What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It is basically an allergic inflammation of the lungs. It causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It can limit a person’s quality of life. Asthma is generally triggered by pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, air pollution, chemicals, exercise, temperature changes or ingestion of certain foods.
During an asthma attack the walls of the lungs become inflamed and the mucus membranes fill with fluid and sticky mucus making it difficult to breathe. Asthma symptoms can include a scratchy throat, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and a tight feeling in the chest. An asthma attack can be mild, moderate or severe and lasting for a few minutes, hours, or even several days.
Most people with asthma can control their symptoms and prevent asthma attacks by avoiding asthma triggers and correctly using prescribed medicines, such as Kasakesari.
Knowing when to get emergency help for a severe attack can save your life. If you are experiencing the following, you should seek immediate medical attention when:
-your medication does not control your symptoms
-you have extreme difficulty breathing, talking and walking,
-your fingernails or lips are turning blue,
-your chest feels tight and your ribs are pulled inward as you breathe,
-your nostrils flare when you breathe.
The key to understanding and controlling asthma is to know yourself better. One person may get a severe asthma reaction from a slight whiff of perfume, while another asthma sufferer has no reaction at all to the very same trigger. Everyone who suffers from asthma is unique and is effected differently, there are several variables to consider:
· asthma triggers and allergies
· living and work environment
· general state of health and immune system
· stress levels
· nutrition and diet
· geographical location and climate
Quite often things that we have eaten, used or are a part of our environment for years can suddenly become asthma triggers. Since there are so many variables involved that affect getting control of your asthma, the first thing you should do is keep a notebook or journal. This will help you pinpoint your triggers. Once you know what they are, you can either remove these triggers or reduce them as much as possible. For example, you may be allergic to your pet without even realizing it. My friend kept two cats for years. She often suffered from sinus congestion, but never connected it to the cats. Eventually she developed asthma, so she started to keep a journal and began to see a pattern - she eventually realized that every time she washed and groomed her cats, she had an asthma attack. She was reluctant to admit this since they were like her own children to her, but through her journal it became obvious that cat dander was a major trigger. Since she really didn't want to get rid of her cats, she was able to take several measures to minimize her exposure to the cat dander. One of these was to take her cats to a pet groomer instead of doing it herself. This change, combined with a few other measures helped to prevent further asthma attacks.
Some people have both food and environmental triggers or allergies that they are unaware of. This can make determining specific triggers and controlling asthma symptoms much more complex, so keeping a journal is important. If you find that you are feeling asthmatic after consuming some food or drink, one of those items could be the culprit, but since you have also eaten several things during the day, it's not always easy to know exactly what it was that caused the problem. If you record details of everything that was eaten each time you experienced asthma symptoms, you'll see a pattern developing, which will help you to discover exactly what your trigger is.
Once you determine your triggers, you can then start to eliminate them or minimize them as much as possible. This will help bring your asthma under control and help reduce your asthma symptoms. Combining these measures with a good diet, stress reduction and natural supplements that help eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms will ensure an active, healthy life.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asthma Facts and Figures
* Asthma affects 23 million people in the United States only, including more than 6 million children, the cause of the respiratory condition is still a bit mysterious. Experts aren’t exactly clear why some people develop asthma and others remain unaffected by asthma triggers like pollen and pets.
* However, much is known about the risk factors for the disease—some factors you can change and others you cannot. For example, asthma is more common in boys than girls and in children in urban areas than other parts of the country; plus, it is more likely to be diagnosed in people who are obese than in those who are slender.
* About 9% of the U.S. population under age 18 has asthma. Studies involving twins have found that a child’s chance of developing asthma is anywhere from 50% to 80% dependent on genes, but the environment in which a child lives and grows is also very important. Exposure to dust, pet dander, pollution, exhaust, and secondhand smoke can all increase a child’s risk for asthma. These allergens and irritants can also trigger the sudden exacerbation of asthma symptoms known as an asthma attack.
* A combination of genetics and sensitivity to certain triggers such as allergens, infections, secondhand smoke, and even exercise can lead to asthma. And they know for certain that you can’t catch asthma from someone else—it’s not a communicable disease. Asthma can be managed with a variety of medications, and by avoiding triggers such as pollen, pets, or other allergens.
