What You Can Do To Prevent and Treat Asthma
Each and every year, hundreds of thousands of people die from asthma attacks.
Yes, that same medical condition that kept you out of gym class and organized sports as a child – at least without an inhaler close at hand – is responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of people on an annual basis. This is true even with some of the very best medical interventions available, advanced inhalers and steroid solutions, and even top-notch prescriptions.
Understanding the “ins and outs” of asthma is critically important to making sure that you don’t have to worry about a dangerous or potentially deadly asthma attack occurring to yourself or someone that you love. Hopefully we are able to provide you with the inside information that you’re looking for when it comes down to treating these very serious medical issues below – creating the kind of “asthma action plan” that you need to overcome this very serious medical condition.
Understanding of the severity of an asthma attack
It’s almost impossible for those not living with asthma to fully understand and appreciate what happens when someone is hit by an asthma attack.
Those suffering with this condition begin to feel something just a bit off in their bodies, an issue that rapidly deteriorates into a sense of pressure pushing into our lungs and forcing the air out of our bodies. As a compensation, our bodily systems kick into over drive – with the adrenaline in full flow – trying to pull in just as much oxygen as we possibly can, fighting against all odds that will finally be able to bring in air when we needed most.
Some have described it as drowning outside of water, and that’s probably the most apt description than those living without asthma will ever truly embrace and understand.
Though the root causes behind asthma are as of yet unknown (though doctors argue about the science and research behind the specific condition almost on a daily basis), most have come to the conclusion that it is a genetic issue at its root cause.
Help is certainly on the way
It’s also critical to understand that help – in the form of high level medical interventions, high-powered prescription drugs, and a whole host of other elite level medical treatments – are available to almost everyone. Inhalers have gotten more and more potent and effective, and emergency rooms and medical professionals are trained in how to respond to these issues much better than they had been in the past.
Of the reason it is so important to understand that there are solutions and tools that you can a quick yourself with is because only 33% or so of asthma related deaths occur in a hospital. This means that the overwhelming majority of people will die from asthma did so away from trained medical assistance, and probably away from their specific medical intervention tools, technologies, and medicines.
Understanding the dangerous – and potentially deadly – symptoms of asthma
Asthma exacerbations can kick in almost at any time – and seemingly for any reason – but there are a number of very specific symptoms that have been discovered to occur right around 12 hours (up to several weeks) before the deadly instance.
This is what makes detecting the symptoms so difficult, as only around 15% of people dealing with the symptoms die a less than six hours after developing them. Deadly asthma attacks are truly a “slow burn” kind of medical condition, which is why it’s critical that you pay attention to all of the specific risk factors that can contribute to an asthma related death.
These risk factors include (but are not limited to):
• Previous instances of near fatal asthma attacks
• Improperly controlled or medicated asthma that results in shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, and repeated rescue inhaler uses
• Asthma attacks that required admission to intensive care units or emergency rooms
• Two or more asthma related medical admissions within two months or less
• Using up two (or more) supplies of emergency asthma inhalers inside of two months
Though only a partial list of the risk factors that may contribute to a guinea asthma attack, it’s critical that you understand the risk factors you are dealing with here. Doctors continue to contribute to the wealth of knowledge that asthma sufferers can tap into on a regular basis, but you’re going to have to do much of the “legwork” to make sure that you are protected on a daily basis.
What can I do to prevent and asthma related death?
The first thing that you need to do to prevent an asthma related death – long before you tap into online for super powered inhalers or anything of that nature – is to understand that you are at risk in the first place. You’d be surprised at the amount of people who are hospitalized with very serious asthma attacks that remain to be ignorant to just how close they brushed death.
Secondly, you’ll want to make sure that your trusted medical professional – someone that has physically seen you and diagnosed your specific asthma – has provided you with all of the tools and technologies you need to lead a happy, healthy, and productive life. You’ll always – ALWAYS – want to keep at least one rescue inhaler on hand, but it’s even better if you have a backup to your backup.
Get all in all, it’s relatively simple and straightforward to make sure that asthma stays in check – but you should understand just how serious and real this medical condition and emergency can become.
