How Do Healthcare Providers Diagnose Asthma
Your healthcare provider will review your medical history, including information about your parents and siblings. Your provider will also ask you about your symptoms. Your provider will need to know any history of allergies, eczema and other lung diseases.
Your healthcare provider may order a chest X-ray, blood test or skin test. Your provider may order spirometry. This test measures airflow through your lungs.
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.
Vitamin D Foods Or Supplements
Evidence suggests that low levels of vitamin D have links to an increased risk of asthma attacks in children and adults. It also indicates that taking a vitamin D supplement every day can significantly reduce the risk of hospital admission for a severe asthma attack.
Vitamin D may also support lung function and reduce upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold.
Vitamin D occurs naturally in , so most people in the U.S. get their dietary vitamin D from fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals, yogurt, and orange juice.
Good food sources of vitamin D include:
- fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel
- mushrooms
People with asthma must identify and avoid triggers that may worsen symptoms or bring on another asthma attack. The ALA provide advice and information on common triggers, including:
- over-the-counter medicines, such as aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- common food allergies, such as peanuts and shellfish
- smoke, such as cigarette smoke, campfires, or wood-burning fireplaces
- adverse weather, such as stormy, windy, cold, or humid weather
- air pollution, smog, vehicle exhaust fumes, or chemical fumes
- dander and saliva from animals with fur or feathers
- environmental exposure to dust mites, mold, or spores
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Best Climate For Asthma
Asthma sufferers often wonder if there is a best climate to better live with their asthma. Depending on whom you talk to, the answer will vary. But there are things to keep in mind when looking for a new home, if you’re already planning to move, since most doctors will recommend hat moving for your asthma is generally a bad idea.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Worst Foods For Asthma
SALT: Salt is considered to be one of the worst foods for asthma. It has been demonstrated that more salt in the diet, the worse the respiratory function of asthmatics and the higher the incidence of asthma attacks. A low-salt/sodium diet alleviates asthma and reduces the need for anti-asthmatic medication.
ADDITIVES: Additives make it on the list of foods asthmatics should avoid because many of them can cause allergic reactions, as well as asthmatic crises. For example, monosodium glutamate sulfites sodium nitrite and nitrate artificial colorings, in general, are all very dangerous for asthmatics, particularly E 102 , and E 110 .
WINE: Various asthma-causing additives, such as sulfites, are usually added to the wine.
BEER: Beer is one of the many asthma food triggers because of the brewers yeast and various other additives used in its production.
FISH: Fish is another one of the worst foods for asthma because if it is not fresh or improperly stored, it contains histamine, which provokes all allergic reactions.
SHELLFISH: Shellfish are a frequent cause of allergic reactions that can initiate or aggravate asthma attacks.
CURED CHEESES: Another of the worst foods for asthma, cured cheeses contain histamine, which provokes allergies and asthma. Cheeses prepared with molds, such as blue cheese, are even more dangerous.
BREWERS YEAST: Brewers yeast can cause allergy and provoke asthma attacks.
REFERENCES
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Coffee And Asthma The Risks
As with just about anything, consuming too much of one thing can cause unwanted side effects. There is one main concern with coffee and asthma.
If you have a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease , then coffee may aggregate this condition. GERD can cause asthma symptoms to become worse if you have both asthma and GERD. So, if this is the case for you, it may be a good idea to avoid coffee altogether.
Apart from this, coffee can cause other side effects, especially when consumed in large quantities. The first, being anxiety and rapid heart rate. Caffeinated coffee will cause your body to release adrenal, the hormone responsible for the fight or flight response. This can cause some people to feel anxious or stressed.
Since coffee is most known for giving people energy, it can also keep you from falling asleep when you need it. The half-life of caffeine in the human body is about 4-6 hours. For example, if you drink 100mg of caffeine at 8:00 a.m, youll have about 50mg still left in your body between 12:00-2:00. So, if your consuming coffee late in the day around 5:00 p.m, you may find it difficult to fall asleep at the appropriate time.
Coffee can cause frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration if you are not drinking enough water. If you notice that you are having trouble controlling your bladder or are having to urinate more than usual, you may want to cut back on the caffeine intake.
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Other Tips For Symptom Management
The ALA recommend managing asthma proactively. Working with a healthcare provider can help people with asthma develop an action plan to avoid triggers and use their prescribed medication effectively and at the right time.