Asthma has a high cost for individuals and the nation.
Better asthma education is needed.
The number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million from 2001 to 2009. From 2001 through 2009 asthma rates rose the most among black children, almost a 50% increase. Asthma was linked to 3,447 deaths (about 9 per day) in 2007. Asthma costs in the US grew from about $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in 2007, about a 6% increase. Greater access to medical care is needed for the growing number of people with asthma. More than 17 million people in the US alone suffer from asthma, a serious lung ailment, resulting in 5,000 asthma deaths a year.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What increases the risk of Asthma?
Many factors may increase your risk of developing Asthma. Some of these are not within your control; others you can control. The main things that put you at risk for developing asthma as an adult are ongoing (chronic) wheezing when you were a child and cigarette smoking.
Asthma risk factors that you cannot control
The following risk factors are not within your control:
Gender and age - Women and men seem to have the same risk of developing asthma until they reach their 40s. After 40, women have a higher risk for asthma.
A family history of allergies and asthma - People who have an allergy and asthma usually have a family history of allergies or asthma.
Inherited tendency (genetic predisposition) to overreaction of the bronchial tubes - People who inherit a tendency of the bronchial tubes (which carry air to the lungs) to overreact often develop asthma.
A history of allergy - If you have an allergy, you are more likely than others to develop asthma. Most children and many adults with asthma have atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or both. Studies show that 40 to 50 out of 100 children with atopic dermatitis develop asthma. Having atopic dermatitis as a child may also increase your risk of having more severe and persistent asthma as an adult than someone who did not have atopic dermatitis.
Rhinitis - Adults who have inflamed nasal passages (rhinitis) have a higher-than-average risk for asthma.
Asthma risk factors that you can control
You may be able to change some factors to reduce your or your teen's risk for asthma. These include:
Cigarette smoking - People who smoke are more likely to get asthma. If you already have asthma and you smoke, it may make your symptoms worse.
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy - Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of wheezing in their babies. Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy also have worse lung function than those whose mothers did not smoke.
Workplace exposure to irritants – Occupational Asthma may develop after exposure to a specific inhaled irritant or allergen in the workplace. Such substances also can make symptoms worse in people with existing asthma.
Dust mites - Exposure to dust mites is another thing that puts people at risk for asthma.
Cockroaches - In one study, children who had high levels of cockroach droppings in their homes were 4 times more likely to have a new diagnosis of asthma than children whose homes had low levels.
Obesity - Studies have found that obese children may be more likely to have asthma. But the reason for this is unclear. Experts don't know whether one condition contributes to the other or whether some unknown mechanism contributes to both. Some people who are obese and who lose weight may have fewer asthma symptoms. And sometimes symptoms caused by obesity are thought to be asthma symptoms.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asthma in Children:
Asthma makes it hard for your child to breathe. It causes swelling and inflammation in the airways that lead to the lungs. When asthma flares up, the airways tighten and become narrower. This keeps the air from passing through easily and makes it hard for your child to breathe. These flare ups are also called asthma attacks or exacerbations.
Asthma affects children in different ways. Some children only have asthma attacks during allergy season, when they breathe in cold air, or when they exercise. Others have many bad attacks that send them to the doctor often.
Even if your child has few asthma attacks, you still need to treat the asthma. If the swelling and irritation in your child’s airways isn't controlled, asthma could lower your child's quality of life, prevent your child from exercising, and increase your child's risk of going to the hospital. Proper treatment can control it and keep your child healthy. Many children with asthma play sports and live healthy, active lives.
No one is sure if breast-feeding affects a child's risk of getting asthma. Some studies show that breast-feeding protects a child from getting asthma. Other studies show that breast-feeding, especially when mothers with asthma breast-feed, may actually raise a child's risk of getting asthma. A large study following children until 14 years of age found that breast-feeding had no effect on the development of asthma. Mothers are encouraged to breast-feed their children for all the other proven health benefits that come from breast-feeding.
Experts are also not sure about the effect that pets in the home have on getting asthma. Some research shows that having cats or dogs in the home raises an adult's risk of getting asthma. But other research has seemed to show that being around pets early in life might actually protect a child against getting asthma. If your child already has asthma and allergies to pets, having a pet in the home will make his or her asthma worse.
