Archive for February, 2010

Asthma Research is Ongoing

Posted on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
During an asthma episode, inflamed airways rea...
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For people with asthma, life can be a daily struggle. It can also be lived nervously and on edge, wondering when the next attack will appear. Not everyone with asthma lives that way, but some of them do. That’s especially true for people who have severe asthma and have experience attacks that have sent them to the hospital in the past. It’s very hard to ignore the fact that something like that could happen again. Naturally, anyone who has asthma wants to see a cure for it – or at least a much better way to control it without side effects.

This hasn’t happened yet, but research into how to control or cure asthma is still ongoing. Unlike research for diseases like cancer, asthma research isn’t talked about very much. Also some health care related online college degrees also provide this research papers. It’s not getting millions of dollars of funding from big corporations, and there aren’t advocates yelling about it on the nightly news. That doesn’t mean that nothing is getting done or that it’s not an important problem that needs a solution. More can and should be done, though, to help people with asthma get the treatment that they need, and get new and better treatments that can help them live better lives. Right now, there are only certain medications for asthma, and a lot of them have side effects that aren’t pleasant.

If these kinds of side effects can be avoided, it would help millions of people who struggle with asthma attacks and the side effects of the medications that they take in order to prevent and control them. Since this is an issue that affects so many people, research into better medications and treatments for it will continue, even though it’s not in the limelight all the time. There are many conditions and diseases that are in need of cures or better treatments, so it’s not likely that asthma will see a major breakthrough any time soon. For the people who have it, that’s a very frustrating bit of knowledge – but one that they will hold onto as they work to see the treatments for asthma improved.

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Asthma: Staying Safe in the Heat

Posted on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Journal of Asthma
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When the heat of summer arrives it can take its toll on someone who’s asthmatic. That person might not be able to handle it well, and it can cause more wheezing, trouble breathing, and other symptoms then the wintertime does. For people who have to work out in the heat, there are precautions they can take. If you’re asthmatic and you need to work outside when the weather is warm or hot, be careful and take your doctor’s advice. How much you can do, how often, and for how long can be very important to discuss with your doctor or other health care professional. By asking questions and getting a lot of advice, you’ll be better equipped to work in the heat without risking a serious asthma attack.

If you live in a climate where there’s a lot of humidity, you should know that the heat might be even more severe for you. When the air is humid, it’s denser. It can be harder to breathe, and that’s especially problematic for someone with asthma or another type of breathing or lung problem. If you can work outside on days that are drier, breathing should be easier. The air will be thinner, and more easily inhaled. However, following your doctor’s advice about the best times for you to work outdoors is generally the safest choice. You’ll help to avoid serious injury and health risks that way.

If you can’t work out in the heat because of your asthma, don’t despair. You’re not alone, and many people with asthma must limit what they do, even when the weather is cool, so that they don’t put themselves at risk for a serious attack. While an asthma attack usually goes away on its own, it can be very distressing while it’s occurring. Some asthma attacks can become severe enough to be fatal, as well. If you do choose to work outside in the heat, make sure you take any doctor-recommended asthma medication on schedule and pay attention to how you’re feeling and how you’re breathing. Stop before you get into a problematic situation.

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How to Help Children in the Summer Months

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Two peak flow meters.
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If your children have asthma, you naturally want to take care of them and protect them from harm. That’s especially important during the summer, because the heat, pollen, and increased outdoor activity can cause more problems than are seen in the winter months. With that in mind, it’s important to talk to your children’s doctor about the best options for medication, activities, and other concerns. Many people with asthma and other breathing problems stay indoors on days when the pollen count is very high. Your children may need to do this, as well. That will generally depend on how severe their asthma is and how high the pollen count is in your area.

Certain types of pollen are more of an asthma trigger than others, and every person is different. Once you’ve determined your children’s triggers, you can help them feel better and stay healthy by limiting what they do in certain circumstances. While you’re thinking about the pollen over the summer, consider the heat, as well. Excessive heat, especially when it’s coupled with high humidity, is something that many people with breathing problems like asthma have a hard time with. On days that are very warm your children may need to stay indoors. This could be even more important if you live in a climate that’s very humid.

How much exercise your children get can also affect asthma. That doesn’t mean that a child who has asthma shouldn’t get any exercise, but there are limits to how much – and what kind – is safe. Heavy aerobics might not be the best choice for asthmatic children. More sedate exercise is better and safer. It’s generally easier on the body, and it’s also easier for children to stop if they start to feel an asthma attack coming on.

