Can You Get Asthma If You Never Had It

Vaping And Lung Damage

• Talk with your teen about the dangers of vaping.
• Vaping can cause severe lung damage. It can become permanent.
• Vaping can even cause death .
• Vaping tobacco also causes nicotine addiction.
• For these reasons, the legal age to purchase vaping products is 21 in the US.
• Encourage your teen to not start vaping or to give it up.
• Warning: home-made or street-purchased vaping solutions are the most dangerous.

Does Honey Treatment Help In Improving Sleep With Asthma

Coughing is one of the symptoms of nocturnal asthma, which can be reduced by taking two teaspoons of honey with warm water or cinnamon before you go to bed. Honey can increase saliva production, which can ease your cough by lubricating your airways and reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes that causes breathing difficulty.

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Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Don’t have written asthma action plan from your doctor
• Use an inhaler, but don’t have a spacer
• Miss more than 1 day of school per month for asthma
• Asthma limits exercise or sports
• Asthma attacks wake child up from sleep
• Use more than 1 inhaler per month
• No asthma check-up in more than 1 year
• You have other questions or concerns

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Is It Possible To Outgrow Asthma

The answer is a complicated yes, and no.

First, outgrowing ones asthma is entirely dependent on age. A patient exhibiting symptoms must be very young, such as in their infancy, notes the AAAAI. Children at this age rarely have full-blown asthma, but rather wheezing and viral respiratory conditions.

This may raise the question of whether these children were ever experiencing asthma in the first place. This especially becomes something worth thinking about when you consider that the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or ACAAI says that outgrowing ones asthma is impossible.

According to the ACAAI, its possible to get complacent with a childhood case of asthma because symptoms may manifest less often during a childs developing years. The ACAAI cautions against believing that the case of asthma is gone completely, though. They add that symptoms can and do persist into adulthood.

Even if these patients do outgrow their asthmatic symptoms, that doesnt mean the damage asthma causes disappears. Another AAAAI article from 2013 notes that these children will always have a different lung structure as well as decreased lung function compared to those who never had asthma.

Asthma Is A Complex Condition

Occasionally, people with asthma experience what are known as silent symptoms. This is where the signs of the tightening of the airways dont result in the familiar asthma sounds of wheezing and coughing. If you or someone you live with, work with, or care for experiences silent symptoms, it is important they consult a doctor for an ongoing Asthma Action Plan. People around the person with asthmasuch as co-workers, school teachers or daycare educators should know about the silent symptoms so they can respond if needed. Asthma can start at any age, and can be more of a problem when it starts in older adults. Dont assume if you never had asthma as a child that its not possible to develop symptoms now. Being breathless is not a normal part of getting older, it should always be checked out by a doctor.

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How Do You Get Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease caused by inflammation of the airways. Common symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Asthma is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Although you cannot control your genetic makeup, you can control some of the environmental factors that may cause you to develop asthma.

Asthma triggers include:

• Workplace exposures
• Obesity

Medical studies on the prevalence of asthma have identified some interesting patterns. The strongest risk factor for developing asthma is a history of atopic disease . This increases the risk of both hay fever and asthma.

In children between 3-14, a positive skin test for allergies and an increase in immunoglobulin E increases the chance of having asthma. In adults, the more allergens reacted to during a skin test, the higher the odds of having asthma.

Other patterns that increase the risk of developing asthma include:

• Maternal smoking during and after pregnancy
• Antibiotic use early in life
• Presence of cockroaches in the home

You might be wondering about the reference above to obesity. It is thought that respiratory function decreases due to the buildup of adipose tissue and the fact that fat supports the development of inflammation in the body.7 A study in Taiwan actually correlated asthma symptoms with each 20% increase in body mass index . This should encourage all of us to maintain a healthy weight!

Use A Peak Flow Meter

A peak flow meter is an inexpensive handheld gadget. You use it to measure how fast air comes out when you exhale hard after a full breath in. This number is called a peak expiratory flow .

Your doctor may want you to use a peak flow meter to help you recognize signs of trouble. Many asthma symptoms result from not being able to move air out of your lungs. If your PEF goes down, thats a sign that your asthma is getting worse and that you need to do something.