You can prevent some asthma attacks by helping your child avoid those things that cause them. These are called triggers. A trigger can be:
* Irritants in the air, such as cigarette smoke or other air pollution. Try not to expose your child to tobacco smoke.
* Things your child is allergic to, such as pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, or pollen. Taking certain types of allergy medicines may help your child.
* Exercise. Ask your doctor about using an inhaler before exercise if this is a trigger for your child’s asthma.
* Other things like dry, cold air; an infection; or some medicines, such as aspirin. Try not to have your child exercise outside when it is cold and dry. Talk to your doctor about vaccines to prevent some infections. And ask about what medicines your child should avoid.
It can be scary when your child has an asthma attack. You may feel helpless, but having an asthma action plan will help you know what to do during an attack. An asthma attack may be severe enough to need urgent medical care, but in most cases you can take care of symptoms at home if you have a good asthma action plan.
Although asthma is a respiratory condition with only one name, in truth, asthma can be highly variable from person to person. Some people have asthma that is mild or severe; some may cough only at night or wheeze during highly specific situations, such as during exercise; and asthmatics can have highly individual response to triggers such as pollen or cigarette smoke.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It is basically an allergic inflammation of the lungs. It causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It can limit a person’s quality of life. Asthma is generally triggered by pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, air pollution, chemicals, exercise, temperature changes or ingestion of certain foods.
During an asthma attack the walls of the lungs become inflamed and the mucus membranes fill with fluid and sticky mucus making it difficult to breathe. Asthma symptoms can include a scratchy throat, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and a tight feeling in the chest. An asthma attack can be mild, moderate or severe and lasting for a few minutes, hours, or even several days.
Most people with asthma can control their symptoms and prevent asthma attacks by avoiding asthma triggers and correctly using prescribed medicines, such as Kasakesari.
Knowing when to get emergency help for a severe attack can save your life. If you are experiencing the following, you should seek immediate medical attention when:
-your medication does not control your symptoms
-you have extreme difficulty breathing, talking and walking,
-your fingernails or lips are turning blue,
-your chest feels tight and your ribs are pulled inward as you breathe,
-your nostrils flare when you breathe.
The key to understanding and controlling asthma is to know yourself better. One person may get a severe asthma reaction from a slight whiff of perfume, while another asthma sufferer has no reaction at all to the very same trigger. Everyone who suffers from asthma is unique and is effected differently, there are several variables to consider:
· asthma triggers and allergies
· living and work environment
· general state of health and immune system
· stress levels
· nutrition and diet
· geographical location and climate
Quite often things that we have eaten, used or are a part of our environment for years can suddenly become asthma triggers. Since there are so many variables involved that affect getting control of your asthma, the first thing you should do is keep a notebook or journal. This will help you pinpoint your triggers. Once you know what they are, you can either remove these triggers or reduce them as much as possible. For example, you may be allergic to your pet without even realizing it. My friend kept two cats for years. She often suffered from sinus congestion, but never connected it to the cats. Eventually she developed asthma, so she started to keep a journal and began to see a pattern - she eventually realized that every time she washed and groomed her cats, she had an asthma attack. She was reluctant to admit this since they were like her own children to her, but through her journal it became obvious that cat dander was a major trigger. Since she really didn't want to get rid of her cats, she was able to take several measures to minimize her exposure to the cat dander. One of these was to take her cats to a pet groomer instead of doing it herself. This change, combined with a few other measures helped to prevent further asthma attacks.
Some people have both food and environmental triggers or allergies that they are unaware of. This can make determining specific triggers and controlling asthma symptoms much more complex, so keeping a journal is important. If you find that you are feeling asthmatic after consuming some food or drink, one of those items could be the culprit, but since you have also eaten several things during the day, it's not always easy to know exactly what it was that caused the problem. If you record details of everything that was eaten each time you experienced asthma symptoms, you'll see a pattern developing, which will help you to discover exactly what your trigger is.
