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AsthmaOverview of Asthma Asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs (bronchioles). Asthma is caused by chronic (ongoing, long-term) inflammation of these passages. This makes the breathing passages, or airways, of the person with asthma highly sensitive to various "triggers." When the inflammation is "triggered" by any number of external and internal factors, the passages swell and fill with mucus. Muscles within the breathing passages contract (bronchospasm), causing even further narrowing of the airways. This narrowing makes it difficult for air to be breathed out (exhaled) from the lungs. This resistance to exhaling leads to the typical symptoms of an asthma attack. Because asthma causes resistance, or obstruction, to exhaled air, it is called an obstructive lung disease. The medical term for such lung conditions is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. COPD is actually a group of diseases that includes not only asthma, but also chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Like any other chronic disease, asthma is a condition you live with every day of your life. You can have an attack any time you are exposed to one of your triggers. Unlike other chronic obstructive lung diseases, asthma is reversible. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. You have a better chance of controlling your asthma if it is diagnosed early and treatment begun right away. With proper treatment, people with asthma can have fewer and less severe attacks. Without treatment, they will have more frequent and more severe asthma attacks and can even die. Asthma is on the rise in many developed countries. We are not sure exactly why this is, but these factors may contribute.
Asthma is a very common disease in the United States, where more than 17 million people are affected. A third of these are children. In 2002, 478,000 hospitalizations and 4,657 deaths were attributed to asthma. Asthma affects all races and is slightly more common in African Americans than in other races. Asthma affects all ages, although it is more common in younger people. The frequency and severity of asthma attacks tend to decrease as a person ages. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of children. Asthma has many costs to society as well as to the individual affected. Many people are forced to make compromises in their lifestyle to accommodate their disease. Asthma a is a major cause of work and school absence and lost productivity. Asthma is one of the most common reasons for emergency department visits and hospitalization. Asthma costs the US economy nearly \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$13 billion each year. The good news for people with asthma is that you can live your life to the fullest. Current treatments for asthma, if followed closely, allow most people with asthma to limit the number of attacks they have. With the help of your health care provider, you can take control of your care and your life. Causes of Asthma: We do not know exactly what causes asthma. What all people with asthma have in common is chronic airway inflammation and excessive airway sensitivity to various triggers. Research has focused on why some people develop asthma while others do not. Some people are born with the tendency to have asthma, while others are not. Scientists are trying to find the genes that cause this tendency. The environment you live in and the way you live partly determine whether you have asthma attacks. An asthma attack is a reaction to a trigger. It is similar in many ways to an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction is a response by the body's immune system to an "invader." When the cells of the immune system sense an invader, they set off a series of reactions that help fight off the invader. It is this series of reactions that causes the production of mucus and bronchospasms. These responses cause the symptoms of as asthma attack. In asthma the "invaders" are the triggers listed below. Triggers vary by the individual. Because asthma is a type of allergic reaction, it is sometimes called reactive airway disease. Each person with asthma has his or her own unique set of triggers. Most triggers cause attacks in some people with asthma and not in others. Common triggers of Asthma attacks are the following:
Risk factors for developing Asthma:
Symptoms of Asthma: When the breathing passages become irritated or infected, an attack is triggered. The attack may come on suddenly or slowly over several days or hours. The main symptoms that signal an attack are as follows:
Symptoms may occur during the day or at night. If they happen at night, they may disturb your sleep. Wheezing is the most common symptom of an asthma attack. Wheezing is a musical, whistling, or hissing sound with breathing. Wheezes are most often heard during exhalation, but they can occur during breathing in (inhaling). Not all asthmatics wheeze, and not all people who wheeze are asthmaatics. Current guidelines for the care of people with Asthma include classifying the severity of Asthma symptoms, as follows:
Treatments for Asthma: Since asthma is a chronic disease, treatment goes on for a very long time. Some people have to stay on treatment for the rest of their lives. The best way to improve your condition and live your life on your terms is to learn all you can about your asthma and what you can do to make it better.
These are the goals of treatment:
Self Care at home: Current treatment regimens are designed to minimize discomfort, inconvenience, and the extent to which you have to limit your activities. If you follow your treatment plan closely, you should be able to avoid or reduce your visits to your health care provider or the emergency department. Know your triggers and do what you can to avoid them. If you smoke, quit. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can cause asthma to worsen in certain individuals. These medications should not be taken without the advice of your health care provider. Do not use non prescription inhalers. These contain very short-acting drugs that may not last long enough to relieve an asthma attack and may cause unwanted side effects. Take only the medications your health care provider has prescribed for your asthma. Take them as directed. Do not take any nonprescription preparations, herbs, or dietary supplements, even if they are completely "natural," without talking to your health care provider first. Some of these may have unwanted side effects or interfere with your medications. If the medication is not working, do not take more than you have been directed to take. Overusing asthma medications can be dangerous. Be prepared to go on to the next step of your action plan if necessary. If you think your medication is not working, let your health care provider know right away. Alternative therapies can sometimes help the sufferer. Yoga and other forms of gentle exercise can improve posture and help to open the lungs. Aromatherapy can help the asthma sufferer in a variety of ways. Massage of the sufferers back and chest with essential oils diluted in carrier oil can sometimes relieve the symptoms. During an actual crisis inhaling anti-spasmodic oil can sometimes be a help. A few drops on a handkerchief is a good way of inhaling the oil. A humidifier with a few drops of essential oil can help to create moisture which in turn can help the sufferer. The choice of oils can vary depending on what are the many factors. Is infection present? Chamomile Roman
Is the Asthma attack caused by stress or anxiety? Bergamot, Chamomile Roman, Clary Sage, Lavender, Neroli, Rose Is there congestion present? Frankincense For childhood Asthma the attacks can be very frightening and aromatherapy treatment can sometimes help to reduce the anxiety of the child. For children age 1-5 years blend 1 drop Lavender essential oil and 1 drop Chamomile Roman in 10ml of carrier oil. Rub the oil gently round the back and chest of the child. For children age 6-12 years blend 1 drop Cypress essential oil, 1 drop Frankincense essential oil and 1 drop Chamomile Roman essential oil in 10ml of carrier oil. Rub the oil gently round the back and chest of the child. |
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