A national health survey conducted in 2013 has shown a critical decline in asthma rates across the United States, and while this is good news for parents of affected children, and asthmatics across the country, doctors are questioning the numbers and saying it might be too soon to celebrate. Jeannine Schiller from the CDC has stated her doubt, suggesting that this might be one of those blips in statistics that shows a change that has occurred randomly and won’t continue to decline. The medical community is hopeful, but a decline of almost 3 million people in a decade seems too good to be true.
How Asthma Affects You
Asthma is considered a disease and affects carriers by restricting oxygen intake through the narrowing of air passages and chest tightness. It is a chronic condition that can continue throughout a patient’s life or disappear with age and better living conditions. Medical News Today says: “The inside walls of an asthmatic's airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases your susceptibility to an allergic reaction.”
For this reason many asthmatics experience shortness of breath and during an attack when the tightness and narrowing becomes overwhelming, many even find themselves unable to catch their breath or stop couching. Wheezing and pain in the throat and chest can also occur during these attacks, which tend to be most prominent during physical activity or under stress.
Survey Statistics
The statistics from the survey claiming the drop in asthmatics throughout the United States also suggested that there have been considerably less asthma attacks overall. The numbers are based on interviews processed with more than 47 thousand residents of the U.S. and covered many races, age groups, living conditions and genders. CBC News reports: “For the past few years, about 8.6 per cent of Americans have said they have asthma. But in last year's survey, 7.4 per cent said they currently had it. That was the lowest mark in a decade, and represents a decline of more than 3 million people.”
A specialist in pediatric asthma from Emory University, Karen Freedle, has stated that an explanation for these changes is not available at this time, which is one reason why health officials are having a problem believing that the findings are accurate and will continue throughout the next decade as well. Statistics in other countries, such as Canada, did not report similar findings over the previous decade. In fact, Canadian statistics showed that as of 2010 8.5 % of the country had been diagnosed, and this rate followed suit with previous statistics dating back to 2001, showing no such change over the ten year span.
Causes of Attacks and Treatment Options
As mentioned above, many asthmatics will find their symptoms worsening under stress or in poor living conditions. For many who suffer from asthma, dust and other allergens can cause serious problems with breathing, and can cause coughing spasms among other problems. Physical activity that raises heart rate and causes heavy breathing can also be cause for alarm for some asthmatics as the narrowing of passages tends to worsen under these conditions. Unfortunately, no lasting treatment has been found to prevent asthma, or to rid patients of their symptoms. CTV News writes: “Experts say there's been no recent major advance in asthma treatment or improvement in the environment that would account for the latest figures.”
Most asthma sufferers will be prescribed one or two different oral inhalers that will directly transport medication into their air passages and lungs. These come in many brands and varieties, but the most common pump out a spray or powder, which then must be inhaled. For more serious cases, or during attacks, a ventilation machine may be necessary, which involves placing a mask over the patient’s face, and the medication being pumped into the mask to be inhaled. Different medications work differently for the varying degrees of asthma, and while some find great use out of the inhalers, others aren’t able to use them for daily breathing troubles, and must turn to the machine instead. Very young asthma patients also tend to use the machine over an inhaler, as it can be difficult for little mouths and lungs to properly breathe in the medication from the small inhalation device.
Creating an Asthma Action Plan
Although there’s no allover cure for asthma there have been improvements in treatments and care, and this might also have something to do with the low numbers being reported this decade. Many physicians are beginning to train their patients in self-care to combat the disease in a more organized manner. This plan might cover what to do if medication isn’t available, as well as what times of the day are best to take your medication. You may be asked to keep an asthma diary which can help both you and your doctor to determine when you have the most distress with your symptoms, what your diet and exercise might be doing to relieve or heighten symptoms as well as other factors in your life that could cause an overall difference in your treatment plan. Web MD advises: “For instance, your asthma action plan might list your asthma triggers and some ways to avoid them. Your asthma action plan may also list routine asthma symptoms and what you should do if these symptoms occur.”
