Childhood Asthma - How To Use Air Humidifiers To Soothe Your Child's Wheezing
During the last 15 years, there has been an alarming 160% increase in the rate of asthma in children under the age of five. Sadly many of these children could have been prevented from ever developing asthma. If asthma is confirmed for your young one, you need to educate yourself on treating and managing this chronic disease. According to the experts knowledge is the best prescription.
Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes become inflamed, creating extra mucus and causing airways to narrow. The end result could range from a frequent tendency to cough to minor wheezing to severe difficulty breathing.
It's a well-known fact that asthma symptoms are set off or triggered by certain environmental substances. For unknown reasons, your child's body "sees" these triggers as threats, even though most kids are not bothered by them. The lungs typically overreact by triggering an asthma attack.
Air humidifiers are an excellent way to add humidity to your home and hopefully relax the stressed-out bronchial tubes of the lungs. Sometimes it is the cold, dry air that agitates the lungs and causes them to constrict and narrow. You can improve this condition by making small changes to your home environment.
If you add warm, humidified air, this may relax the lungs and allow more air in. These easy steps can add humidity to your home without adding more stress to your life:
Step 1: Determine the humidity in your home. Prior to choosing any humidifier, try to select one that will suit your home. If you are not sure that you really need a humidifier, you may want to measure the humidity level in your home with a hygrometer. It is inexpensive and easy to operate. Once you have a humidity level that you are comfortable with, the humidistat feature in the humidifier can help you to keep a constant level of humidity at home.
Step 2: You should measure the area. Whether you choose a warm mist humidifier or cool mist humidifier, look for a model that fits the room. A humidifier that is too large will produce too much moisture and one that is too small will not do the right job. Too much humidity will cause more bacteria to grow and this will lead to additional problems.
Step 3: Find a model that is resistant to bacterial growth. Bacteria are nasty little creatures that like to live where there is moisture. You can make sure that they won't grow in your humidifier by choosing one that is resistant to the growth of mold and bacteria. Your other choice is to clean it on a regular basis.
Step 4: Look for a quiet model. Humidifiers can be quite noisy when they are in use. Cool mist humidifiers have a fan that is constantly going and warm mist humidifiers tend to make a bubbling noise. When it comes to noise level, your best option is to look for a model that has a 'silent' feature.
Step 5: Check for ease of use. When shopping for an air humidifier, you should check each model to see if it is easy to use and easy to refill. The better air humidifiers operate longer on one filling and won't interrupt your daily activities. Models with the reservoir capacity of one litres to five gallons are easier to use and keep the humidity for a longer time.
The first and most important step is to take charge of your child's asthma. Parents of asthmatic children suffer a range of contradictory feelings. It is natural for them to be concerned about medications and look for alternative treatments. While an air humidifier cannot medically treat asthma attacks, it can provide a warm, moist environment so that your little one can sleep at night.
Lynn Versailles is a registered nurse and a life-long sufferer of asthma. She has personally been affected with this chronic respiratory problem and wishes to help others. Through years of research and life experiences, she shares her knowledge on how to properly manage asthma on http://www.safetreatmentsforasthma.com/. To learn more, download The Ultimate Asthma Management Guide. It is a free online guide on medical treatments and natural remedies to properly manage this illness.
Information About Asthma, Including Asthma Causes and Treatments
Asthma
Asthma is an inflammation of the respiratory system, which includes the trachea, bronchi and lungs. The symptoms of asthma are highly variable, but it is generally characterized by the obstruction of airflow through the respiratory system. Asthma is extremely common and affects a significant percentage of the world population. There are many possible causes of asthma, but the general treatment for all forms of asthma is inhaling a corticosteroid.
Classification
Asthma has a wide range of severity, so its diagnosis must include a clinical classification. Asthma cases have specific severity classifications, including intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent. The criteria that physicians use to classify asthma cases include the total frequency of symptoms and the frequency of nighttime symptoms. They also consider the volume of air that the patient expire in one second, known medically as the FEV1. The variability of the FEV1 is another factor in this classification. Physicians also take the frequency of inhalant use into account when classifying asthma.
