Asthma Causes, Treatment and Facts

ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is leading cause of childhood deaths, especially among city dwellers. The risng toll of asthma has puzzed doctors, but many attribute it to a combination of factors, such as the cost of asthma medications, which may be beyond means of low-income families. Improper use of asthma medications, and exposure to environmental pollutants.

Wheezing, chest tightness, labored breathing and other asthma symptoms occur when the tiny muscles that control the airways to the lung constrict, causing a bronchospasm. Normally, the airways narrow somewhat when exposed to smoke, pollutants, very cold air or substances that are harmful if inhaled. In asthmatc people, however, the response is exaggerated and often triggered by otherwise harmless substances or activities, such as pollen and other allergens and exercise.

Heredity may be a factor. The reason some people have hyperreactive airways is unknown; heredity, however, is suspected of playing a role, because the disease runs in families. Many asthmatics also have hay fever and other allergies. Although stress and emotional upsets can trigger or worsen an attack, experts emphasize that asthma is a lung disease, not a psychological disorder; as such, as a serious and even debilitating physical condition.

Some asthma attacks are quickly reversed by taking a bronchodiliator medication. these ease symptoms by opening the constricted airways. Other episodes are more prolonged and as the airways become more inflammed and clogged with mucus, breathing becomes increasingly difficult. In such cases an injection of epinephrine( Adrenalin) and a corticosteroid may be needed to stop the attack. Although asthma is a chronic disease, the changes that occur during an attack that are temporary, and the lungs general function normally at other times.

When asthma starts during childhood, the frequency and severity of attacks tends to lessen as the youngster grows and may dissappear by adulthood. Some adults however may suffer a reccurence, often as an aftermath of a viral infection. In such cases the asthma may be even more severe than it was in childhood.

Eliminating Triggers
Doctors agree that the best reatment for asthma entails identifying and then avoiding its triggers. In some instances these are obvious for example, exposure to tobacco smoke and other noxious fumes, cold air, exercise, or an allergy to an animal dander. Seasonal asthma is usually due to various pollens, molds and other environmental factors .

Suspected, allergens can usually be identified by blood and skin tests.
Food allergies can cause attacks. In many asthma sufferers, food allergies are a trigger; in these cases identifying culprits may require considerable detective work, especially in children. Because food allergies vary from person to person there is no handy list of offenders.

But sometimes a child unconsciously links a food with his asthma by fusing of refusing to eat it. complaints such as “it makes my mouth feels funny” may point to an allergy. Often, foods that trigger asthma are identified by keeping a careful record of the time and ingestion of all foods and drinks, as well as many asthma symptoms. After a few weeks, a pattern of offending food emerge. A doctor can then do confirming skin or other allergy tests.

For some people, inadvetently ingested environmental allergen problem rather than the foods. People allergic to ragweed, for example, may also react to pyrethrum a natural pesticide made from chrysanthemums, or to other allergens related to plants. Similarly, people allergic to mildew and other environmental molds may react to molds in food; common offenders include cheese, mushrooms, hotdogs and other processed meat, as well as anything that is fermented including soy sauce, beer, wine, and vinegar.

Helpful Foods:
There are no specific food that prevent asthma, but some may lessen its complications. Omega-3nd may counter bronchial inflammation. Evidence continue to grow on the protective effects of fruits and vegetables on lung function.

Eat at least 5 to 10 serving of fruits and vegetables daily and include one citrus fruit. These foods provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for healthy lung function. Viatmin C promotes a healthy immune system and may be helpful in reducing wheezing in children with asthma. Some studies have linked weight gain with adult onset asthma. In addition when obese people with asthma lose weight there can be improvement in asthma symptoms.

Credits to Readers Digest Foods That Harms Food That Heals

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 at 1:59 am and is filed under ILLNESSES & AILMENTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.