ASTHMA
Overview
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. Asthma causes recurring periods of, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning.
The cause of asthma is not known. Some develop asthma as young children; others develop it later in life. The reason is still unclear.
Research shows some indication that family history, obesity, viruses, or exposure to tobacco smoke, cockroaches or dust mites as a child might lead one to develop asthma. The cause of asthma, however, has still not been proven.
When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger), the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Sometimes sticky mucus or phlegm builds up which can further narrow the airways.
Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Management includes avoiding asthma triggers and tracking your symptoms. You may need to regularly take long-term control medications to prevent flare-ups and short-term "rescue" medications to control symptoms once they start. In most cases, we don't know what causes asthma, and we don't know how to cure it. We know that if someone in your family has asthma, you are also more likely to have it.
Sometimes symptoms are mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with an asthma medicine. At other times, symptoms continue to get worse. When symptoms get more intense and/or additional symptoms appear, this is an asthma attack. Asthma attacks also are called flare ups or exacerbations.
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It's important to treat symptoms when you first notice them. This will help prevent the symptoms from worsening and causing a severe asthma attack. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care, and they can cause death. Obesity
In both adults and children, the incidence of obesity and asthma has been increasing in parallel over recent years. Studies report a strong association between the two conditions. Some experts suggest that excess weight pressing on the lungs may trigger the hyperreactive response in the airways typical of asthma. Others believe that asthma leads to obesity by inhibiting physical activity, although studies in 2000 and 2001 found no difference in activity levels between people with or without asthma. There is some evidence that losing weight can relieve asthma symptoms. Weight loss in anyone who is obese and has asthma or shortness of breath reduces airway obstruction and improves lung function.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed?
Asthma is diagnosed based on a physical examination, personal history, and lung function tests. The physical examination looks for typical asthma symptoms such as wheezing or coughing, and the personal history provides additional clues such as allergies or a familial tendency towards asthma.
Some of the things your doctor will ask about include:
Periods of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness that come on suddenly or occur often or seem to happen during certain times of year or season
Colds that seem to "go to the chest" or take more than 10 days to get over
Medicines you may have used to help your breathing
Your family history of asthma and allergies
What things seem to cause asthma symptoms or make them worse.
You may need to see an asthma specialist if:
You need special tests to be sure you have asthma
You've had a life-threatening asthma attack
You need more than one kind of medicine or higher doses of medicine to control your asthma, or if you have overall difficulty getting your asthma well controlled
You're thinking about getting allergy treatments
Spirometry is a medical test that measures the breathing power of the lungs. This is another way for a health care provider to diagnose asthma. A piece of equipment called a spirometer is used. The patient takes a deep breath, exhales completely, and then breaths into the spirometer. The spirometer measures the amount of air a person can breathe and assists the health care provider to determine if the person has asthma.
Asthma Management Checklist
Asthma cannot be cured, it can only be controlled. So it is important to have an asthma control plan. First thing is finding good doctors. It is a known fact that fifty percentages of the doctors are just incompetent. So find a good one, ask people who have asthma. Probably they may be able to suggest a good one. With the help of the doctor create a plan . The plan should include list of triggers, the symptoms and how to avoid triggers. Then create a to do list if the symptoms occur. The names and doses of medication. Keep with you a list of emergency telephone numbers. Keep a list of emergency care providers in your locality.
Identify Triggers
Triggers can irritate the airways and flare up asthama . Some of the common triggers include allergens, animal fur and saliva , pollens and grasses , some foods , medication and cockroaches .If you or your children have asthma it is better to get rid of things that can invite dust mites, like carpets . Also it will a good idea to get rid of your pets for the sake of your health. Irritants includes smoke , air freshners, aerosols, perfumes , hair spray and fumes. If you have viral infections or common cold get it treated immediately.
Knowing it early
Especially in kids breathing may sound normal and wheeze free when their airways are actually narrowing and becoming inflamed. If you are some one who experience asthma attacks frequently , it is a good idea to have a peak flow meter at home . It is a hand held tool that measures breathing ability. When the peak flow readings drops, it is a sign of increased inflammation. This will help you prepare in advance.
Follow your doctor’s advise
Follow your doctors advice in treating the asthma with medication. There are two types of asthma medication , rescue medication and controller medication . Asthma medications treat both symptoms and causes , so they usually control asthma effectively . Get a step by step written plan from your doctor to manage your asthma. Collect all the information about Asthama through support groups , books internet etc . That will help you increase your awareness.
How is Asthma Treated?
Always consult a doctor for Asthma treatment. Never try to treat Asthma by yourself reading medical journals or information you gathered from internet.
Most asthma drugs are inhaled using various forms of inhalers or nebulizers. Inhaled agents must be used regularly as prescribed and the patient carefully trained in their use in order for them to be effective and safe. The basic devices are the metered-dose inhaler (MDI), breath-actuated inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and nebulizers.
Inhalers and nebulizers for the treatment of respiratory diseases:
Several types of inhalation devices are used in the treatment of asthma or other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as emphysema. Inhalers are often effective in delivering medication directly to the lungs with less side effects than medication taken by mouth or injection. There are several types of inhalation devices. The type of inhalation device will vary, depending on your medical history, preference, and severity and frequency of the symptoms. Inhalers can contain anti-inflammatory medications or bronchodilator medications. The most common types of inhalation devices are:
metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
The most common type of inhaler, the metered-dose inhaler, in most cases, uses a chemical propellant (chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs) to emit the medication out of the inhaler. There are now some MDIs that do not use CFCs to propel the medication. Many new types of delivery systems are being developed.
