ASTHMA
What is asthma? What are the
asthma symptoms? What are asthma causes? How can I prevent and
cure asthma?
Asthma is a condition that affects the small tubes that carry air in and
out of the lungs known as the airways. As you undergo what is called asthma trigger getting contact with something that irritates your
airways your airways will narrow, causing you to have breathing problem.
This is because as the muscles around your airway tightens, your airway
lining becomes inflamed. The mucus that cleans and protects your airway
lining will then build up, getting in the way of the air you have inhaled
on its way to your lungs. Although problems are more often separated by symptom-free periods, asthma
is a chronic illness. (Common symptoms of having asthma are
persistent coughing or wheezing particularly during bedtime, tired
feeling, difficulty in breathing, and having tight feeling in the chest).
There are many causes of asthma. Oftentimes, it is a family inheritance,
say one or both of the parents have allergic condition such as asthma,
their child is more likely to develop asthma. People of any age may suffer
from asthma, but more than half the case are found in children in between
the ages 2 to 17. The most common triggers are allergens, aspirin,
irritants, viral respiratory infections and physical exertion. Allergens
are substances to which susceptible individuals may become allergic. They
are major source of problems in children and adults. Common allergens
include plant pollen, animal dander, house dust mites, molds and certain
foods. Although there is no cure, many excellent treatment options are available
to control and reverse this chronic obstruction of the airways.
What to do if you have asthma
If you suspect that you may have asthma, it
is important to see your doctor. Your doctor will discuss your medical
history and your current symptoms. He may measure your peak flow using a
peak flow meter. A peak flow meter is a small hand device with a
marker that slides up and down as you blow into it. The marker of the
device will stop at the point when you flow the hardest. Each time the
meter is used, the result will be marked on the chart. It can help along
with keeping a record of your symptoms to give the doctor a better picture
of how well controlled your asthma is. the doctor may decide to give you
your own peak flow meter on prescription and ask you to keep a diary
before seeing him again.
Asthma from Mold
Patients may find their condition triggered or worsened by several factors, which can be allergic
or non-allergic in nature. Allergic asthma means that asthma symptoms become
more intense, perhaps even result in an "asthma attack," when
the individual is exposed to allergens to which their immune system is
sensitive. The inflamed airways of asthmatics are sometimes described as
"twitchy", and inhaling pollens, molds, animal dander or other
allergens can cause the airways to become even more inflamed, produce
mucus and constrict. Most asthma in children is allergic in nature.
With
non-allergic asthma, sufferers' symptoms
worsen when they are around certain irritants, such as viruses, weather
changes, air pollution, strong odors, anxiety, or other triggers seasonal
allergies. Those
irritants do not cause a reaction in the immune system as allergens do.
Still they can exacerbate symptoms for asthmatics. Courtesy of the
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology [U.S.A. Today,
"All About Allergies and Asthma," March 16,2001]
Since one of the most common cores of asthma allergies
are caused by
fungal infections, as
well as polyps, reflux disease and bacteria,
you have to make sure that your home and real estate
is free from molds and mildew, which later may develop
into molds, and prevent any of their future growth.
|