Keeping an eye on symptoms and recording them will help people with asthma identify what steps they can take to avoid foods, activities, or environments that may cause an asthma attack.
Obesity the symptoms of asthma. Staying active and enjoying a diet that is low in fat and high in fruit and vegetables will help people with asthma maintain a healthy body weight.
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Aafa Explains: Will Coffee Or Caffeinated Drinks Help My Asthma
This post discusses claims that caffeine can be used to treat asthma symptoms. It is part of our AAFA Explains series looking at complementary and alternative medicine aimed at asthma and allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America wants to guide you as you decide between choices that may be likely safe or potentially unsafe.
What is asthma?Asthma is a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe. There is no cure for asthma. The best way to manage asthma is to avoid triggers, take prescribed medicine to prevent symptoms, and be prepared to treat asthma episodes if they occur.
Common symptoms of asthma are coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. Asthma may lead to a medical emergency. It is important to know the signs of a severe asthma attack, and know how to treat it if it occurs.
What is caffeine?Caffeine is an ingredient found in coffee, tea, cola drinks and cocoa and in over 60 plants. Drinks that contain caffeine are called caffeinated or energy drinks.
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. It can temporarily make you feel more awake, energetic and focused.
What does science tell us about caffeinated drinks and asthma?Clinical studies have shown that caffeine is a weak bronchodilator, improving lung function for two to four hours after it is consumed. However, it is not as strong or fast acting as rescue bronchodilators like albuterol.
Key definitions:
Reference:
Will Medicine Help Me Sleep Better
Yes, if you have nighttime asthma symptoms. Many people wake up with asthma symptoms such as coughing or wheezing. You can control nighttime symptoms by taking asthma medicines as directed by your doctor.
Removing triggers where you sleep may help you sleep better. Many people are allergic to dust mites and mold found in bedding materials. Using mattress or pillow encasements can help contain those allergens. Dehumidifiers can also be helpful to reduce the humidity in your home that dust mites and mold need to exist. Using air cleaners in your bedroom may also help reduce your exposure to allergens and irritants .
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What Should I Eat To Prevent Asthma
Given the murky evidence for a link between asthma and nutrition, there is no particular asthma diet. But it’s a good idea to adhere to a healthy diet, anyway.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. We still donât know which fruits and vegetables might have an effect on asthma, so the best advice is to increase your intake of a wide variety of them.
- Eat foods with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids — found in fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines and some plant sources, like flaxseed — are believed to have a number of health benefits. Although the evidence that they help with asthma is not clear, itâs still a good idea to include them in your diet.
- Avoid trans fats and omega-6 fatty acids. Thereâs some evidence that eating omega-6 fats and trans fats, found in some margarines and processed foods, may worsen asthma, and other serious health conditions such as heart disease.
Best And Worst Foods For Asthma And Allergies
Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the lungs which affects about 25 million people in the US. This is also one of the most common allergy-triggered immune diseases of the modern life. In fact, a large number of people with asthma have a family history of allergies, like pet allergies or hay fever.
When it comes to asthma, the exact causes of this condition are not known. However, a family history along with the environment may play a basic role for the majority of people, but not all. Those sensitive people who breathe in allergy-causing substances may start some common asthma symptoms. Those allergens or triggers can be dust mites, pet dander, cockroach allergens, pollens, and molds. In addition, exercise, respiratory infections, cold air, stress, tobacco smoke, food sulfites, and other air pollutants could also trigger asthma symptoms.
Common asthma symptoms are:
Chest tightness
Difficulty speaking
Look no further because here we from Nutrition Kit have combed through the most prestigious research on foods and asthma. We are happy to share the list of best and worst foods for asthma and allergies sufferers with you here!
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What Are Natural Remedies For Asthma
With all the studies on alternative medicine and natural remedies, you may wonder if thereâs a natural cure for asthma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma at this point. In fact, you should avoid any treatment or product — natural or otherwise — that claims to be a “cure” for asthma.
Some natural therapies may help you manage symptoms of asthma. For instance, a negative response to emotional stress can cause an asthma attack. Some natural relaxation remedies like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress.
Other findings suggest that diet plays a role in easing asthma symptoms. For example, omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in high-fat fish like salmon, mackerel, and cod may help your body fight inflammation. Whether this may help people who have asthma is still unproven.
