Easing Infant Asthma - 5 Features An Air Cleaner Needs to Have
If your baby has asthma, it can be heartbreaking to watch them struggle for air. Minimizing these episodes has to be at the top of your list when caring for your child. An air purifier with the following 5 features can help your baby and you breathe easier.
HEPA Filtration - All indoor spaces have airborne particles that are impossible to prevent, but that can be minimized by using high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filters. Designed to remove particles as small as.3 microns in size, they can eliminate dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pet dander, as well as bacteria and viruses that cling to these particles.
Even though these particles are typical of most indoor air, babies' respiratory systems are not fully developed. Clearing the air of these pollutants (especially dust mites) can make it easier for your baby to breathe.
Carbon Cloth Filter - This type of filter was originally developed by the British Military as a defense against chemical warfare. It is excellent at removing gases, odors, and noxious chemicals.
You may think you don't have anything like that in baby's room. And you certainly wouldn't knowingly introduce these pollutants to the air. But if you have painted, wallpapered, bought new furniture or bedding, put in new carpet it is very likely that many of these products are off-gassing chemicals.
Fumes that adults may not be aware of may be too much for newly developing lungs to handle. Taking them out before they can cause problems is the advantage of having this type of filter working for you.
24 Hour Operation - Airborne pollutants are always in the air and a cleaner that run all the time is the best way to minimize the amount in the air. Continually reducing those means that they are less likely to accumulate to a level that would cause breathing problems for your child.
A split capacitor motor allows for continuous filtration that is safe and effective. Look for this feature in the technical specifications or owner's manual, and don't put it in your nursery unless it has this type of motor.
360 Degree Intake - Who care about this you may ask. A cleaner that can work effectively when placed as close as 6 inches from any surface is a huge advantage in terms of placement in the nursery. This means the unit can be close to the wall to limit cord exposure. It also means that you get to place in the most convenient place rather than having to place it in the middle of the room as some other cleaners require.
Low Maintenance - Probably the most important part of low maintenance is that it means less interruption in filtration. Avoid cleaners that require you to unplug them and go inside to wash, vacuum, spray, or recharge anything.
Each time you have to perform maintenance like this, your child's air is not being cleaned which means pollutants can build to levels that can cause problems. Instead opt for a purifier that only needs to be vacuumed on the outside while it continues to run, and has a filter life of 5 years or more. That qualifies as low maintenance at its best.
Help your baby breathe easier despite asthma by keeping asthma triggering pollutants low. See the air purifier that can help your baby and you breathe easier at http://purerair.com/babys_breath.html
About Childhood Asthma
Asthma is one of the more common long-term disorders of children. It affects the airways in your lungs resulting in it to contract, thereby reducing the passage of air to your lungs. Now asthma in children can be treated in many ways. By managing it, they live as normally and actively as other healthy children.
Being aware of the symptoms of asthma will help in the case of an onslaught of asthma attacks. Many asthma causes are found in our homes, for instance molds, mites, smoke, indoor pets, as well as chemical irritants.
Mildews and molds are typically found on damp areas such as shower curtains, sinks, and tiles. If you happen to find mold, sanitize the area with plain water and soap. The right ventilation in your kitchens and bathrooms really are advised by installing an exhaust fan then opening your windows. Dry all moist places so you can ward off any new growth of molds.
There are small bugs called dust mites that we cannot see with our naked eyes. Usually they live in your pillows, bedding, carpets and stuffed toys. These objects commonly are found in your kids' rooms. Because children spend a lot of time in their rooms, then it's good to make sure the room stays clean. Replace bedding on a regular basis, clean their stuffed toys by hand washing them for they gather particles of dust. It's also recommended to utilize dust filters to make sure the air your child inhales is clean.