Once you determine your triggers, you can then start to eliminate them or minimize them as much as possible. This will help bring your asthma under control and help reduce your asthma symptoms. Combining these measures with a good diet, stress reduction and natural supplements that help eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms will ensure an active, healthy life.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asthma Facts and Figures
* Asthma affects 23 million people in the United States only, including more than 6 million children, the cause of the respiratory condition is still a bit mysterious. Experts aren’t exactly clear why some people develop asthma and others remain unaffected by asthma triggers like pollen and pets.
* However, much is known about the risk factors for the disease—some factors you can change and others you cannot. For example, asthma is more common in boys than girls and in children in urban areas than other parts of the country; plus, it is more likely to be diagnosed in people who are obese than in those who are slender.
* About 9% of the U.S. population under age 18 has asthma. Studies involving twins have found that a child’s chance of developing asthma is anywhere from 50% to 80% dependent on genes, but the environment in which a child lives and grows is also very important. Exposure to dust, pet dander, pollution, exhaust, and secondhand smoke can all increase a child’s risk for asthma. These allergens and irritants can also trigger the sudden exacerbation of asthma symptoms known as an asthma attack.
* A combination of genetics and sensitivity to certain triggers such as allergens, infections, secondhand smoke, and even exercise can lead to asthma. And they know for certain that you can’t catch asthma from someone else—it’s not a communicable disease. Asthma can be managed with a variety of medications, and by avoiding triggers such as pollen, pets, or other allergens.
Asthma has a high cost for individuals and the nation.
- Asthma cost the US about $3,300 per person with asthma each year from 2002 to 2007 in medical expenses, missed school and work days, and early deaths.
- Medical expenses associated with asthma increased from $48.6 billion in 2002 to $50.1 billion in 2007. About 2 in 5 (40%) uninsured people with asthma could not afford their prescription medicines and about 1 in 9 (11%) insured people with asthma could not afford
their prescription medicines. - More than half (59%) of children and one-third (33%) of adults who had an asthma attack missed school or work because of asthma in 2008. On average, in 2008 children missed 4 days of school and adults missed 5 days of work because of asthma.
Better asthma education is needed.
- People with asthma can prevent asthma attacks if they are taught to use inhaled corticosteroids and other prescribed daily long-term control medicines correctly and to avoid asthma triggers. Triggers can include tobacco smoke, mold, outdoor air pollution, and colds and flu.
- In 2008 less than half of people with asthma reported being taught how to avoid triggers. Almost half (48%) of adults who were taught how to avoid triggers did not follow most of this advice.
- Doctors and patients can better manage asthma by creating a personal asthma action plan that the patient follows.
The number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million from 2001 to 2009. From 2001 through 2009 asthma rates rose the most among black children, almost a 50% increase. Asthma was linked to 3,447 deaths (about 9 per day) in 2007. Asthma costs in the US grew from about $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in 2007, about a 6% increase. Greater access to medical care is needed for the growing number of people with asthma. More than 17 million people in the US alone suffer from asthma, a serious lung ailment, resulting in 5,000 asthma deaths a year.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What increases the risk of Asthma?
Many factors may increase your risk of developing Asthma. Some of these are not within your control; others you can control. The main things that put you at risk for developing asthma as an adult are ongoing (chronic) wheezing when you were a child and cigarette smoking.
Asthma risk factors that you cannot control
The following risk factors are not within your control:
Gender and age - Women and men seem to have the same risk of developing asthma until they reach their 40s. After 40, women have a higher risk for asthma.
A family history of allergies and asthma - People who have an allergy and asthma usually have a family history of allergies or asthma.
Inherited tendency (genetic predisposition) to overreaction of the bronchial tubes - People who inherit a tendency of the bronchial tubes (which carry air to the lungs) to overreact often develop asthma.
A history of allergy - If you have an allergy, you are more likely than others to develop asthma. Most children and many adults with asthma have atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or both. Studies show that 40 to 50 out of 100 children with atopic dermatitis develop asthma. Having atopic dermatitis as a child may also increase your risk of having more severe and persistent asthma as an adult than someone who did not have atopic dermatitis.
Rhinitis - Adults who have inflamed nasal passages (rhinitis) have a higher-than-average risk for asthma.