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How To Use An Mdi Inhaler Without A Spacer

Take off the mouthpiece cover, then:

• Shake it for 5 seconds.
• Hold the inhaler up with your index finger on top and your thumb underneath to support it. Use the other hand to hold the spacer if you need to.
• Breathe out.
• Put the mouthpiece between your teeth, and close your lips tightly around it.
• You can also hold the mouthpiece about the width of two fingers away from your mouth.
• Press the top down, and breathe in until your lungs fill completely about 4-6 seconds.
• Hold the medicine in your lungs as long as you can , then breathe out.
• If you donât get enough air in the first breath, wait 15-30 seconds and try again. Shake the canister again before the next puff.
• Recap the mouthpiece.
• If your medicine has a steroid in it, rinse your mouth and gargle with water after you use the inhaler. Spit out the water.

What Is Airway Inflammation

Inflammation is the root of the problem in asthma.3 Even when you are not experiencing asthma symptoms, your airways can still be inflamed.6 Inflammation leads to:3

• Airway sensitivity
• Limited airflow

Inflammation makes the airways very sensitive to allergens, mold, chemicals, cold air, and viruses.4 The airways react to these triggers by becoming narrow, which makes it difficult for you to breathe out.3

Inflammation, sensitivity, and obstruction can interact in different ways, meaning that everyones asthma is a little different.3 A person with asthma can have some or all of the typical symptoms. Asthma can be mild, moderate, or severe. Certain medications work better for some people than others.

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The Basics Of Diagnosing Asthma

Your doctor will probably start your examination by delving into your past medical history and asking whether any of your relatives have allergies or asthma. You’ll also be asked to describe your symptoms, their severity, and what, if anything, is triggering them.

Triggers could include cold air, dust, hairsprays, perfumes, household cleaner vapors, cigarette or cigar smoke, and air pollution, Asciuto says.

Doctors also try to narrow down the list of culprits by asking these additional questions:

• Is your cough worse at night?
• Do you have more symptoms when youre at home or at work?
• Do you have other health problems that could be causing these symptoms, such as a sinus infection or acid reflux?

Next, your doctor will listen to your breathing with a stethoscope and may order one or more of these diagnostic tests:

Its also important to note that you can have asthma without experiencing any of the hallmark symptoms. There’s no single patient profile for asthma, says Dr. Fineman. “Some will have more coughing, some more wheezing, and some have more problems breathing with exercise, he says.

What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack

A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.

If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:

• Anxiety or panic.
• Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
• Chest pain or pressure.

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Why Are More People Getting Asthma And Allergies

Some researchers put the increase in asthma and other allergic conditions over the last few decades down to the fact that we live in much cleaner, more urban conditions. This means we have less contact with the friendly bacteria that thrive in more rural, natural environments.

Along with fewer childhood infections, this has resulted in lowered immunity, and more chance of allergies, including asthma.

The hygiene hypothesis

The idea that were missing out on exposure to useful microbes early in life began to be considered a while back with a theory known as the hygiene hypothesis. This was based on evidence that children growing up in large families, in unhygienic homes, had fewer allergies, including asthma.

More recent research suggests babies exposed to friendly bacteria in the first few months of their lives are thought to have less risk of developing asthma and allergies.

This is why some studies show that children growing up on farms have fewer allergies, and other studies show that having a dog in the house when your baby is very small can protect them from allergies and asthma. The studies are based on exposure to friendly microbes in babies less than two or three months old.

But being around animals, or being in a natural environment, may not necessarily protect your child against asthma other factors need to be taken into account, such as if theres a family history of allergy and asthma.

Causes Of An Asthma Attack

An asthma attack happens when your bronchial tubes, or air passages, become inflamed or blocked. The muscles around these tubes constrict and narrow, making it hard to breathe.

The common causes of an asthma attack are:

• Allergen triggers, such as mold, pets or dust mites
• Air irritants, like smoke, perfume, or chemical smells
• Illnesses like the flu or a respiratory infection
• Vigorous exercise

There are other medical issues that can be confused for an asthma attack for example, it can be very difficult to distinguish an asthma attack from an allergic reaction, Madsen says.

In some cases, if you have asthma, having an allergic reaction can actually trigger an asthma attack, Madsen says. This can happen if you breathe in an allergen in the air like pollen or dust.

People who suffer from anxiety attacks may also experience shortness of breath and tightness in their chests, but there are differences in symptoms. Wheezing is a telltale sign of an asthma attack that may not show up in other conditions, Madsen says.

