The asthma update

Manchester researchers found that severe asthma is brought by common airborne fungi as such as household molds, damp, dead leaves, trees and grass. Triggers are everywhere if we just think of it. We are not even free from our very own homes. Our homes may contain triggers like dust mites, secondhand smoke, cockroaches, cats and dogs.

At least people nowadays are aware that asthma is considered as life threatening. You just don’t know the feeling I had when I got admitted before to the emergency room because of my asthma. Later I heard some people crying and realized that the man occupying the bed next to mine died of asthma just moments ago. Nyahh… you must have known the little panic that crept within me….

Your environment can cause, trigger or exacerbate asthma symptoms. One good thing to take note is the presence of Nitrogen Dioxide which is an odorless gas. This is the usual byproduct of gas stoves, gas or oil furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and unvented kerosene or gas space heaters. I always have my asthma attack if I am exposed to this kind of trigger especially engine exhaust.

So if you have asthma please avoid these triggers and try to breathe more fresh air. This will do well to your lungs.

Asthma and its intervention

The severity of asthma fluctuates with corresponding change in management requirements. Effective early introduction of anti-inflammatory treatment in children with asthma improves the prognosis. The earlier the treatment is started the greater the improvement will be in lung function. Usual symptoms of asthma are wheeze, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath and sputum production. Some may exhibit prodromal symptoms preceding attack like itching under the chin, discomfort between shoulder blades and inexplicable fear. Education, counseling and environmental interventions are very important if you have this disease.

Some parents take asthma for granted. Please don’t take any symptoms for granted. Asthma most of the times are associated with colds and cough. Yes that is true but at certain intensity of the disease, it has to be taken cared of and intervened promptly. A persistent cough and wheeze every night, poor or unmanaged asthma impacts a person’s personal relationships, lifestyle, activity, attendance at school and at work, social interaction and feeling of well being. The prevalence of allergic sensitivity is lower in adults than in children. One of the most important tests is the test for lung inflammation since the main physiological manifestation of asthma is variable airway obstruction. It is logical and compulsory to include pulmonary function test in evaluating the effectiveness of asthma intervention. However with rare disease brittle asthma, high prevalence of food intolerance has been noted.

Overweight is significantly higher in children with moderate-to-severe where overweight promotes severity. The effects on increased BMI on asthma are mediated by the mechanical properties of the respiratory system associated with obesity. Elevated BMI and dietary patterns especially intake of excess lipids contribute to symptoms of asthma. Nutritional status is very important in order to maintain healthy lungs. Lungs functions are said to be better with higher antioxidant levels. Dietary modifications may help manage asthma by preventing distention of stomach from large meals. Large meals results to distress which aggravates asthma. Diet affects altered immune or antioxidant activity which may cause the lungs infection and effect airway inflammation.

Intervention:

1. Optimize nutritional status on Vitamins C, B6 and E, selenium and magnesium. Reduce intake of Oleic acid while increasing intake of Omega 3 fatty acids.
2. Health maintenance program or exercise or physical activity. Maybe tai chi or calisthenics may be advisable at the early stage of physical activity to increase stamina first. Then increase with sports and other strenuous physical activity if tolerated. Stop and rest when you feel you are hardly breathing.
3. Plan a balanced, small meal. Fruits and vegetables are preferred. Omit food allergens like milk, eggs, seafood and fish. Try to lose weight.
4. More fluid intake is encouraged. Please use less sodium.
5. A combination of three herbal extracts in China identified as ASHMI has been found to be useful.

It is always best to consult your doctor and a nutrition expert in your area before implementing your planned diet. I appreciate if you could post comments regarding asthma prevention practice you have.

Understanding asthma

Asthma is characterized by airflow obstruction caused by alterations in the caliber of airways which gave rise to wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest or simply shortage of breath. Increased prevalence and severity of asthma is directly related to inflammation of the lungs.

This inflammatory disease was observed to occur when there is chronic exposure to dust mites, allergens or other chemicals, strong odor, tobacco smoke and fumes. It normally occurs when there is stress, experiencing cold air or hyperventilation, there is change in weather upper respiratory tract viral infections and too much laughter or crying. Asthma usually occurs early morning or at night time. So you will see that the patient may be a little bit normal at daytime but increases coughing and wheezing at nightfall.

Narrowing of the airways is usually reversible but in some cases there may be an element of irreversible airflow obstruction. The lining of the airways becomes tighten and swollen while the muscles surrounding the airways tighten during an attack. This results to the inside of the airways becoming narrower which may also be blocked with mucus. This way air is no longer free to move in and out of the lungs because the sticky liquid plugs up the airways which seem to slow or stop the flow of air making breathing difficult.

Asthma attack may last for several hours to days ranging from slight breathlessness to not being able to breathe at all. Asthma may be chronic for some people where the illness may last for a long time or even a lifetime. Most people with asthma have airways that are very sensitive to things that do not bother other people. Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Oftentimes asthma and allergens go together but a person may have allergies without suffering from asthma. Likewise a person may have asthma but without allergies.