Asthma risk factors that you can control
You may be able to change some factors to reduce your or your teen's risk for asthma. These include:
Cigarette smoking - People who smoke are more likely to get asthma. If you already have asthma and you smoke, it may make your symptoms worse.
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy - Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of wheezing in their babies. Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy also have worse lung function than those whose mothers did not smoke.
Workplace exposure to irritants – Occupational Asthma may develop after exposure to a specific inhaled irritant or allergen in the workplace. Such substances also can make symptoms worse in people with existing asthma.
Dust mites - Exposure to dust mites is another thing that puts people at risk for asthma.
Cockroaches - In one study, children who had high levels of cockroach droppings in their homes were 4 times more likely to have a new diagnosis of asthma than children whose homes had low levels.
Obesity - Studies have found that obese children may be more likely to have asthma. But the reason for this is unclear. Experts don't know whether one condition contributes to the other or whether some unknown mechanism contributes to both. Some people who are obese and who lose weight may have fewer asthma symptoms. And sometimes symptoms caused by obesity are thought to be asthma symptoms.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asthma in Children:
Asthma makes it hard for your child to breathe. It causes swelling and inflammation in the airways that lead to the lungs. When asthma flares up, the airways tighten and become narrower. This keeps the air from passing through easily and makes it hard for your child to breathe. These flare ups are also called asthma attacks or exacerbations.
Asthma affects children in different ways. Some children only have asthma attacks during allergy season, when they breathe in cold air, or when they exercise. Others have many bad attacks that send them to the doctor often.
Even if your child has few asthma attacks, you still need to treat the asthma. If the swelling and irritation in your child’s airways isn't controlled, asthma could lower your child's quality of life, prevent your child from exercising, and increase your child's risk of going to the hospital. Proper treatment can control it and keep your child healthy. Many children with asthma play sports and live healthy, active lives.
No one is sure if breast-feeding affects a child's risk of getting asthma. Some studies show that breast-feeding protects a child from getting asthma. Other studies show that breast-feeding, especially when mothers with asthma breast-feed, may actually raise a child's risk of getting asthma. A large study following children until 14 years of age found that breast-feeding had no effect on the development of asthma. Mothers are encouraged to breast-feed their children for all the other proven health benefits that come from breast-feeding.
Experts are also not sure about the effect that pets in the home have on getting asthma. Some research shows that having cats or dogs in the home raises an adult's risk of getting asthma. But other research has seemed to show that being around pets early in life might actually protect a child against getting asthma. If your child already has asthma and allergies to pets, having a pet in the home will make his or her asthma worse.
You can prevent some asthma attacks by helping your child avoid those things that cause them. These are called triggers. A trigger can be:
* Irritants in the air, such as cigarette smoke or other air pollution. Try not to expose your child to tobacco smoke.
* Things your child is allergic to, such as pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, or pollen. Taking certain types of allergy medicines may help your child.
* Exercise. Ask your doctor about using an inhaler before exercise if this is a trigger for your child’s asthma.
* Other things like dry, cold air; an infection; or some medicines, such as aspirin. Try not to have your child exercise outside when it is cold and dry. Talk to your doctor about vaccines to prevent some infections. And ask about what medicines your child should avoid.
It can be scary when your child has an asthma attack. You may feel helpless, but having an asthma action plan will help you know what to do during an attack. An asthma attack may be severe enough to need urgent medical care, but in most cases you can take care of symptoms at home if you have a good asthma action plan.
Although asthma is a respiratory condition with only one name, in truth, asthma can be highly variable from person to person. Some people have asthma that is mild or severe; some may cough only at night or wheeze during highly specific situations, such as during exercise; and asthmatics can have highly individual response to triggers such as pollen or cigarette smoke.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Causes and triggers of Asthma:
Experts do not know exactly what causes asthma. But there are some things we do know: Asthma runs in families. Asthma is much more common in people with allergies, though not everyone with allergies gets asthma. And not everyone with asthma has allergies. Pollution may cause asthma or make it worse. Triggers that may make asthma worse and may lead to asthma attacks include:
Triggers
Triggers for asthma can be found at school, work, home, outdoors, and elsewhere and can include tobacco smoke, mold, outdoor air pollution, and infections linked to influenza, colds, and other viruses.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke): Environmental tobacco smoke is often called secondhand smoke because the smoke created by a smoker is breathed in by a second person nearby. Parents, friends, and relatives of children with asthma should try to stop smoking and should never smoke around a person with asthma. They should only smoke outdoors and not in the family home or car. They should not allow others to smoke in the home, and they should make sure their child's school is smoke-free.