Frequency
The frequency of asthma has been increasing since the 1970s, affecting at least seven percent of the world population as of 2010. Developed countries have a much higher prevalence of this condition than the underdeveloped parts of the world. Asthma UK sufferers number about 5.2 million, or about 20 percent of the population. Areas such as Eastern Europe, Ethiopia, India and Indonesia have an asthma prevalence rate of less than three percent.
Causes
The causes of asthma include genetic and environmental factors. The greatest risk factor for asthma is atopic disease, which is a hypersensitivity to various allergens. A history of atopic disease more than triples a person's risk of developing asthma. Researchers believe the greater exposure to indoor allergens such as dust mites is an important reason for the greater prevalence of asthma in developed countries. Other causes of asthma include obesity and less common conditions such as Churg-Strauss syndrome, uticaria and periocular xanthogranulomas.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of asthma include the following:
Chest tightnessCoughingShortness of breathWheezing
Many conditions make these symptoms worse such as cold, exercise and sleeping. Some asthma sufferers experience chronic symptoms, while others experience acute attacks in response to a specific trigger. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a condition present in 80 percent of people with asthma. GERD is a condition in which acid from the stomach enters the esophagus. Researchers believe this symptom of asthma is caused by anti-asthma drugs and changes in pressure within the thoracic cavity.
Treatment
The medical treatments for asthma are generally divided in those that relieve acute attacks and those that relieve chronic symptoms. A short-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist like salbutamol is the most common treatment for acute asthma attacks. An anticholinergic drug such as ipratropium bromide is a common alternative in cases where the patient cannot tolerate SABAs. The standard treatment for chronic asthma is a glucocorticoid like budesonide. Severe cases of chronic asthma may the patient to take glucocorticoids orally, instead of inhaling them.
http://www.budesonide.com/ is your number 1 blog to find out more about budesonide and other related drugs. http://www.budesonide.com/ also provides information on asthma, heart disease, high cholesterol and other medical conditions.
Adenoids Surgery Not Always Effective
There was a time in the United States when doctors would remove tonsils and adenoids from young children simply as a matter of course so that they did not cause problems later on. Then, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as awareness of unnecessary surgeries grew and the medical profession came under increasing scrutiny, these surgeries tapered off and became all but unheard of except in the most extreme circumstances and after proving substantial medical necessity.
Recently, however, the incidence of both tonsillectomies and surgery for the removal of adenoids has been on the rise yet again. Doctors are suggesting to parents with children as young as three that their adenoids need to come out. The reasons given for surgery of the adenoids are usually because of sleep apnea or breathing difficulties. According to doctors, if the adenoid becomes too large it will partially block a child's breathing during sleep. Doctors will also remove adenoids because of frequent ear infections.
One thing, however, that many surgeons do not tell parents is that all of the adenoids cannot be removed with the surgery. Adenoid tissue will still remain, and it is not uncommon for the adenoid to regenerate and "grow back." When this occurs, symptoms also return.
Every surgery has risks. The most common risks involve complications with or reactions to anesthesia. Other risks involve excessive bleeding during the surgery or clotting issues following the surgery. And, of course, with any surgery the risk of infection is always present. When faced with a surgery, most patients weigh the benefits received from the surgery against the likelihood and severity of possible risks. And many rely upon what doctors tell them to make a decision.
The removal of adenoids is questionable, at best, and it is doubtful as to whether the benefits outweigh the risks of surgery, especially for a small child. Additionally, surgery should only be seen as a last course of action when all other options have been tried and have failed. Furthermore, every parent should remember that though breathing difficulties can be troubling and make a parent feel as though they should do "something," the tissues that make up the adenoids will begin to regress in size during adolescence. Some of the reasons why doctors suggest that adenoids be removed such as recurrent ear infections also abate with age.
Rather than subjecting a young child to the trauma and possible risks of unnecessary surgery, parents might want to consider investigating treatments for adenoids without surgery. Surgery to remove the adenoids would seem a drastic step when so many other options are available.
