help you only if you take an active role in controlling asthma.

How do you fill up an asthma diary? Find out in the 8th part of our series. Don’t miss it! Since obesity is bad for asthmatics, keep your weight down to a healthy level. You can do this with the help of Zyroxin, a safe and natural supplement that will maximize your weight loss through its unique fat-burning ingredients. source