Smoke is a big trigger of asthma attacks. If someone is a smoker, then do not let them smoke in your house. If pets are in your home, then take note of your kids' reactions when they are with the pets. In addition, if asthma is set off by the animals' dander, limit your kids' exposure to the pets. Irritants are also found in your home. These can include laundry powder, cosmetics, air fresheners and cleaners. When using these products, be sure your kids are not there and your windows are opened with the exhaust turned on.
Air pollution also triggers attacks. This comes out of the smoke made by vehicles as well as factories. Try to avoid taking your kids outside when the air pollution index is high. When spending time outside cannot be avoided, make your kids wear a dust mask to keep them from inhaling particulates.
Getting your children to participate in any strenuous exercise programs may not be very good, as it can get to be too much for their system and cause asthma attacks. Parents should monitor their kids' physical acceptance of different activities and keep talking to them concerning their condition to keep them aware of what is going on with their body. By doing this, they're able to inhibit exercise-induced asthma.
Certain foods that asthmatics cannot consume because they provoke allergic reactions, eggs chicken, and seafood. Let your children know of the foods that might cause asthma. Asthma may not be curable, but it is preventable with the right knowledge.
Raising strong, active and healthy children in today's fast-paced and fast food environment gets harder and harder with each passing day. To get tips and ideas about child fitness, child health and child nutrition and learn how to keep your children healthy, strong and happy. At Concerning Kids, you will discover fun things to do that will help your healthy kids live longer, live stronger and lead a more fun, active and enjoyable lifestyle.
All women are special in one way or the other, if you want to discover how to feel younger, look better, feel sexier, live stronger and live longer then check out health tips for women and find how you can get all of the above.
Smoking And The Asthmatic Patient
We have all probably heard at least once from different information sources that smoking cigarettes and tobacco are harmful to one's health. These products contain hundreds of destructive chemicals which are detrimental; not only to the smoker, but to those who get to inhale the smoke coming from the cigarettes or tobacco they puff. One of the illnesses that can be acquired by smoking is asthma. But what if the actual asthmatic patient is the one who smokes excessively? How can this person possibly be saved from future health complications? Before we discuss the solution, it will be worthwhile to note some background information about smoking and the asthmatic patient.
Smoking 101
The practice of smoking dates back centuries ago, when the ancient civilizations and societies used and burnt incense as a way of praising their gods. What started as a purely religious practice eventually evolved as a way of gratifying and satisfying oneself by inhaling the smoke coming from products like cigarettes and tobacco. Smoking is apparently very pleasurable as these cigarettes or tobacco contain nicotine, a substance that is known to stimulate the brain, giving the smoker intense enjoyment and fulfillment.
Despite all the pleasures that smoking gives, it is still very harmful to the body especially for second-hand smokers or the people who inhale the smoke which is exhaled by the actual smokers. It can cause lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure or even something as simple as the common cough. Thus, this practice must immediately be halted.
Asthma 101
Asthma is a respiratory disorder that causes the patient to have difficulty in breathing due to inflammation of the airways. Asthmatics often experience different extremely uncomfortable conditions like wheezing, chest tightening, shortness of breath, and intense coughing. Some asthmatics even have side effects like skin allergies which develop on varying degrees. Asthma is a sickness that must be treated and dealt with seriously as this can be a cause of potential death.
Smoking can trigger asthma attacks. The smoke coming from cigarettes and tobacco can irritate the muscles of the airways, causing it to become rigid and tensed. When this happens, the passage of air is impeded and the asthmatic experiences difficulty in breathing, which leads to major or minor asthma attacks.
The Verdict
It is therefore advisable for asthmatics to avoid inhaling smoke coming from cigarettes and for asthmatics who smoke to quit smoking altogether. They may think they can handle cigarette or tobacco smoke but the truth is that they're running the risk of worsening their asthmatic condition. They are highly likely to develop severe respiratory problems at a young age. Aside from that, their appearance, overall body stamina, and immune system will be affected causing them to be sicklier and appear older than they truly are.
So if you're an asthmatic smoker, you better stop smoking immediately. Start taking simple but sure steps that will help you to quit smoking altogether. Ask your doctor's help. Do this for your own good and that of others.