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How Common Are They

Nearly 18 million adults in the United States have hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. Itâs caused by pollens, weeds, grasses, and molds. Many more have allergic reactions to other things in the environment, like dust mites, dogs, and cats. Some are allergic to foods, like peanuts or shellfish. Still others are allergic to medicines, like penicillin.

Doctors donât know exactly how many adults are diagnosed with allergies for the first time. But nasal allergies affect more Americans every years, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

âAs the population is aging, weâre seeing that people can have late-onset allergies,â says Beth Corn, MD, an allergist in New York City. âNow, it could be that some people were not diagnosed they might have really had allergies earlier on. It just might be that people are also a little bit more aware now of allergies.â

Whatever the case, allergies are all over, and theyâre big business. Theyâre the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., according to the CDC. And they cost Americans more than $18 billion a year.

We know what causes allergies: Your immune system overreacts to an allergen . You sneeze, sniffle, itch, or cough. But why this happens to you, when your Uncle Fred is on their third shrimp cocktail, is unclear.

âThatâs the thing about allergies,â Corn says. âYouâre fine, youâre fine, youâre fine … until youâre not.â

Nobody knows why.

What Asthma Treatment Options Are There

You have options to help manage your asthma. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to control symptoms. These include:

• Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe them to take every day to control or prevent your symptoms.
• Bronchodilators: These medicines relax the muscles around your airways. The relaxed muscles let the airways move air. They also let mucus move more easily through the airways. These medicines relieve your symptoms when they happen.
• Biologic therapies for asthma when symptoms persist despite being on proper inhaler therapy.

You can take asthma medicines in several different ways. You may breathe in the medicines using a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer or other inhaler. Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications that you swallow.

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What Are Signs And Symptoms Of Adult Onset Asthma

Regardless of age, asthma symptoms can include:

Dry cough, especially at night or in response to specific triggers

Tightness or pressure in the chest

Wheezing a whistling sound when exhaling

Shortness of breath after exercise or physical exertion

Difficulty breathing

Colds that go to the chest or hang on for 10 days or more

What Causes An Asthma Flare

Things that can cause you to have an asthma flare-up are called triggers. Different kids have different triggers. Common triggers include:

• breathing in things that cause allergies , such as dust, pollen, dander from animals, and mold
• breathing in things that irritate your airways, like cigarette smoke, perfume, and chalk dust
• infections, like a cold or the flu
• breathing in cold air

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How Is Asthma Treated

Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you and stay away from things that can trigger an attack to control your asthma.

Everyone with asthma does not take the same medicine.

You can breathe in some medicines and take other medicines as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two typesquick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, visit your doctor to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they dont help you while you are having an asthma attack.

Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor about the side effects of your medicines.

Remember you can control your asthma. With your doctors help, make your own asthma action plan. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. Take your long-term control medicine even when you dont have symptoms.

How Can You Prevent Asthma Attacks

You can prevent some asthma attacks by avoiding those things that cause them. These are called triggers. A trigger can be:

• Irritants in the air, such as cigarette smoke or other kinds of air pollution. Dont smoke, and try to avoid being around others when they smoke.
• Things you are allergic to, such as pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, or pollen. When you can, avoid those things you are allergic to. It may also help to take certain kinds of allergy medicine.
• Exercise. Ask your doctor about using a quick-relief inhaler before you exercise if this is a trigger for you.
• Other things like dry, cold air an infection or some medicines, such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . Try not to exercise outside when it is cold and dry. Talk to your doctor about vaccines to prevent some infections. And ask about what medicines you should avoid.

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How Is The Condition Diagnosed

To diagnose asthma, your physician will question you about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and conduct lung function tests. You also may be tested for allergies.

Your internist or family physician may refer you to an allergist or pulmonologist for specialized testing or treatment.

After middle age, most adults experience a decrease in their lung capacity. These changes in lung function may lead some physicians to overlook asthma as a possible diagnosis.

Untreated asthma can contribute to even greater permanent loss of lung function. If you have any asthma symptoms, dont ignore them, and dont try to treat them yourself. Get a definitive diagnosis from your health care provider.

Practicing Buteyko Breathing Technique

This is also a system of breathing exercises. Buteyko Breathing Technique focuses on breathing out through the nose and not the mouth. Breathing out through the mouth can dry up the mouth and the airways very fast resulting in more problems. Practising and using BBT also makes you less prone to suffering from respiratory infections. Buteyko Breathing Technique can also be instrumental in decreasing your asthma symptoms with the help of slow and gentle breathing through the nose.

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