Ways To Deal With Asthma

What Are The Types And Severity Levels Of Asthma And Allergies

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology , there are different types of asthma. The different types of asthma include exercise-induced asthma, occupational asthma, childhood asthma, and allergic asthma. Asthma can also vary in severity.

Intermittent asthma develops with symptoms that occur less than twice a week. Nightly flares may occur less than twice a month.

Mild persistent asthma develops with symptoms that occur more than twice a week but not daily. Nightly flares may occur more than twice a month but not weekly.

Moderate persistent asthma develops with symptoms that occur every day. Nightly flares may occur more than once per week.

Severe persistent asthma develops with symptoms that occur every day. Nightly flares may occur throughout the night at least once per week.

Asthma symptoms can vary from person to person. For example, one person may experience only mild wheezing while another may experience periods of difficulty breathing along with coughing and chest tightness.

What Are The Symptoms Of Asthma

The only way to be certain you have asthma is with a doctors diagnosis. Yet, there are a few symptoms to look for that might point to asthma. Shortness of breath, feeling tightness in your chest, or coughing and wheezing are some of the most common symptoms.

These symptoms vary from person to person and arent always persistent they can come and go, appearing after a spurt of activity or sports, or worsening when youve got a flu or a cold. Coughing will likely be worse at night or early in the morning and the cough is dry. Difficulty breathing can also come on after being triggered by exposure to an allergen, like saliva or dander from an animal, pollen or dust or after your airway comes into contact with some other trigger, like tobacco smoke.

If youve been experiencing shortness of breath after exercise or are frequently having trouble breathing, its a good idea to see your doctor and get tested for asthma. After ruling out other conditions, your doctor will conduct a so-called asthma test. This means measuring your lung capacity using either a spirometry test or peak flow measurements that are specifically used for diagnosing asthma. Your doctor might also ask you to measure your peak flow at home to monitor how the medication is working.

What Are The Different Types Of Delivery Devices For Asthma Medicines

You take most asthma medicines by breathing them in using an inhaler or nebulizer. An inhaler or nebulizer allows the medicine to go directly to your lungs. But some asthma medicines are in pill form, infusion form, or injectable form.

Inhalers

There are four types of asthma inhaler devices that deliver medicine: metered dose inhalers , dry powder inhalers , breath actuated inhalers, and soft mist inhalers.

• Metered dose inhalers have medicine plus a propellant. The propellant sprays the medicine out of the inhaler in a short burst.
• Dry powder inhalers do not have a propellant and do not spray the medicine out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
• Breath actuated inhalers have a dry powder or aerosol medicine. The medicine does not spray out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
• Soft mist inhalers do not have propellant, but they do spray the medicine out of the inhaler. They create a cloud of medicine that sprays out softly.

Different types of asthma devices

For inhalers to work well, you must use them correctly. But 70 to 90% of people who use inhalers make at least one mistake when using their inhaler.1 Inhaler mistakes can lead to uncontrolled asthma. Ask your doctor or nurse to watch you use your inhaler to make sure you are using it correctly.

Spacers and valved holding chambers

Nebulizers

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Avoid Airborne Allergens And Pollen

If you work outside, it can be difficult to avoid pollen and outdoor allergens, especially during peak allergy season, so talk to your doctor for advice on managing your asthma symptoms. For people who work in offices, its a good idea to stay away from open windows and to remain inside when the pollen count is high.

How To Deal With Asthma Attack: Effective Ways To Help Your Loved One

Asthma is one of the most common respiratory disorders affecting a large number of people. While for some people asthma is not really bothersome and triggers off and on with mild discomfort. However for some people asthma can be a major problem to deal with and it could becomes so chronic that it begins to interfere with their everyday living. Sometime asthma can even be a life threatening attack making you visit the hospital emergency room.

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How Are Inhalers Used To Treat Asthma

Many asthma medicines are delivered using an inhaler or a nebulizer. Inhalers and nebulizers are devices that allow the asthma medications to be inhaled. This means you breathe them in, and they go straight to the airways. There are four types of delivery devices:

• metered-dose inhaler : a pressurized device that releases medication in a fine spray for you to inhale
• slow-moving mist inhaler: like an MDI, with a slower-moving mist
• dry powder inhaler : releases medication as a fine powder for inhaling

Visit our online store to download our free respiratory treatment poster or purchase print copies. The respiratory treatment poster is an asthma medication chart. It lists asthma inhalers by brand name as well as biologic medications used to treat asthma.

