Asthma - What Is It?

Asthma is a long-term respiratory condition in which airways become constricted, the lining of the lungs swell and produce excess mucus. Characterized by wheezing, chest constriction, coughing and the discharge of phlegm, asthma affects up to seven percent of the population and is often a response to allergens, cold air, exercise or emotional distress.

Asthma can be a chronic condition and while people of all ages can be afflicted, almost half are children, and more often, boys than girls. In adults, more women than men suffer from asthma.

Smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight, a lack of exposure to infection in early life are all factors that are believed to play a role for those predisposed as may living environs. A house with few or no drafts may contain a higher concentration of dust mites and cooking gases which may be environmental triggers.

What Are Asthma Symptoms?

Asthma may be triggered by external or environmental agents. Irritants in the atmosphere that are breathed in (smog day) can trigger an asthma attack. In acquiring asthma, sufferers are seen as having a predispostion to the condition which may not reveal itself until exposed to an asthma irritant.

Asthma triggers are typically divided into two groups: non-specific factors and specific factors.

Non-specific asthma factors include general irritants such as over-exertion, cold, smoke, pollution or environmental irritants and may include scents.

Specific asthma factors include irritants or allergens occcurring in the form of molds, animal fur or dander, pollen, dust and various food sources. Viruses or bacterias can also trigger an attack, as can chemical fumes or other irritants in the work or home environment.

Aspirin or NSAIDs may also cause or worsen an asthma attack in a minority of sufferers

What Are Asthma Treatments?

Asthma treatments should be physician perscribed. Basic asthma care consists of pharmaceuticals to aid in the relief of the inflammation of airways. Typically two groups of asthma medications exist: Bronchodiolators and anti-flammatories.

Bronchodilators stop asthma attacks once they have started and relax the muscles in the airways, thus allowing easier breathing. Bronchodilators provide short-term relief, are non-steriodal and anti-inflammatory. Bronchodilators should not be overused as they may actually worsen an asthma attack.

Anti-inflammatories help prevent an asthma attack before it starts by keeping the airways open. They also decrease mucus and reduce swelling in the lungs. Corticosteroids, as these anti-flammatories are known, must be regimened to be most effective, even when feeling well. Corticosteroids come in multiple forms including sprays, pills, liquids or injections.

Asthma Home Remedies

Home remedies more often than not aid in treating asthma symptoms versus the condition itself.

For lifestyle, while exercise may be a contributing or triggering asthma attack factor, yoga, hyponosis and relaxation techniques can aid stress-induced asthma both by lowering stress levels and in breathing exercises.

For allergy related asthma, acupuncture has been shown to be somewhat successful in the short term. Herbal remedies may include ginkgo bilboa for relief of symptoms.

Food based asthma home remedies include tumeric powder, popular in Indian cuisine and a natural anti-inflammatory with myriad healing attributes.

Mint is believed to help reduce phlegm production. Crushed and combined with ginger juice, it is helpful as a home remedy for treating bronchial asthma.

For garlic lovers, a variation on a theme is a couple of garlic cloves boiled in milk. For honey lovers asthma produced mucus may be alleviated. And for those with a penchant for ginger, its anti-inflammatory properties may help alleviate some asthma symptoms.

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