Respiration and The Need For Respiratory Therapists
For us, breathing is automatic that we tend not to notice it. Every time we inhale, we draw fresh oxygen into our lungs, which then make its way to our bloodstream transporting it to all the cells of our bodies. This process enables them to burn essential nutrients that are vital to life.
During breathing, our chest rises and our diaphragm expands downward. This creates a kind of vacuum in the chest. Through this vacuum, the air is transported into the upper and lower respiratory passages. As we exhale, our lungs and chest go back to their initial position and air is expelled through the respiratory passages. The act of respiration depends on the current metabolic condition of the body. Therefore, respiration adjusts when the body is at rest or in motion.
Not everyone has normal respiration. Others that suffer from chronic respiratory disorders need help through treatments and respiratory therapies in order to have proper respiration.
Over the years, the demand for respiratory therapy has grown, mainly because it is considered by many as very systematic and gentle. The therapy includes a mild dose of nebulized medicine that is given quickly during inhalation to the respiratory passages as a kind of soft aerosol targeting passages where it can act quickly.
Asthma, Bronchitis, Pulmonary Emphysema
Asthma is one of the most common respiratory disorders. It causes lungs' airways to become narrow and inflamed. This leads to shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing. These symptoms are recurring and thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Bronchitis is another respiratory disorders that is quite common. It is described as the swelling of the main air passages to the lungs and can either be acute or chronic. Typical symptoms of bronchitis are coughing, excess mucus and sputum.
Pulmonary Emphysema is a chronic lung condition where the alveoli or air sacs may be destroyed, narrowed, collapsed, stretched or over-inflated. These cause a decrease in the functions of the respiratory system and breathlessness, as well.
The Need For Respiratory Therapists
For those afflicted with the abovementioned disorders, it is important that you take better care of your health. By being given the proper care from a respiratory therapist. While respiratory therapists are not considered doctors, they are experts of life support equipment operation and pulmonary diseases. With their knowledge on respiratory functions, they are able to give proper recommendations and diagnosis to doctors.
If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, there are a number of training programs that can help you reach that goal.
How Asthma Can Be Avoided
This article is created just for you who have to deal with asthma. You can find some information on how to deal with asthma effectively. By reading and following this information, you will start having beautiful life without asthma.
If you have asthma problem and you have to use your inhaler in more than three times a week to get your asthma gone, you should visit your doctor and ask them to change your medication. Sometimes, the medication in the inhaler doesn't work properly. That's why you need to consult with your doctor about your inhaler.
When you're travelling along, make sure to bring your asthma medications and equipment. Don't forget to bring your prescriptions too. By carrying the prescriptions along with written proof from your doctor, you will reduce the potential problems at the airport security checkpoints.
Make sure you ask your doctor on how you can use your inhaled medication properly. Don't leave his office until you are completely comfortable using the inhaler. You can't just spray it into your mouth and inhale it gently. You have to breathe deeply in conjunction with the spray. Proper use of the asthma inhaler is the important point when you have asthma problem.
You should visit more than one doctor. Even though your primary care doctor can assist you in the basic care for your asthma, don't forget to visit a specialist. Asthma doctors, pulmiologists, and allergists are the people who you want to consult with to help solving your asthma problem.
When you're dealing with an asthma attack, it's important to make sure that you visit your doctor as soon as possible. Make sure that you're ready for the asthma treatment when you're getting asthma problem for the first time. This is very important because early asthma treatment will always be the best solution for you to deal with your asthma.
It is essential to change your sleeping pillows that you use frequently to avoid asthma problem. Use pillowcases and towels that are made from cotton because it won't allow dust mites to grow on them. Just for your information, the dust mites are considered as some of the top contributors of the asthma problems.
If you have an asthma attacks but you don't bring your asthma inhaler on hand, you should try to use caffeine as an asthma remedy. Strong tea, coffee, or chocolate can help you to reduce the severity of your asthma attack. It will help you to constrict your blood vessels and open the vessels so you can breathe easier.