Dust Mites: Dust mites are in almost everybody’s homes, but they don’t cause everybody to have asthma attacks. If you have asthma, dust mites may be a trigger for an attack. To help prevent asthma attacks, use mattress covers and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself. Don’t use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters. Remove stuffed animals and clutter from your bedroom.
Outdoor Air Pollution: Pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause an asthma attack. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and Internet and plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low if air pollution aggravates your asthma.
Cockroach Allergen: Cockroaches and their droppings may trigger an asthma attack. Get rid of cockroaches in your home and keep them from coming back by taking away their food and water. Cockroaches are usually found where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind. Remove as many water and food sources as you can because cockroaches need food and water to survive. At least every 2 to 3 days, vacuum or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches. You can also use roach traps or gels to decrease the number of cockroaches in your home.
Pets: Furry pets may trigger an asthma attack. When a furry pet is suspected of causing asthma attacks, the simplest solution is to find the pet another home. If pet owners are too attached to their pets or are unable to locate a safe, new home for the pet, they should keep the pet out of the bedroom of the person with asthma.
Pets should be bathed weekly and kept outside as much as possible. People with asthma are not allergic to their pet’s fur, so trimming your pet’s fur will not help your asthma. If you have a furry pet, vacuum often to clean up anything that could cause an asthma attack. If your floors have a hard surface, such as wood or tile, and are not carpeted, damp mop them every week.
Mold: Inhaling or breathing in mold can cause an asthma attack. Get rid of mold in all parts of your home to help control your asthma attacks. Keep the humidity level in your home between 35% and 50%. In hot, humid climates, you may need to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier or both. Fix water leaks, which allow mold to grow behind walls and under floors.
Other Triggers
>> Infections linked to influenza (flu), colds, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger an attack. Sinus infections, allergies, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can irritate airways and trigger asthma attacks.
>> Strenuous physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms; high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; biomass smoke from burning wood, grass, or other vegetation; and some foods and food additives can trigger an asthma attack.
>> Strong emotional states can also lead to hyperventilation and an asthma attack.
>> Learn what triggers your attacks so that you can avoid the triggers whenever possible. Be alert for a possible attack when the triggers cannot be avoided.
Infections such as severe upper respiratory infections (URIs), Sinusitis, and Influenza (flu).
URIs cause more than half of the asthma attacks in adults.
Allergens such as dust mites, mold, or pet dander
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Symptoms of Asthma
Symptoms of asthma can be mild or severe. When your child has asthma, he or she may:
· Wheeze making a loud or soft whistling noise that occurs when the airways narrow.
· Cough a lot.
· Feel tightness in the chest.
· Feel short of breath.
· Have trouble sleeping because of coughing and wheezing.
· Quickly get tired during exercise.
Many children with asthma have symptoms that get worse at nights
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How is Asthma diagnosed?
Along with doing a physical exam and asking about your child’s symptoms, your doctor may order tests such as:
· Spirometry. Doctors use this test to diagnose and keep track of asthma in children age 5 and older. It measures how quickly your child can move air in and out of the lungs and how much air is moved. Spirometry is not used with babies and small children. In those cases, the doctor usually will listen for wheezing and will ask how often the child wheezes or coughs.
· Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). This shows how fast your child can breathe out when trying his or her hardest.
· A chest X-ray to see if another disease is causing your child’s symptoms.
· Allergy tests, if your doctor thinks your child’s symptoms may be caused by allergies.
