The Asthma Epidemic (Do you know the facts?)

Asthma was first recognized and named by Hippocrates circa 450 BC

You probably wonder why I am talking about Asthma in this blog post – well the reason is very simple. My Daughter who is now 31years old is a chronic asthmatic. From the day she was born, she had Asthma. Now you say, they cannot diagnose it that early, well to tell you the truth with her you could! She was VERY bad as a baby, child, teenager and to this day – and I nearly lost her twice! Over the years Asthma management became a big part of my life and at one stage I was head of a support group in my area for sufferers and their families. Also being in a Social Worker for well over 25 years, I came in contact with hundreds of kiddies and adults with the disease.

I have always wanted to take it a bit further, and Da, Da – today from this blog I launch a new ASTHMA BLOG!! http://bestasthmainfo.com (this one will still continue don’t worry)

Now for those of you who don’t know the facts about Asthma I have written a little blurb below.

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs (alveoli) or the lung tissue (the parenchyma of the lung) itself. Asthma is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult for nearly 23 million Americans, including 7 million children plus it is common in industrialized nations such as Canada, England, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand, 1 or 2 kids out of 10 are affected.

Asthma attacks can last minutes to days and can become dangerous if airflow to the lungs becomes severely restricted. Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the airways in the lungs and by the spasm of muscles surrounding these airways, these attacks may occur at anytime, but there are risk factors that can trigger an attack.

Asthma can’t be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled, causes can be different in each case, and therefore individualized therapy is wise and in fact I would state PARAMOUNT. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood however, one must realize they can happen for the first time at any age.

Asthma and allergies are the most common chronic childhood diseases, characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. Symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe and often runs in families meaning you can inherit the tendency to get inflamed airways.

One thing that Asthmatics should do is limit time spent outdoors on high ozone days.

Symptoms of an asthma attack can include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Symptoms range from mild to moderate to severe and can be life-threatening.

Treatment

Treatments, along with removing triggers, aim to restore normal activities of daily living by reducing the frequency, severity, and length of your asthma attacks.

Lung

Lung function tests and skin tests can help to confirm the disease.

Attacks can be triggered by stress, anxiety, cold air, smoke, or a virus. Attacks are caused by the airways over-reacting to certain environmental factors, and can be only occasional or frequent.

Medications

Medications that provide long-term relief include corticosteroids, beta agonists, leukotriene modifiers, Cromolyn, and Nedocromil.  Medications can reduce the symptoms of asthma a great deal, but may not be able to eliminate coughing fully.

Allergy

Allergy plays a key role in about half of all asthma cases.

Breathing

Breathing becomes harder and may hurt, and there may be coughing.

Severe

Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care as they can cause death.

Inhaler

Inhalers (sometimes called “puffers”) contain a gas that propels the correct dose of medicine either when the top is pressed down or on inhalation (some inhalers may be dry powder inhalers).

Allergens

Allergens also may originate from food and food additives and pollens.

Research

Researchers are beginning to see that exposure to certain irritants when you are very young may play a role in the development of asthma. Researchers have also found a link between asthma and obesity.

Exposure

Exposure to irritants, certain chemicals, or substances in your workplace may increase your chances of developing occupational asthma.

Asthma cannot be cured, but appropriate management can control the disorder and enable people to enjoy a good quality of life. Asthma is classified as:

Mild intermittent: Having mild symptoms up to 2 days a week and 2 nights a month.

Mild persistent: Having symptoms more than 2 days a week but not more than one time in a single day.

Moderate persistent: Having symptoms once a day and more than one night per week.

Severe persistent: Having symptoms throughout the day on most days and often at night.

I invite you to go to my new blog on Asthma and take a look, you will find so much information there, plus a store where you can INVEST in YOUR HEALTH or the HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY.

That URL again: http://bestasthmainfo.com

Until Next time

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