When you improve breathing, you improve your total health and reduce or eliminate the need for adenoids surgery. The Buteyko Center http://www.breathingcenter.com/ offers a free breathing test online and a free Buteyko Health Evaluation report with our recommendations. The test will help you determine whether you hyperventilate or not, and if so to what degree, and how that may be affecting the quality of your sleep, as well as recommendations for improvement.
Dust Mite Allergy - Causes And Cures
Have you ever experienced sneeze or cough while cleaning the house, or your kids usually sneeze and have red watery eyes? Well it can be because you are allergic to the dust around you. There can be many allergens in this dust like human dander, animal dander, waste of cockroaches and other insects. When any of these allergens comes in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to it.
When you inappropriately react to these allergens, you are having an allergic reaction and can be referred to as allergic or atopic. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies are said to be allergic or "atopic." Most of us never experience such allergy, but in some it is quite severe.
Most common allergy caused in home is the dust mite allergy which is caused by a microscopic organism that lives in dust and can be found in almost all the houses and workplaces. They can be anywhere around you. You must have seen that your mattresses and unused clothes become heavy in course of time. This is because of dust and organisms living in it.
These mites thrive in summer and die in winter. But in a warm, humid house, they continue to thrive even in the coldest months. The particles seen floating in a shaft of sunlight includes dead dust mites and their waste-products. These waste-products, which are certain types of proteins, are the reason behind provoking the allergic reaction.
You can get rid of these allergies by following simple steps:
• Clean your house thoroughly on regular basis.
• Use vacuum cleaner to remove dust completely from mattresses, upholstered furniture, curtains.
• Try to avoid pillows that have feather or rubber foam as filling.
• Don't let your pet wander around house much. Limit their access in most of the rooms.
• Avoid carpets. Dust mite love carpets. If you have carpets then vacuum clean them along with washing them on regular basis with good disinfectant.
• Keep stuffed animals in plastic containers and wash them regularly.
• Use AC to keep humidity low and to limit growth of dust mites in warmer months. Change AC filter regularly.
Dust mites are perhaps the most common cause of perennial allergic rhinitis. Dust mite allergy usually produces symptoms similar to pollen allergy and also can produce symptoms of asthma. Common symptoms of dust mite allergy are:
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Frequent awakening
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes
• In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose
Dust mite allergy can contribute to asthma as well, if it happens you may experience:
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest tightness or pain
• An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
• Bouts of coughing or wheezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or the flu
If you experience any such situation then you must contact an allergist or immunologist in your city for better consultation. Don't be late as these allergies can turn bad with time and may even be the reason to cause asthma. In Delhi during summer time we have many dust storms adding to the household dust and increasing dust allergy. So keep in touch with the allergist if you already have allergy or have a few of the symptoms. Moreover consulting your doctor becomes more important if you have asthma.
The writer of this article is associated with BookMyDoctor.com and writing about the various diseases since a long time, in this article the writer mainly focused on the causes of allergy and primary allergy treatment and at advising about various experienced asthma specialist in Delhi that will be very helpful for the patient.
Home remedies for asthma
Home remedies for asthma are likely not be used as they should be.
Asthma is a disease that makes breathing difficult. It is caused when Airways to narrow, to produce swelling and extra mucus. It's hard to breathe and causes coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Home remedies for asthma are discovered and diligently used.
Asthma is a chronic disease, which affects 20 million Americans and nearly 1 in 10 children.
In an asthma attack, the Airways in the lung (Bronchioles) are lit. When this happens, they contract and are lined with excessive amounts of mucous membrane. This restricts air circulation, so it's very difficult to breathe. There are various home remedies against asthma that can be implemented to alleviate this mucous buildup.
For some people, asthma is not a big problem, but for others it is a very serious and scary problem that disrupts daily life and could lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.
Most physicians believe that asthma can be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. I think that home remedies for asthma are the best answer to strengthen not only your lungs, but also the entire immune system.