How to Use a Metered Dose Inhaler

How to Use a Slow-Moving Mist Inhaler

How to Use a Dry Powder Inhaler

Asthma Triggers Symptoms & Warning Signs

The two main types of asthma triggers are irritants, which bother airways, and allergens, which cause reactions such as watery eyes, sneezing or a runny nose.

Asthma triggers are specific to each person living with asthma. People living with asthma need to know what triggers their own asthma and how to avoid those triggers. Some common triggers include:

Learning which irritants and allergens trigger your asthma will help you avoid those triggers and manage your asthma. Although its not possible for you to control certain triggers, like pollen levels, there are many ways to make your home trigger-free for easier breathing.

Asthma symptoms also vary for each person. Common symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness

Most people with asthma feel early warning signs that their asthma is acting up. These signs let you know something is wrong before your asthma gets worse. Early warning signs include:

• Breathing changes

It is important to know your asthma triggers, symptoms and warning signs so you can use medication promptly and appropriately.

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Top Home Remedies For Asthma

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

Roughly 34 million Americans now have asthma, about 7 million to 8 million of which are children. Asthma is behind 12.8 million missed school days and 10.1 million missed work days in the U.S every single year. In addition, asthma costs the U.S. about $14.7 billion a year in medical costs, prescription drugs and lost productivity leading many people to search for home remedies for asthma.

Heres something that might surprise you: Although asthma medications can help control symptoms in the case of an emergency attack, they can actually sometimes make asthma symptomseven worse long term. Most asthma medications also have a host of side effects due to how they affect the endocrine system and the immune system. Research shows some asthma drugs might contribute to problems including mood changes, acne, yeast growth and weight gain plus over time they might hinder normal immune functions that make allergic and asthmatic reactions more frequent.

What are some effective, holistic ways of treating asthma that can help prevent attacks instead? Home remedies for asthma that dont require taking prescription medications or even using inhalers include limiting irritant exposure, reducing food allergies, improving gut health, supplementing with vitamin D or getting more naturally from the sun, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Contents Of An Asthma Action Plan

An asthma action plan includes:

• how to care for your day-to-day asthma
• key things that tell you when your asthma is getting worse or a flare-up is developing, and the steps you should take to manage it
• symptoms that are serious enough to need urgent medical help .

Review your asthma action plan with your doctor every 6 months, or after a severe asthma flare-up.

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How To Relax The Airways

Dr. Thiruchelvam says the primary goal is to ensure that you dont avoid exercise. Here are some practical things you can do if you have exercise-induced asthma:

Gaining and maintaining good control over exercise-induced asthma often requires teamwork. A primary care sports medicine physician can help you keep your asthma well-controlled, so that exercise is less likely to trigger symptoms.

Reliever Medication For Asthma

Reliever medication is used for an asthma flare-up or emergency. It opens the airways quickly and is taken as needed for immediate relief from asthma symptoms.

Reliever medication is sometimes overused. Using too much, or too often, could lead to side effects, including tremors and a rapid heart rate.

These side effects are not likely to cause harm. However, frequent use of reliever medication may be a sign that your asthma is not being well controlled. If you need to use a reliever more than twice a week for asthma symptoms , see your doctor to review your asthma and medication.

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How To Deal With Asthma During The Winter

For many of the 25 million people with asthma, controlling it during the cold winter months can be difficult.

People with asthma may experience worse symptoms during winter or be more likely to have an asthma attack because theyre spending more time indoors, theyre more likely to get a cold or the flu, and the air outside is cold and dry.

The cold, dry air outside can trigger asthma, but staying indoors more with the windows closed around dust mites, mold, pet dander and other allergens can also cause asthma to flare up, said Anthony Wylie, D.O., a primary care physician at Geisinger Mt. Pleasant. In addition, when someone with asthma gets a cold or the flu, it can trigger an asthma attack.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition where irritants can cause the airways in your lungs to become inflamed and swollen, making it harder to breathe. Your lungs might also produce mucus as a result, which can further narrow your airways.

If you have asthma, you might experience periods of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. These symptoms sometimes go away on their own however, people with asthma often use a long-term medication to control ongoing symptoms, as well as a short-term rescue inhaler for symptoms that appear quickly.

1. Breathe through your nose

2. Wear a scarf around your mouth when outside

3. Clean frequently

4. Get a flu shot

5. Work out indoors

6. Create an action plan

Can You Treat Asthma Without An Inhaler

Unfortunately, there is no other effective first aid treatment for asthma. Placing the victim in a comfortable position to aid their breathing and keeping them calm will help, but these first aid measures will not stop the swelling and inflammation of the small airways. The victim will require treatment to improve their breathing.