Those simple home remedies for asthma are really effective to help you getting rid of your asthma problem. Some asthma problems are caused by the allergens. Read this before you visit your allergy doctor to know more about allergy and how to get rid of the allergic to reduce your asthma problems from your own house.
Asthma: Why You Need to Use a Peak Flow Meter
Key Asthma Symptoms
The key symptoms of asthma are also common in other major illnesses and so self diagnosing is not recommended. Only a doctor can diagnose asthma and then only after several tests have been taken.
The most common identifiers of asthma are:
• Wheezing
• Chronic cough.
• Tightness in the chest
• Shortness of breath
Having said that, these symptoms are also common with some heart ailments, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Sometimes, a person with severe asthma can have a debilitating illness; they are so impacted by the symptoms that they are not able to function normally on a day to day basis. Fortunately, the vast number of asthma sufferers have symptoms that are much more mild. For these sufferers an asthma attack my occur infrequently and the use of Ventolin HFA is all they need.
For some sufferers, their asthma may be too severe to be controlled with the use of an inhaler or nebulizer and their symptoms continue to get worse; the throat muscles can become so inflamed that they have serious difficulty breathing, they wheeze, have a tightness in their chest, and, develop a chronic cough. When this happens, going about their daily lives is impossible.
If your regular medication does not relieve the symptoms then your progress to a severe attack and medical intervention is usually necessary. As the symptoms get worse your ability to breathe is reduced and your body takes in less oxygen than it needs. Without immediate help this can be fatal.
Some people suffer infrequent mild asthma attacks and they are able to manage their symptoms by using an inhaler, or, nebulizer. On the onset of an attack a puff or spray of asthma medication is all they need.
With regular use of a Peak Flow Monitor it is possible to know in advance if you are going to have an asthma attack.
Without knowing what your regular lung capacity is, it is not easy to know if you are having a severe asthma attack, A Peak Flow Meter, properly used, will let you stay on top of your regular measure of breathing capacity; during an asthma attack using the flow meter will give you a measure of your of breathing ability, and hence your level of oxygen intake.
If your oxygen intake is low you should go to the hospital immediately. Let's look at this in more detail;
What is a Peak Flow Meter
A hand held device, a peak flow meter measures the speed of your breath (air) coming from your lungs after you have exhaled forcefully immediately after fully inhaling. Peak flow meters are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Portable and affordable, these devices are easy to take with you wherever you go.
Keeping records of the results - your peak expiratory flow (PEF) is part of an asthma management plan. If your asthma is under control your readings will be consistent, if they are not, your asthma may be getting worse.
How do I find out my best peak expiratory flow
When you start using a Peak Flow Meter you need to record each of your readings two or three times a day for at least 2-3 weeks. Always take your tests at the same time each day and always take your test prior to using your Ventolin HFA inhaler. Follow the instructions that come with your meter on how to take the breath tests. The highest number you have recorded over the test period is your peak expiratory flow.
Sometimes, during a severe asthma attack it may seem that your symptoms have eased because you are not wheezing, when instead, your lung capacity has become too low to let you wheeze. By taking your flow rate and comparing it to your recorded peak rate, you will know if you should be going immediately to the hospital. Failure to do so could be fatal.
Regular use of your meter can assist you in identifying when an asthma attack may be due. An asthma attack may present symptoms up to a week before it actually occurs; knowing when to use your Ventolin HFA ahead of an attack can prevent an attack from occurring.
Talk with your doctor about how a Peak Flow Meter may help you manage your symptoms.
For more information on Ventolin HFA and Peak Flow Meters click here.
If you are concerned about side effects you can find that information at Ventolin HFA Side Effects
Common Causes of Asthma and Ways to Control It
Asthma attacks may be triggered by various causes. When the body detects an irritant, the immune system immediately responds by releasing inflammatory substances to the area where the irritant is sensed. As a result swelling occurs and mucous is produced. When this occurs broncheo spasms result which cause severe breathing difficulties for asthma sufferers.