This attacks be irritant such as change of temperature or humidity, stress, caused by pollution or some environmental allergies, cigarette smoke, cleaning, agents or other toxins.
Her body first line of Defense is your immune system. Specialized cells and organs help recognize your body and respond to foreign invaders. Your immune system has called help even an own circulatory system, the lymphatic system to the attacker "Filter".
If your immune system, his work is not possible, the problems, the consequences can be serious. A weakened immune system shows allergies and asthma.
When, an immune system gets so weakened that she can normal germs, bacteria, viruses, etc., that we all are exposed to tear down our health, we are seriously at risk.
Chronic asthma one can minimize frightening condition that often requires vigilance to prevent and the occurrence of acute attacks. The standard Western medicine treats only symptoms. I prefer always homeopathic or natural treatment.
While many asthma attacks are relatively mild and treated at home can be, some can be very serious and may require even hospitalization.
A doctor can a physical examination and non-invasive lung functional test to help determine if you or your child has asthma.
Also the skin can examine their doctor and questions whether there is a history of hives, eczema or skin related allergies, since it a common link between skin reactions and chronic asthma. If a diagnosis is confirmed, it is important, different treatment options to discuss with your doctor and explore home remedy against asthma, rather than just accept the doctors prescribed medication.
Remember, there are always side effects with pharmaceuticals.
Too narrow and healthy immune system is so important. Strengthening of the immune system should the need for the use of antibiotics to negate and help to avoid unnecessary medication.
Natural remedies have used the immune system, so that the body of the best forces to ward off disease and infection works a healthy for thousands of years to promote.
Herbs such as Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus Membranaceous, Inula Helenium and Withania Somnifera are known for their antiviral, anti fungal and antibacterial properties, as well as their excellent ability to strengthen the immune system to be effective.
These herbs work as a tonic for the immune system and are recommended to avoid and help recover from disease or infection.
Home remedies for asthma food
Magnesium has been shown to breathe ability of asthmatics. Foods with magnesium are grains, green leafy vegetables, almonds, cashews, peanuts, turnip of Greens, spinach, wheat bran, Brazil nuts, soybean flour, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds, Bran cereal, bananas, chocolate and agar algae.
Spices with magnesium include basil, celery seeds, Sage, coriander, cumin seeds, tarragon and Marjoram.
Asthma sufferers rather low levels of selenium in their bodies. Selenium combines with proteins in the body form Selenoproteins or antioxidant enzymes, which play a major role in the immune system.
Fresh vitamin-C rich fruits, provided the children with asthma was shown, effective in reducing the asthmatic wheezing.
Part of a healthy diet should contain fruits rich in vitamin C, including papaya, strawberries, melon, grapefruit, tangerines, mangoes and guava.
Some vegetables are potatoes with skin and raw spinach, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, Greens, which contain high amounts of vitamin c.
Apples, parsley, onions, tea, red wine, dark berries, cherries, citrus fruits and olive oil contain Quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant.
Quercetin is anti-inflammatory and acts as an antihistamine in the body that inhibit cells by the release of histamine. There is still no scientific evidence, the Quercetin can help to reduce symptoms of asthma, but it is being studied for the treatment of asthma.
Steve is a non-medical practitioner, researcher, author and health consultant. Discover helpful information about herbs, vitamins, drug interactions, parasites and more at: http://homeremedies1.com/
Effective Methods To Treat Your Asthma
Asthma can restrict your daily activities. It can also threat your life if you don't know how to control it. In this article, you will see some effective steps to keep your asthma under control. Follow these steps below to get your better life without asthma.
1. Use de-humidifier in your house
It's very important for you to use de-humidifier in your house to keep your house dry. Humid and moist air in your house can trigger your asthma attack. By using de-humidifier in your house, you will also prevent the mold to grow in your house. As you know, mold is also one of the common triggers for asthma.