A metered-dose inhaler is held in front of or inserted into the mouth as the medication is released in puffs. Consult your physician for specific instructions on how to properly use a metered-dose inhaler.
Nebulizer
A nebulizer is a type of inhaler that sprays a fine, liquid mist of medication. This is done through a mask, using oxygen or air under pressure, or by using an ultrasonic machine (often used by persons who cannot use a metered-dose inhaler, such as infants and young children, and persons with severe asthma). A mouth piece is connected to a machine via plastic tubing to deliver medication to the patient. Consult your physician for specific instructions on how to properly use a nebulizer.
dry powder or rotary inhaler
A breath-activated, non-pressurized dry powder inhaler that may be used for children and adults, this type of inhaler does not use chlorofluorcarbon (CFC) to propel the medication out of the device. Consult your physician for specific instructions on how to properly use a dry powder or rotary inhaler.
How is asthma treated in the emergency room?
If you experience acute symptoms of asthma attack you may require emergency treatment . If you are having symptoms like strong wheezing , coughing , shortness of breath or turning blue you need emergency care . If you are prepared to treat an asthma flare early at home with a nebulizer and possibly oral corticosteroids as directed by your asthma specialist, you may never need an emergency room. Asthma usually get out of control when you don’t follow doctors instructions at the initial stage . You may experience severe flares due to respiratory infections , exposure to certain medication or exposure to pollution or allergens and stress.
Before you head for the emergency care , ensure that you take your medication with you . (e.g. nebulizer treatment and/or oral corticosteroids). If you have an EpiPen®, take it with you as a back up while on route to the ER . These medication will be helpful until you get specialist medical care. If you have stopped breathing during transit , it may already have caused irreversible damage due to lack of oxygen, Your Asthma management plan should include, keeping a list of doctors or emergency care providers with you always. In the emergency room you are most likely to be given oxygen , another nebulizer treatment and possibly. possibly IV corticosteroids. Occasionally the doctor may give you epinephrine injections. Usually you will receive 1 - 3 treatments of a nebulized bronchodilator, improve and go home . If you don’t show improvement, may require hospitalization.
Other Treatments
Relaxation and Stress-Reduction Techniques.
Patients report benefits from many stress reduction techniques, such as acupuncture, hypnosis, breathing relaxation techniques, massage therapy, and meditation practices.
The Buteyko Breathing Method.
The Buteyko breathing method is an experimental approach designed to increase levels of carbon dioxide in the body. To do this, patients are trained to reduce their volume of breath and to avoid hyperventilation (over-breathing). Some studies are reporting that patients use this method reduce their use of medications and improve their quality of life.
Bathini Fish Medicine Treatment
Continuing a family practice of 156 years, the five Goud brothers from Hydrabad , India ,offer this medicine free of cost, its secret formula known only to them. The medicine is prepared at Doodhbowli, 2 km from the historic Charminar in Hyderabad, and distributed at the Exhibition Grounds there. Legend has it that the formula of some miraculous herbs was passed on to Veeranna Goud by a holy man way back in 1845. The practice has flowed down in the family since then.
Bathini Fish Medicine is given on Mrigasira Karti nakshetra. At first the medicine is kept in the mouth of a live sardine fish, 2 to 3 inches in size, and the same is slipped into the mouth of the patient. The fish is slippery, so it causes no problem in swallowing. The live fish travels wagging its tail and fins through the throat and negotiates the phlegmatic congestion, curing hundred per cent.
Three doses of the extra medicine are provided to the patients, to be taken on three successive Karthis -- Arudra Karthi, Punnarvasu Karti and Pushymi Karti -- which fall every fifteen days. After taking Bathini Fish Medicine, the patient is put under strict diet control for 45 days.
The medicine has been found quite effective in providing complete cure, if taken by a patient for three consecutive years.
The Venue Exhibition Grounds, Nampally, Near Hyderabad Railway Station - (A.P.)
The Fish at the Venue is supplied by Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh - at the rate of Rs.5/- per fish. 24 sales counters will be opened at the Exhibition grounds and apart from 16 others outside the grounds.The counters will be open from 8am.For further assistance call on 3376251/3326233/3376255.
To Reach the Venue Distance calculated :
From Hyderabad Airport Just 6 kms.
From Hyderbad Railway Station Walkable distance
From Secunderabad Railway Station Just 6 kms. by bus nos.8, 7, 20, 40N
From Jubilee Bus Station Just 8 kms. by bus nos.8, 7, 40N
From Hyderabad Bus Station Just 3-4 kms. by the above mentioned bus nos. It is walkable distance from Afzalgunj
From Koti Just 2-3 kms. Many buses are available.
SOME DOCTORS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DOUBTS ABOUT THIS TREATMENT. Our enquiries proved that no one ever complained that this treatment has worsened their Asthma . But some have complained that it did not cure Asthma permanently.
Before you take this treatment consult those who have already taken the treatment. HumbleTom.com is not suggesting any treatment and this article is for information purpose only
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