The local environment can be a big cause of asthma attacks. Bacteria and dust that exist where you live can become lung irritants. Some studies show that children who grow up spending most of their time indoors develop a weaker immune system compared to children who are encouraged by their parents to play in the open air. This makes them susceptible to bacteria and atmospheric particles found at home and elsewhere. Lower levels of resistance to outside pollutants then make them vulnerable to environmental dusts that can cause irritation and other complications.
Asthma may be developed because of an allergy. Common allergens that trigger asthma attacks include pollen, hair, animal dander, feathers, and molds. Diseases such as allergic rhinitis or hay fever may also trigger asthma. The severity of the attack largely depends on what allergen the patient has been exposed to. Food allergies may be a factor as well. Patients with asthma are highly advised to be careful with their diet because a food allergy has been known to trigger asthma attacks. Doctors recommend a diet wherein foods that usually cause allergy, like wheat, corn and dairy are omitted.
For women, there are two events in their life that can increase their body's sensitivity to asthma causes. The first of these is pregnancy. Amazingly, there have been studies that shown that mothers who are expecting baby girls have a higher tendency to exhibit asthma-type breathing problems compared to pregnant women who are expecting boys. The second is the menopause, where there is a connection between asthma and low levels of estrogen in the body. The development of asthma in this case often begins during perimenopause.
Atmospheric weather conditions can also bring on an attack due to changes to the ions in the air, but is not common.
Obviously a family history of asthma will pre-dispose individuals to asthma symptoms, but with care many of the causes can be kept to a minimum. This is due mainly to recent research studies which have helped us to be more aware of the causes that were unknown to previous generations.
Patients with asthma may suffer due to one of the above factors, or a combination of several. The best way to deal with this ailment is to consult a physician so the condition can be addressed properly. More often than not, asthma attacks are not life-threatening, but if not properly monitored and appropriate measures applied before and during onset, it can lead to a more serious condition. To avoid this, help your doctor, if you can, to identify what specific irritants might cause your attacks and ask for their advice. Doctors will most likely recommend avoiding places where allergens and irritants may be present and if asthma attacks are severe, they may prescribe medications which must be taken regularly to ease the condition.
Regular exercise plays a vital role in everyone's health, and people with asthma should be aware of the particular benefits that this has for their condition. Physical activities such as walking, running, stretching, and cycling can help you develop stronger muscles and at the same time boost the immune system. During exercise, deep breathing is encouraged and this enhances overall health. For asthma patients, regular exercise stimulates the muscles in the air passages which help in reducing asthma attacks. By doing moderate physical activity, inhalation and exhalation of air is controlled and strengthened.
One particular medical device has also been proven to be extremely effective for reducing the symptoms of asthma. It is called a Salt Pipe and when air is inhaled through the device it enters the respiratory system and delivers micron-sized salt ions to the lungs to improve respiratory health. The salt microns help by improving the health of the mucosal cells and stimulate the natural cleansing action in the lungs. This salt from the mines in Transylvania has been known to have therapeutic properties since the second century AD. This amazing device is becoming increasingly popular, and daily users speak very highly about the improvements it has brought to their health. The Salt pipe has also been proven to help allergies and pollens, snoring, colds, other infections as well as asthma.
Asthma can be controlled very effectively by various natural means. For those sufferers who think that drugs are the only treatment, please investigate all the natural options that have been studied, trialed and approved as being safe, effective and offer a real solution.
Margaret Le Monnier has over 20 years-experience as a qualified natural health professional in the UK. She is well known for giving intuitive and expert advice to people regarding natural approaches to correcting a wide range of illnesses and conditions. Margaret is now writing articles for a website solely devoted to bringing a comprehensive range of natural health advice to everyone. To find out more about natural remedies for asthma visit her website at Natural Health 4 Life.