The 21 Best Teas For Asthma Relief In 2021
Tea for asthma the perfect natural remedy for my breathing problems. Thats because it helps me manage both my stress and my asthma symptoms at the same time. But which is the best tea for asthma?
In my experience, the best tea for asthma is a combination of Breathe Easy Tea and Throat Coat Tea. These amazing teas are what I drink everyday and will help soothe your throat and encourage your airways to open up. You can find more information about these powerful teas here.But if youre interested to learn more about these and other kinds of teas that help with asthma, continue reading.
I believe that any home remedy for asthma needs to be healthy in its own right, and tea for asthma definitely fits the bill. There are countless scientific studies pointing to the positive health benefits of drinking tea.
Plus, I know when I take a moment to sit down with a warm cup, I just feel better.
Over the past few years, Ive gone from taking my rescue inhaler multiple times every day and night, to now only needing it in extreme cases .
I was able to beat asthma because of home remedies like tea and meditation.
And adding tea to my daily regimen also helped me make an important mental shift when it comes to treating my asthma.
Where once I only thought about my asthma when I needed that puff, I now treat it holistically.
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Get On The Ginger Tea Bandwagon
Ginger has been making quite a stir in the asthma community lately, since studies have shown it can enhance the effect of asthma medications.
And its a de-congesting, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, so whats not to love?
Many holistic practitioners recommend adding ginger to your diet or taking ginger supplements to help treat your asthma .
I get my ginger fix through drinking ginger tea. This lemon ginger tea is quite refreshing I find I appreciate the lemon flavor to temper the ginger a little bit.
is also good, just be careful not to oversteep.
Why Does Your Weight Matter
Carrying a few extra kilos can make your asthma harder to manage the more kilos, the harder it gets. Working towards your ideal bodyweight can help you get fewer symptoms and use less medication.
Losing weight can also help you sleep better
Inspired? Talk to your doctor before you start any new health and fitness program. Your doctor can check how your asthma is going, plus give you expert diet and exercise advice.
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Activity Is Good For Your Asthma
If your asthma is stopping you doing the activities you love, youre not alone. Physical activity can be more challenging when you have asthma.
You might be worried that getting breathless means an asthma attack is on the way, or feel down and frustrated that asthma is stopping you getting fit.
It might help to know that getting your heart rate up can actually improve your asthma symptoms. Heres how:
- Raising your heart rate regularly boosts your lung power, increasing stamina and reducing breathlessness
- It supports your immune system and helps fight colds and viruses a major trigger for over 80% of people with asthma
- Activity helps you stay a healthy weight, in turn cutting your risk of an asthma attack
- It releases feel-good chemicals in your brain studies show that if youre stressed, or depressed, youre at higher risk of asthma symptoms
If you have severe asthma, please use this exercise advice.
The Impact Of Asthma On Daily Life
Asthma is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
People with under-treated asthma can suffer sleep disturbance, tiredness during the day, and poor concentration. Asthma sufferers and their families may miss school and work, with financial impact on the family and wider community. If symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need to receive emergency health care and they may be admitted to hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the most severe cases, asthma can lead to death.
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Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases
The Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases contributes to WHOs work to prevent and control chronic respiratory diseases. GARD is a voluntary alliance of national and international organizations and agencies from many countries committed to the vision of a world where all people breathe freely.
What Alcoholic Drinks Are More Likely To Trigger Asthma Symptoms
For some people, symptoms are triggered when they drink any kind of alcohol others tell us that its only certain alcoholic drinks that cause a problem.
Alcoholic drinks most likely to trigger your asthma symptoms are wine , beer, and cider.
This is because they often contain high levels of sulphites or histamine.
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Using The Papworth Method
The Papworth method has been used since 1960 to help people with asthma. It is a type of breathing and relaxation technique. It makes use of the nose and diaphragm to develop breathing patterns that will suit the asthma patient. These breathing patterns can then be used while engaging in activities that can possibly flare up your asthma. Papworth method is a way of controlling over-breathing that is basically rapid and shallow breaths taken at the top of the chest.
How Do You Monitor Asthma Symptoms
Monitoring your asthma symptoms is an essential piece of managing the disease. Your healthcare provider may have you use a peak flow meter. This device measures how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. It can help your provider make adjustments to your medication. It also tells you if your symptoms are getting worse.
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