You can also utilize a peak flow meter method of self-care, at which point medication, or a visit to your physician might be necessary. As air paths restrict during an asthma attack, much of the problems in breathing actually has to do with an inability to properly exhale, so one way that you can monitor your condition is by using peak flow meter. This method requires you to inhale as much as possible and then exhale and measure how quickly it is released. As you do this throughout the day, if you notice a drastic change in how quickly you exhale, this could mean the onset of an attack.
Ways to Prevent Asthma
Bring On The Pets
The thought process behind introducing dogs into the lives of babies and young children is that introducing them to the possible allergens before an allergy develops could actually save them from said development later in life. Medical News Today insists: “There have been several studies suggesting that when exposed to a dog regularly in early infancy, children's risk for developing allergies and asthma decreases.”
Results of a study involving mice that was processed in the University of California in San Francisco as well as the University of Michigan found that microbes in the gut of the creatures were physically reshaped when early exposure was eminent. This gastrointestinal microbiome alteration ceased reactions to allergens altogether, making it seem quite possible that it would do the same to asthma responses as well.
Eat More Fiber
Another test process involving lab mice had similar results when they were fed certain fibrous materials found in plant matter, which seemed to activate the same change in microbes. Allergic reactions and symptoms that would be associated with asthma such as the inflammation of bronchial tubes was less advanced and even relieved in some cases. . Nic Fleming of newscientist.com states: “Research in mice has shown for the first time that levels of dietary fibre, found in fruit and vegetables, can influence the balance of microbes in the gut in ways that make the airways more or less prone to the inflammation seen in allergic airway diseases.”
This study has been duplicated by other research groups and the same kind of results have been found, proving that changing your diet could actually promote healthier lungs and less dramatic symptoms where asthma is concerned. Of course this kind of treatment or preventative measure won’t work on babies, but young children can still benefit from an upgrade in fruits and vegetables throughout the day. It’s always been well documented that fresh produce packed a healthy dose of essential vitamins and nutrients as well as assisting with proper digestion, this new deduction is just icing on the cake.
Skip The Sugar
Similar to the familiar knowledge that fruits and vegetables should be more prominent in your diet, the obvious need to cut out sugars and heavy dairy products is also a good idea when asthma is part of your life or a possibility. Healthline.com provides the following information on the subject: “Allergies are an inflammatory response to an allergen, and certain foods like sugar, dairy, and wheat can produce additional inflammatory responses that compound a reaction, Wood says.”
Not only is bronchial inflammation a possible side effect of an over indulgence in some of these food items but dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt has been known to cause thickening in mucus, which can cause further breathing problems when the system is already congested. Wheat products such as gluten have also been known to show some negative responses in regards to allergies and asthma, but this is a less common occurrence and removing gluten from your diet is a big decision that should only be attempted through the consultation and suggestion of a medical doctor.
More Exposure
One treatment method uses the concept that being introduced to allergens early on in your life could save you from more severe responses later. This theory tends to coincide slightly with that of the evolving microbes due to owning a dog at a young age. The difference here is that it is believed that throughout your life you breathe in dust and microorganisms on a regular basis which means that when you come into contact with a larger quantity of these things your body can handle it and not suffer an attack due to inflammation. In asthma patients the defense mechanism provided by your body which promotes inflammation is much more sensitive and so medication is usually required. In the past there was no real knowledge of the causes of asthma and its effects, which meant that people didn’t try so hard to avoid them. Now people with allergies tend to stay as far away from allergens as possible, which makes sense when you’re older and know what kind of a response you’ll have, but which could damage your system further from being able to protect itself against the irritants; news-medical.net reports: “This theory is called the "Hygiene Hypothesis." It may help explain why asthma has been on the increase in recent years.”
Basically, becoming less involved with irritants in the air is causing people to become weaker because your body isn’t used to all of the things floating around out there. By interacting more with the dust and microorganisms you will develop natural coping methods.
Get Active
Finally, becoming more active in your daily life is an excellent way to deal with asthma and has been showing great improvements in recent studies. Of course the bronchial inflammation can make it difficult to practice such activities as high impact cardio, but focusing on less intense exercises can be of tremendous help to your system. Swimming for example is low impact but still allows you to raise your heart rate and get your lungs working without straining them. It is easy to obtain a prescription from an telemedicine based doctor at QuickRxRefill
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