2. Bring your medications along with you
You should always bring your medications with you because asthma attack can occur anytime in your life. Visit your doctor to discuss about the best medications for treating your asthma. Your doctor will give you better information about the medication and how to use it effectively. Make sure to get quick-relief drug, such as corticosteroids, from your doctor. You can also bring your inhaler to treat your asthma attack. Other drugs that can help you to treat your asthma are aspirin and other NSAIDs.
3. Cover your mouth and nose when you go outside
You should cover your nose and mouth with mask or scarf to prevent any dust to come to your nasal system. Dust is one of the most common asthma triggers. In colder months, the scarf or mask that you use protects you from getting cold air from the environment. Cold air can actually trigger severe asthma attack. By covering your nose and mouth, you can avoid asthma attack during cold months.
4. Visit your doctor regularly
You have to visit your doctor more often to check your asthma condition. By doing so, you can prevent severe asthma attack in the future. Your doctor needs to evaluate your asthma condition before he gives you the right medicine for treating your asthma.
5. Get flu vaccination
If you have asthma problem, it very important to prevent any respiratory infections, such as cough, flu, or cold, because those infections can trigger severe asthma attack. Talk to your doctor to get a flu vaccination at least once a year.
You can use those simple tips to handle your asthma. There are actually many other treatments that you can use to treat your asthma. Always consult with your allergy doctor if you want to use new treatments to manage your asthma.
Those simple tips above are really helpful for you to control your asthma. Come to our site if you want to learn more about some effective home remedies for asthma.
Asthma During Pregnancy Does Not Have To Be A Problem For Your Baby
Why Is Asthma Dangerous?
Asthma is a condition where the air passages of the lungs are sensitive to certain allergens and become irritable and swollen. During pregnancy, this can be a dangerous situation. If this condition is not diagnosed and managed correctly, it can endanger the health of mother and child.
The major symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Getting a handle on the symptoms is difficult since the severity of the attacks are different with every case.
How To Avoid Potential Complications
Birth complications come in many forms. While some mothers worry about taking additional medications during the prenatal period, it is the adverse effects from a lack of oxygen that is the greatest threat to the baby. This deprivation of oxygen can lead to cerebral palsy, low birth weight or premature birth. Blood pressure changes, or pre-eclampsia, can also present themselves in the mother, and these can be life-threatening.
But with proper medical care, complications such as these can be avoided.
Diagnosis and Treatment
An expecting mother with asthma should be on a long term treatment plan and this will depend on the severity of the symptoms. After a doctor takes a complete history and physical exam, he or she will have a good idea of what is causing the attacks and plan a course of action.
The final product will be an asthma management plan that will show triggers, medications and emergency contacts. This involves identifying the symptoms of asthma, avoiding allergens that trigger attacks, and starting a medical treatment plan to prevent and treat symptoms.
Triggers To Avoid
An expecting mother should know her triggers and how to avoid them.The best policy is to avoid all known allergens, such as pollen, dust, and animal dander. The immediate environment should be clear of mold, mites, and animal dander. Strong chemicals have also been proven to be hazardous to the health of expecting mothers with respiratory issues so a chemical-free environment is best.
Monitoring A Baby's Condition
Asthma during pregnancy must be monitored extremely closely because the unborn child is extremely vulnerable in the development of the womb. If the mother has an attack without proper response time and treatment, there is a high potential for complications. It is always best for an expecting mother to document her experiences and share them with her practitioner.
If you are asthmatic and become pregnant, your doctor will create an action plan to accommodate your baby. If there is any change in your condition, you should be monitored more closely.
Thankfully, there should be no fear in becoming pregnant if you have this respiratory condition. Carefully consider how well your asthma is managed. If it is well controlled, you have the green light to expand your family. If it is not properly managed, work with your doctor to ensure a healthy and successful nine months.
Lynn Versailles is a registered nurse and a life-long sufferer of asthma. Through years of research and life experiences, she shares her knowledge on how to properly manage asthma on http://www.safetreatmentsforasthma.com/. To learn more, download The Ultimate Asthma Management Guide. It is a free online guide on medical treatments and natural remedies to help you to properly manage this illness.