The
Sidman Institute, Inc.
Featuring
The Sidman Solution®
Implementing Positive Changes Through The Subconscious Mind
|
Implementing Positive Changes Through The Subconscious Mind |
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease of the bronchial tubes, or airways of the lungs, characterized by tightening of the airways, decreasing the flow of oxygen to the body. There are three major features of asthma, obstruction of the airway, inflammation, and airway irritability. During normal breathing, the bands of muscle surrounding the airways are relaxed, with air moving freely. But in people with asthma, allergy-causing substances and environmental triggers make the bands of muscle surrounding the airways constrict, decreasing the low of air. Less air causes a person to feel short of breath, and the air moving through the tightened airways causing wheezing. Fortunately, this airway constriction is reversible, a feature that distinguishes asthma from other lung diseases such as bronchitis or emphysema. People with asthma have red and swollen bronchial tubes, with the inflammation contributing greatly to long-term lung damage. Treating the inflammation is the key to managing asthma in the long run. The airways of people with asthma are extremely sensitive, overreacting and narrowing, to even the slightest triggers such as pollen, animal dander, dust or fumes. Asthma affects 12-15 million Americans, including approximately 10%-12% of children under age 18. Asthma may occur at any age, although it's more common in younger individuals (under age 40). People who have a family history of asthma have an increased risk of developing the disease. Asthma is also more common in people who have allergies or who are exposed to tobacco smoke. Anyone can develop asthma at any time. People with asthma have very sensitive airways that react to many different things in the environment called "triggers." Contact with these triggers cause asthma symptoms to start or worsen. The following are common triggers for asthma:
People with asthma experience symptoms when their airways tighten or fill with mucus. These symptoms include, coughing, especially at night, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, and pain or pressure. Not every person with asthma has the same symptoms in the same way. You may not have all of these symptoms, or you may have different symptoms at different times, and your symptoms may also vary from one asthma attack to the next. An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of your symptoms. People with asthma can take an active role in controlling their disease by identifying and reducing exposure to those factors that increase symptoms or cause asthma attacks. For example, if allergies trigger your asthma, being aware of those allergies and avoiding them, may reduce the frequency or severity of your asthma attacks. Cold and flu, bronchitis (infection of the large airways), or sinus infections are the most common cause of asthma attacks. Eighty percent of people with asthma have allergies to airborne substances such as tree, grass and weed pollens, mold, animal dander, dust mites and cockroach particles. Many people with asthma are sensitive to aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), ketoprofen (Orudis) and beta-blockers (used to treat migraine headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure and glaucoma. Certain foods contain substances that can trigger asthma symptoms. Strenuous exercise can cause a narrowing of the airways in about 80% of people with asthma. Many irritants, including tobacco smoke, smoke from wood-burning appliances or fireplaces, strong odors from perfumes, and cleaning agents, etc., are all irritants that can trigger asthma. In addition, air pollution, occupational dust or vapors can also trigger an attack. Weather. cold air, changes in temperature and humidity can
cause asthma. In people with asthma, the airways are always inflamed and very sensitive, so they react to a variety of external factors, or "triggers." Coming into contact with these triggers is what causes the airways to tighten, increase inflammation and become blocked with mucus, resulting in breathing problems, asthma, or worsening of asthma. An asthma attack can begin immediately after exposure to a trigger or several days or even weeks later. There are many kinds of triggers. Reactions to them are different for each person and vary from time to time. Certain triggers may be harmless to some people but contribute to inflammation in others. Some people have many triggers while others have no identifiable ones. Determining what factors were present when your asthma symptoms started, is the first step in recognizing your asthma triggers. Many asthma triggers can be identified through a history of reaction and skin or blood testing. A device called a peak flow meter, measures how much, and how quickly, air is exhaled from the lungs, alerting you to changes in your breathing and the onset of asthma symptoms. Asthma treatment primarily focuses on medications that control inflammation, preventing chronic symptoms such as coughing or breathlessness, and preventing asthma attacks on an ongoing basis. Steroids are an important type of anti-inflammatory medication for people suffering from asthma, reducing swelling and mucus production in the airways, and relaxing the muscle bands that tighten and constrict the airways. As a result, breathing improves, and mucus moves more freely and can be coughed out more easily. Successful treatment should allow you to live an active and normal life. If your asthma symptoms are not in good control, you should contact your doctor for advice. Long-term control of your asthma, requires, behavioral modification, and taking medications daily, over an extended period of time. The most effective long-term control medications are those that stop airway inflammation (anti-inflammatory drugs), but there are others that are often used along with anti-inflammatory drugs to enhance their effect. These long term medications include, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers(anti-inflammatory drugs), bronchodilators, Theophylline, and Leukotriene modifiers (an alternative to steroids and mast cell stabilizers). Quick relief medications stop the asthma attack, providing prompt relief of asthma attack symptoms. They include, short acting beta-agonists, aticholinergics, and systemic corticosteroids. Asthma medications can be either inhaled using a metered dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler, or a nebulizer or taken orally, either in pill or liquid form. Some asthma medications can be taken together. There are some inhalers that contain a combination of two different medications. These devices allow both medications to be delivered from one device, shortening treatment times and decreasing the number of inhalers needed to treat asthma symptoms. The most common over-the-counter asthma medications are Primatene Mist and Bronkaid. They both contain the drug epinephrine, which works like a bronchodilator, relaxing the muscles around the airways. They provide short-term relief (20-30 minutes), but do not control asthma symptoms or prevent asthma attacks. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, or heart disease should NOT take Primatene Mist or Bronkaid. Unfortunately, many people misuse or overuse these medications. They are not meant for long-term use, yet some people use them every day to relieve asthma symptoms. Because they do not control asthma, people who take them may not be receiving proper treatment of their asthma. Proper control of your asthma requires the development and implementation of an action plan. This plan is designed so you achieve the best possible asthma control. Make sure you understand and follow your plan. Some of the basic elements of your plan should be:
There are alternative and complementary therapies, that have demonstrated varying degrees of success in the treatment of asthma. Alternative treatments are often used alone, while complementary treatments are used in combination with traditional medically supervised treatments. Among these alternative and complimentary therapies are:
The Sidman Solution, has brought relief to many asthma sufferers. Contact Us Today to see how we can help you cope with your asthma symptoms!
|
|
|