All About ..::: ASTHMA :::...

Treatment of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease which is incurable. However, proper treatment of asthma can definitely lessen its symptoms. You will find many common signs of asthma like chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) which makes them puff up or lead to narrowing of the airways. This illness affects bronchi tubes and not the air sacs or parenchyma of the lung.

Causes of Asthma


The exact cause of asthma is not known yet, at the same time it is not even understood clearly why this illness occurs in a few people. The symptoms and causes of asthma vary as per the human body. It differs for every individual. Some common causes of asthma can be pollution in air, smoking and changes in the climate, house dust, grass, cockroach pollen or allergy due to some food.

Once your doctor knows the cause and symptom of asthma, he /she will suggest you some medications which you should follow from time to time. The doctor will offer you:

• Brief Information about your health and taking preventive measures for it.
• Following asthma action plan agreed and made by doctor
• GP surgery provided by doctors who are expertise in asthma management
• Routine checkup to ensure that asthma is under control and treatment given to you is right.
• Deciding on which treatment for you will be good.

As per the classification made by asthma, the causes are divided into three factors work related factors, diet related factors, and others.

Home Treatments of Asthma

These days, it has been noticed that many people are becoming the victim of this incurable disease, may be because of the increasing rate of pollution or due to unhygienic conditions. Controlling it every time is not possible, it is here where treating it by home remedies can play a vital role to help people fight this chronic illness naturally. Many people opt for the home remedy treatment of asthma as it has no side effects and is safe for the human body.

• The person who suffers from this illness should have garlic every day. Boiling it with milk can surely lessen the early symptoms of asthma to get worse. You can also have some ginger tea before sleeping which will definitely keep this illness under control.
• People who are at the early stages of asthma can also use the boiled eight to ten garlic cloves and ginger in ½ tablespoon of milk and have it at night.
• You can also mix a tablespoon of honey with cinnamon powder and consume it. It is the best remedy for asthma.

Dietary Treatments for Asthma

• Consume lot of boiled water
• Do not have fried and processed foods
• Avoid fruits such as guava, papaya, watermelon and banana
• Avoid foods such as rice, curds, buttermilk, sugar, lentils, heavy milk products like cheese, cottage cheese, etc., which have a natural tendency to produce the phlegm or to accumulate mucus.
• Do not indulge in overeating. Take light dinner one to two hours before going to bed.

Medical Treatment for Asthma

There are many ways that usually doctors suggest to treat asthma medically, out of which controllers and relievers are the two ways which usually the doctor’s advice.

• Controllers are the preventers that reduce the swelling of the airways. They must be taken every day, as they effectively reduce the symptoms. Once you think that your asthma is under control and have stopped showing the symptoms, still make sure that you don’t stop this treatment. Stopping this will definitely make the swelling in the airways again.
• You can try combination inhalers like salmeterol, fluticasone or formoterol. These medicines have LABA along with a corticosteroid. However, these medicines can increase your risk of having a severe asthma attack if you stop taking them.
• Relievers are another good medication treatment which minimize the symptoms immediately. In case you have cough or make wheezing sound while breathing, then using a reliever can reduce the symptoms. However, reliever medicines do not help you with the problem of inflammation. They can control the breathing problem for a short time. They also indicate if there is an underlying inflammation which needs immediate controller medication. Make sure you monitor how often you use this reliever.

Understand that asthma is a treatable, but incurable disease. You can definitely live a healthy and productive life like others by following proper treatment for asthma.

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What to Do During Asthma....

An asthma attack is something when the symptoms of asthma become worse, making your airways narrower resulting in inflammation, swelling, and mucus thickness. Asthma is a chronic and incurable disease. However, you can prevent its symptoms occurring again and again. The wheezing sound which you hear while breathing is known as asthma breathing which is the typical sign of asthma. Other symptoms can be difficulty in breathing, tightness of chest, fast breathing, coughing and fast heart beats. If you are an asthma patient or have children with asthma, then follow some suggestions given in the article on what to do during asthma attack.


Things to Know to Prevent Asthma Attack

To avoid the occurrence of symptoms every time or letting them become worse, you must have an asthma care plan which can guide you to control asthma and know the steps that you must take, when such symptoms create an asthma attack. The plan is usually made by your doctor that includes three components:

1. Basic symptoms that you must watch for
2. Severe stage which is to be determined by the peak expiratory flow rate
3. Actions to taken based on symptoms or peak flow

Causes of Asthma

The common cause of asthma that can bring in the airways of asthma patients is when the airways become sensitive to things like irritants known as triggers. Other than this, other common irritants can be:

• Weather conditions
• Change in temperature
• Smoking and cigarette smoke
• Exercise

What to do During Asthma Attack?

• Carry an asthma inhaler every time as it will enable an asthmatic's narrowed airways to open. Usually, these inhalers are prescribed by doctors who are asthmatic for use during asthma attacks.
• A peak flow meter determines how your asthma is doing. It also helps in preventing an asthma attack. It shows the asthma plan that you must follow. When peak flow numbers decline, it means your asthma is getting worse and you should take quick actions to prevent an asthma attack. You must give medications depending on the instructions in the asthma care plan to prevent the signs of becoming more severe.
• You must calm down and sit for a while and take some rest. These attacks can be due to mental stress. So make sure you calm down soon.
• Make sure that you keep yourself away from the things that can worsen your symptoms. If you play sports that can make you tired soon or exhaust you, then avoid doing that. Stay away from people who smoke and avoid going to smoky places. If you have a pet by which you are allergic, then stay away from it.
• Do not discontinue puffing your asthma inhaler till any health care provider is within your reach.
• You can also use Beta-2 antagonists which can help in opening up the bronchial passages quickly making it easy to breathe.
• You must increase you food intake which is rich in Vitamin B6 or B12. Foods like eggs, dairy products, meat and fruits can be helpful. This can lessen the lungs irritation. Hence, doctors usually advice this to asthma patients.
• If you still find that you have breathing problems even after taking proper care, then you must visit your doctor immediately.
• Having tea of licorice will definitely improve your health. It treats the asthma attack simply by sitting at home.
• Drink licorice tea once a day. It helps in the treatment of asthma attack and is one of the simplest home remedies.

Call for Emergency if: A patient or the child who is suffering from asthma must take preventive measures. If the home treatment does not work, then you must immediately contact a doctor or head to the emergency department. If you find the mentioned symptoms in the asthmatic patient, then you must seek a healthcare provider for emergency care immediately:

• Becoming pale
• Coughing that has become continuous
• Wheezing that occurs while breathing both in and out
• Becoming anxious
• Difficulty breathing
• Blue fingernails called cyanosis

Knowing about the symptoms and taking quick action is the best way to avoid chronic illness called asthma. As mentioned above on what to do during asthma attack, you must have definitely got the idea of the steps that you must take to avoid the signs.