Asthma News, Causes, Types, Symptoms, Treatment, Medication, Facts and informations

Archive for April, 2009

Severe childhood asthmatics require the addition of oral corticosteroids. These patients continue to have several attacks a week and reduced airflows despite maximal therapy. The adverse effects are similar to those of adults but are more significant in regard to growth and bone development in the youngest patients.

Alternate day therapy should be attempted for patients who require maintenance therapy due to severe disease.

The National asthma Education Program Report

You often hear the terms "asthma" and "allergies" lumped together. But do you know why?

You often hear the terms "asthma" and "allergies" lumped together. But do you know why?asthma is a chronic lung condition, characterized by difficulty in breathing due to extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of air to and from the lungs. Common early warning signs of asthma include fatigue, coughing (especially at night), wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, runny nose, and itchy throat. Allergies, on the other hand, are immune system reactions to things that most people would experience as harmless. Certain foods, dust, pollen … these are allergens that can trigger an allergy attack. When they're encountered, the body's immune system produces IgE antibodies to fight the allergen. These antibodies create the release of chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which (histamine) affects the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and skin, causing the allergy's symptoms.

Before packing asthma medicines for a trip, keep these suggestions in mind: Take extra medicine. Pack one and a halftimes what you think you'll need for the number of days you'll be away in case you are delayed, the trip is extended, or you have to use more medicine than usual because your child experiences an asthma flare.

All medicines should travel in appropriate containers. Keep them in the containers they came in from the pharmacy. All the necessary information should be on the pharmacy label. Labels should show the child's name, medicine name, dose, name of the prescriber, and the medicine's strength. Many parents know the name of their child's medicine but not its strength; this can cause problems because many medicines come in multiple strengths.

While the symptoms of asthma and vocal cord dysfunction are similar, there are some subtle clues which can you distinguish the difference.

Ever heard of vocal cord dysfunction?Not many have. Vocal cord dysfunction is a respiratory condition characterized by adduction of the vocal cords. The result is a limitation of airflow at the level of the larynx that is often mistaken for asthma. The symptoms are very similar and can actually occur alone or along with asthma.

If you are an asthma sufferer and particularly if you are diagnosed with allergic asthma, it can seem at times that even the treatment or treatments you are receiving through conventional sources can sometimes seem somewhat experimental.

You try one medicine and see how it works. Then you talk to your doctor about your malady and he might give you something els to elevate some other aspect of your symptoms, until you find what works and what doesn't and in what combination they should be used and at what dosage.

For some people, asthma symptoms are unmistakable-like trying to suck air through a straw, they say.

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Patients with bronchial asthma can also participate in their care and management by carefully monitoring their diets. Although there is no extensive evidence that ingestion of a certain food product is beneficial in treatment of asthma, there is evidence that sensitive asthmatics should avoid certain foods, preservatives, and dyes.

Patients who have experienced allergic reactions to specific foods must carefully avoid these products. Immediate reactions may include development of hives (urticaria), wheezing, collapse of the circulation, and swelling of the throat (anaphylaxis). Common sources of allergic or asthmatic reactions include shrimp and other shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, and peanuts. asthma attacks triggered by food allergies are much more Common in children, particularly those with the allergic skin rash known as eczema. In adults these reactions are much less frequent and do not often trigger asthmatic attacks.

Treating exercise-induced asthma is preventive. Several agents seem to be effective and are easily adapted for both children and adults.

B2-Adrenergic Agonists

The B2-adrenergic agonists are effective in preventing exercise-induced asthma. If a short-acting agent is given ten to fifteen minutes before exertion the immediate bronchoconstriction may be completely blocked. The long-acting B2-agonists such as

salmeterol may be particularly helpful since their lengthy duration may also block the late phase attack. Remember, however, that long-acting B-agonists take longer to become effective so should be given thirty to forty-five minutes before exercise begins.

There is little doubt that asthma may develop in the workplace, creating a significant health problem. Estimates of the incidence of occupational asthma vary according to the industry. Each year new agents that may cause asthma are identified and another occupation is added to an expanding list.

At last count more than 200 agents had been identified as potential causes of occupational asthma.

What Is Occupational asthma ?

Occupational asthma is an illness created in the workplace by a particular material. It is distinguished from preexisting asthma that worsens at work from adverse conditions. Some types of occupational asthma appear to occur more often in allergic individuals, but it is clear that this disease may also occur in nonallergic workers.