Asthma

Overview   
Symptoms   
Treatment   
Products   
Resources

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by difficulty in breathing. Approximately 15 million Americans of all ages are affected by some degree of asthma. Although asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children (diagnosed in 10 percent of all American children), over 2 million older Americans are also asthmatic. Almost one quarter of Americans over 65 report some form of wheezing with or without colds that product shortness of breath.

People with asthma have extra sensitive airways. When they encounter certain external stimuli or “triggers,” their airways become irritated and react by narrowing or obstructing and producing mucus. The result is that the air moving in and out of their lungs is obstructed.

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Asthma Symptoms

This narrowing or obstruction of the asthmatic’s airways has two primary causes. Airway inflammation occurs when the narrowing airways in the lungs become red and swollen. Bronchoconstriction occurs when the muscles that encircle the airways tighten or spasm. The resulting symptoms include:

Chest tightness – A feeling of tightness in your chest may feel tight that is often an indicator of an asthma attack resulting from cold weather or exercise.

Cough – In response to the mucus, a cough often lasts more than a week.

Shortness of breath – Difficulty in breathing results from the obstructed airways and resulting feeling that there you cannot inhale enough air into your lungs.

Wheezing – A wheezing sound occurs when you breathe.

However, every individual case of asthma is unique. People react in various ways to the triggers such as air pollution, allergies, dust, pollen and smoke. Some people react to one trigger while others are affected by a combination of several triggers. Some react immediately while others have delayed asthma attacks. Some have mild episodes while others have severe reactions. Medications or sudden changes in the weather can also bring on an asthma attack.

Individuals with asthma need to keep track of the triggers that provoke their asthma episodes. Asthma management programs help asthmatics track both their exposure to triggers and their degree of responses and the degree of intervention needed using respiratory medications.

Common Asthma Triggers

Air pollution has resulted in a large spike of asthma patients in large urban metropolitan cities. There is often a direct correlation between the air quality and asthma ER admissions.

Allergens cause allergies and can also trigger asthma episodes. Allergens include airborne substances such as pollen and dust, as well as foods such as dairy products and shellfish.

Exercise causes what is termed “exercise-induced” asthma that is triggered by physical activity. Symptoms usually occur immediately after the exercise and then disappear after a few hours.

Smoke from cigarettes is another asthma trigger, especially in children. This “second-hand” smoke is documented to develop severe asthmatic symptoms in young patients over prolonged exposure.

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Asthma Treatment and Products

People with asthma need to understand that it is a serious condition. Developing a working relationship with a medical professional and receiving the appropriate medical treatment will enable an asthmatic to learn to live with this lung disease. Usually asthmatics know when an attack is imminent, and they can take the preventative steps to “breathe easier” by using treatments to relax the air tubes in their lungs.

Part of following a prescribed treatment or management program is knowing what symptoms to be aware of, what medications to take, when to take these respective medications, how these medications are supposed to counter your symptoms, and when to call your doctor or go to an emergency room if these treatments are not working.

Following are some of the predominant respiratory aids utilized in treating asthma:

• HEPA Air Purifiers and Cleaners clean the air within a home or office to remove any of the airborne particulates and allergens that frequently trigger asthma attacks.
• Allergy-Free Products enable asthmatics to avoid ongoing irritation by removing triggers from their home environments. These include:
  • Pillows
  • Sheets
  • Comforters
• Sprays and Powders are applied directly to bedding, upholstery and carpets to kill dust mites and other allergens.
• Nebulizers convert liquid respiratory medication into aerosol and enable this mist to penetrate deeply into the lungs and bronchi. Nebulizers are available in two styles:
  • Compressors
  • Ultrasonics which are often small hand-held units that are ideal for use outside of the home and when traveling.
• Peak Flow Meters measure the exhaled force of the lungs. By checking this measurement daily at the same times, patients are able to monitor their asthma and prevent an attack by recognizing early warning signs.
• Vaporizers and Humidifiers help to making breathing easier and eliminate irritation by adding moisture to the air.

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Asthma Resources

American Lung Association
800 LUNG USA
www.lungusa.org

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
800 7-ASTHMA
www.aafa.org

National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine
800 222-LUNG
www.ncj.org


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