Your child needs routine checkups so your doctor can keep track of the asthma and decide on treatment
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Experts do not know exactly what causes asthma. But there are some things we do know: Asthma runs in families. Asthma is much more common in people with allergies, though not everyone with allergies gets asthma. And not everyone with asthma has allergies. Pollution may cause asthma or make it worse. Triggers that may make asthma worse and may lead to asthma attacks include:
Triggers
Triggers for asthma can be found at school, work, home, outdoors, and elsewhere and can include tobacco smoke, mold, outdoor air pollution, and infections linked to influenza, colds, and other viruses.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke): Environmental tobacco smoke is often called secondhand smoke because the smoke created by a smoker is breathed in by a second person nearby. Parents, friends, and relatives of children with asthma should try to stop smoking and should never smoke around a person with asthma. They should only smoke outdoors and not in the family home or car. They should not allow others to smoke in the home, and they should make sure their child's school is smoke-free.
Dust Mites: Dust mites are in almost everybody’s homes, but they don’t cause everybody to have asthma attacks. If you have asthma, dust mites may be a trigger for an attack. To help prevent asthma attacks, use mattress covers and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself. Don’t use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters. Remove stuffed animals and clutter from your bedroom.
Outdoor Air Pollution: Pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause an asthma attack. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and Internet and plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low if air pollution aggravates your asthma.
Cockroach Allergen: Cockroaches and their droppings may trigger an asthma attack. Get rid of cockroaches in your home and keep them from coming back by taking away their food and water. Cockroaches are usually found where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind. Remove as many water and food sources as you can because cockroaches need food and water to survive. At least every 2 to 3 days, vacuum or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches. You can also use roach traps or gels to decrease the number of cockroaches in your home.
Pets: Furry pets may trigger an asthma attack. When a furry pet is suspected of causing asthma attacks, the simplest solution is to find the pet another home. If pet owners are too attached to their pets or are unable to locate a safe, new home for the pet, they should keep the pet out of the bedroom of the person with asthma.
Pets should be bathed weekly and kept outside as much as possible. People with asthma are not allergic to their pet’s fur, so trimming your pet’s fur will not help your asthma. If you have a furry pet, vacuum often to clean up anything that could cause an asthma attack. If your floors have a hard surface, such as wood or tile, and are not carpeted, damp mop them every week.
Mold: Inhaling or breathing in mold can cause an asthma attack. Get rid of mold in all parts of your home to help control your asthma attacks. Keep the humidity level in your home between 35% and 50%. In hot, humid climates, you may need to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier or both. Fix water leaks, which allow mold to grow behind walls and under floors.
Other Triggers
>> Infections linked to influenza (flu), colds, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger an attack. Sinus infections, allergies, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can irritate airways and trigger asthma attacks.
>> Strenuous physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms; high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; biomass smoke from burning wood, grass, or other vegetation; and some foods and food additives can trigger an asthma attack.
>> Strong emotional states can also lead to hyperventilation and an asthma attack.
>> Learn what triggers your attacks so that you can avoid the triggers whenever possible. Be alert for a possible attack when the triggers cannot be avoided.
Infections such as severe upper respiratory infections (URIs), Sinusitis, and Influenza (flu).
URIs cause more than half of the asthma attacks in adults.
Allergens such as dust mites, mold, or pet dander
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Symptoms of Asthma
Symptoms of asthma can be mild or severe. When your child has asthma, he or she may:
· Wheeze making a loud or soft whistling noise that occurs when the airways narrow.
· Cough a lot.
· Feel tightness in the chest.
· Feel short of breath.
· Have trouble sleeping because of coughing and wheezing.
· Quickly get tired during exercise.
Many children with asthma have symptoms that get worse at nights
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How is Asthma diagnosed?
Along with doing a physical exam and asking about your child’s symptoms, your doctor may order tests such as:
· Spirometry. Doctors use this test to diagnose and keep track of asthma in children age 5 and older. It measures how quickly your child can move air in and out of the lungs and how much air is moved. Spirometry is not used with babies and small children. In those cases, the doctor usually will listen for wheezing and will ask how often the child wheezes or coughs.
· Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). This shows how fast your child can breathe out when trying his or her hardest.
· A chest X-ray to see if another disease is causing your child’s symptoms.
· Allergy tests, if your doctor thinks your child’s symptoms may be caused by allergies.
Your child needs routine checkups so your doctor can keep track of the asthma and decide on treatment
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