With aggressive exercise, your children might be involved in an asthma attack before they really realize that it’s taking place. That can be dangerous, and make the attack more severe. Talking with a doctor about what your children can safely do is the best way to protect them from serious asthma problems.

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Breathing Well for Good Health

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Pneumothorax
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When you’re not breathing properly, it’s hard to feel well. Unfortunately, too many people breathe the wrong way, and they could be stopping themselves from really enjoying optimum health. The main problem is that they breathe too shallowly. They take air into the top part of their lungs, causing their upper chest to rise. Then, the exhale that air and quickly take in more. They are breathing faster than they need to, and they don’t feel relaxed because they are too close to hyperventilation. If they would learn to breathe the right way, they would feel more relaxed – and that can lead to lower blood pressure, better digestion, and other factors that can promote long life and good health.

To breathe the right way, take air in more slowly, and get a deep, full breathe. Your abdomen should rise, not your chest. You’ll find that you don’t feel the need to immediately take in more air after you exhale. There’s a pause. Then another breath. It’s very relaxed, and can make you feel much more peaceful. It can feel strange at first. The more you practice it, the more natural it becomes to you. Soon, you’ll be breathing the right way all the time without even thinking about it.

For people with asthma, proper breathing is essential. They can experience wheezing, coughing, tightness in their chest, and other problems associated with breathing. It’s easy to start to panic when you feel as though you can’t get enough air – and the panic only makes the breathing problems worse. When you panic you breathe fast and shallow. By training yourself to breathe more slowly and more fully, you’ll be less apt to panic when you start to have an asthma attack.

People who have problems with anxiety are also often taught to breathe this way, and it helps to lessen their panic attacks and keep them from hyperventilating and making their symptoms worse. Asthmatics can use this same breathing technique to help keep them calm during an asthma attack and make sure that they breathe properly to avoid anxiety.

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Mild Asthma: What You Need to Know About Exercise

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 6:42 pm

Asthma can be a scary condition, but a lot of people have only a mild case of it. If you’re one of them, know that you don’t really have a lot to worry about. That doesn’t mean, though, that you shouldn’t be careful at all. Even someone with mild asthma could have a serious attack if they pushed themselves too far and didn’t take care of themselves the right way. If you haven’t been caring for yourself, now is the time to start. If you need to lose weight, get in shape, eat better, or any combination of those things, you can do that even if you have asthma. Exercise isn’t something you have to avoid with asthma – it’s only something you need to be more aware of.

If you exercise carefully and don’t overdo it you can get into great, healthy shape without risking a serious asthma attack. Take your time and start slowly. Don’t rush and try to do too much right at first. It took you time to get out of shape, and it will take you time to get back into shape. That’s okay. As long as you’re trying to move forward and you keep improving, you’ll reach your goal with time. Too many people with mild asthma just don’t exercise because they fear an attack. While that’s understandable, exercise is important. They could be doing more damage to their health by not exercise than they would if they got moving.

Anyone who has mild asthma and is planning on starting an exercise routine should see his doctor and even go online with their laptops to read more about it. That’s the best and safest way to find out what is appropriate for him to do when it comes to starting a new exercise regime or increasing the one that he already does. Doctors know what questions to ask, and they can help determine what’s safe and what isn’t based on a person’s medical history and what kinds of symptoms they experience. Severity of symptoms matter, but so do issues like how often the symptoms appear and what seems to trigger them.

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Breathing Problems? It Could be Air Quality

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 6:41 pm

Breathing isn’t something that most people really think about. They usually just do it automatically. The only time people really notice their breathing is when they struggle for breath and there’s a problem with getting enough air. If you have breathing problems like asthma or allergies, there are all kinds of things that could trigger a bad day for you. One of those things is the quality of the air you’re breathing. If it’s good and clean and healthy, you’ll generally have fewer breathing problems. However, if you live in a big city or somewhere where the air is polluted, you’ll be more likely to experience breathing problems. You may even develop them, if you didn’t have them before you arrived. That’s true of children and adults, and no one is specifically immune to the development of a problem with his breathing.

A lot of people live close to chemical plants, paper mills, and factories, where the air just isn’t as good as it could be. Big cities contribute to a lot of breathing problems, too, because of the smog and exhaust from all of the cars being driven through them each and every day. While many people live there and don’t think much about it, people who have breathing problems struggle with it every day. It’s unfortunate, but unless they move there isn’t much else they can do about the issue. In other areas of the country the air is much cleaner, and they might be able to breathe more easily if they relocated.