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What Causes An Asthma Attack

An asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to asthma triggers. Your asthma triggers can be very different from someone elses asthma triggers. Know your triggers and learn how to avoid them. Watch out for an attack when you cant avoid your triggers. Some of the most common triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach allergen, pets, mold, smoke from burning wood or grass, and infections like flu.

Whats The Best Body Position For An Asthma Attack

Generally speaking, sitting up straight is the best position for an asthma attack. This is because sitting up allows air to more effectively enter your lungs while bending over or lying down may constrict your breathing.

A 2017 study investigated lung function in a small group of 20 people with asthma. Lung function was found to be highest when participants were in the standing position, followed by the sitting position. Function was lowest when participants were lying down.

Another investigated the effect of body positioning on the lung function of healthy people and those with certain health conditions. In people with lung diseases like asthma, lung function was found to be higher in more erect positions.

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How To Control An Asthma Attack When Caught Without An Inhaler

Breathing is so automatic for most people that we hardly ever give it a second thought. If you have asthma, or if your child has asthma, though, you never take breathing for granted.

When you suffer from , your airways narrow and swell and can even produce extra mucus, all of which make breathing difficult. Asthma can also cause lots of wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

This is especially true if you experience a full-blown asthma attack. Most people with asthma try to keep a rescue inhaler with them so they can have quick access to medicine such as albuterol, which can control their symptoms.

But what if you have an asthma attack while you dont have your inhaler with you? This can be a dangerous situation, but at Sulkowski Family Medicine, weve learned a few tips over the years that can help you out. Heres what we recommend:

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Asthma Action Plans For Children

If you are a parent or carer of a child with asthma, it is important to obtain a clear, written summary of how to manage your childs asthma. This is called an asthma action plan and is an important tool for anyone caring for your child.

It provides up-to-date, detailed information to help manage your childs asthma. Give a copy of the plan to your childs school, kindergarten, childcare centre and anyone else caring for your child.When your child is old enough to understand, make sure that you explain asthma to them and encourage them to be aware of their symptoms and how to treat them.

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Are There Natural Remedies For Asthma Attacks

The typical treatment for an asthma attack is a quick-acting inhaler with medication. Sit upright and take slow, steady breaths. Try to stay calm. Follow the asthma action plan that youâve set up with your doctor. If your breathing doesnât get better or if youâre so short of breath that you canât talk, get medical help right away.

Some breathing exercises can help with symptoms of an asthma attack.

• Pursed-lip breathing. This slows your breathing and helps hold your airways open longer so your lungs work better. With your mouth closed, breathe in slowly through your nose. Then breathe out through your mouth, with your lips pursed like youâre whistling, for twice as long.
• Belly breathing. This technique uses the same steps as pursed-lip breathing. But as you breathe in, focus on the movement of your belly. Picture it filling with air like a balloon. It may help to keep your hands on your belly so you can concentrate on the air going in and out.

What Does It Mean To Have Asthma Under Control

Your asthma is under control when it does not interfere with your everyday life and prevent normal activities. You should be able to sleep through the night without symptoms, have few or no daytime symptoms, exercise and complete your daily routines without using a quick-relief medication or using it on a minimal basis. If you experience any of these symptoms or disruptors, you should discuss with your health care provider how to improve your asthma management.

Some of the ways to control your asthma include taking an active role by avoiding asthma triggers, using medication properly, working with a health care provider to develop an asthma action plan and having regular checkups. You also need to know when to seek emergency medical care for your asthma.

• ASTHMA EDUCATION

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Why Is Smoke Especially Harmful To People With Asthma

• It reduces your lung function.
• It may increase your chances of having asthma attacks.
• It makes your day-to-day asthma control harder to achieve and increases the need for asthma medications.
• It may increase your sensitivity to other environmental triggers .
• It increases your chances of permanently damaging your airways â there is a very real risk of developing chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Children with asthma whose parents smoke have more asthma symptoms than children whose parents donât smoke. When you come in contact with other peopleâs cigarette smoke you breathe in second-hand smoke with all of its harmful chemicals . Infants and children of all ages develop health problems from passive smoking because they are smaller and the dangerous substances in smoke are more harmful to them. They also spend a lot of time with parents and caregivers and if the parent or caregiver smokes they are exposed to it for longer periods of time.

Infants and children who breathe in other peopleâs cigarette smoke can:

• develop glue ear or middle ear infections
• suffer more ear, nose, throat or chest infections, croup and wheezing