Sea level living is also supposed to be very good for people who have breathing problems, because there is more oxygen at sea level than there is at higher altitudes. However, the air quality still plays a factor. It might be easier for someone to breathe clean air at 3000 feet than it would be for that same person to breathe polluted air at sea level. This is something to consider if you have breathing problems and are thinking about relocating to improve them. Don’t focus only on altitude, because air quality matters, too.

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Breathing Problems in Elderly Adults

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 6:40 pm

As people get older, they often experience more health problems. Of course this is not the case for everyone, but it’s the most common scenario for the majority of the population. A lot of elderly people experience breathing problems. Whether they have asthma, allergies, or some type of reduced lung function, they can struggle for breath even with mild exertion. It can be harder to help these people, too, because they often have other health problems that come along with the breathing issues. That makes treating them less effective sometimes, and it can also mean that certain treatments can’t be used because of other health issues. In those kinds of cases, it’s very hard to make a decision about what will be best.

If you’re facing that kind of problem today, your doctor can help you move forward with a treatment plan. You don’t have to decide on your own. If you have family around to help you, what they have to say is worth listening to. If you are alone, talk with your doctor, others who have been treated with the medications or procedures you’re thinking of, and a support group if there’s one in your area. The more information you discover from a larger group of people, the more knowledge you’ll be armed with to treat your asthma or other breathing problems.

Of course, each person can have unique circumstances that can stop them from being a good candidate for a particular treatment. That’s to be expected. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t address their breathing problems and explore their options, though. Sometimes the best options aren’t the most common ones or the ones that everyone else uses. There’s nothing wrong with doing something unconventional for your breathing problems, as long as you’ve discussed it with your doctor. Because asthma and other issues are often just a little bit different in each person, something that didn’t work for other people may be just the medication or treatment that you need. It may allow you to control your breathing problems and continue to live a full life.

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Long-Term Health Effects of Asthma

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 6:33 pm

If you have a chronic condition, like asthma, one of your worries may involve the long-term health effects that you’ll experience. You can end up worried about your lungs, your heart, your weight, and other issues that you feel you can’t do anything about. Fortunately, you can do something about your health and help yourself stay as healthy as possible, even if you have asthma. Mild forms of asthma usually don’t cause any kind of problem, but more severe cases can be hard to control. They can leave the sufferer feeling like he can’t get control over his life, and can make him afraid to do anything strenuous or physical. Don’t let your asthma control your life. If you spend your time worried about whether asthma will affect your life, you’ll never get out and live.

Of course asthma sufferers need to be careful, depending on the severity of their condition, but many of them can live very normal lives. Repeated and severe asthma attacks can eventually damage and weaken the lungs. Mild asthma symptoms over the long term usually do no damage. The same is also true of occasional attacks, even if they are moderate or severe. Where the real long-term health danger comes in with asthma is through a lack of exercise. Often, people who have asthma avoid exercise because they think they can’t do it safely. That can stop them from making an effort to stay healthy.

If you want to take charge of your life and mitigate the long-term health effects that you might see from asthma, it’s best to talk with your doctor. Together, the two of you can come up with a comprehensive plan that can help you eat right, get some safe exercise, and manage your condition. You’ll need to make some changes to your lifestyle, most likely, but they’ll be changes that you can live with and that will provide you with a lot of benefit in the long run. Don’t overlook the power of simple changes when you’re trying to stay healthy and control your asthma for the long term.

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Owning Pets When You Have Breathing Problems

Posted on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 6:41 pm

Anyone who has asthma, allergies, or other problems with breathing may have trouble owning some kinds of pets. A fish tank generally isn’t a problem, but cats, dogs, and birds can cause issues because of their fur or feathers and the dander and dust that can build up in them. That doesn’t mean you can’t own a pet, of course, but you may want to think carefully before you get one. Some of them are easier to handle than others, and which one is the right one for you will also depend on the severity of your breathing problem, what triggers it most often, and other factors. You’ll need to keep that in mind as you visit your local pet store or animal shelter, since you don’t want to get a pet that you can’t live with.

Before you pick out a pet, see your doctor and discuss your breathing issues. Depending on how well controlled they are and what causes them most often, you may not be a good candidate for a pet that’s not hypoallergenic. Some dogs are good for people with allergies, as are hairless cats. They can be very expensive, however, so that’s something you’ll need to consider before you buy. Not everyone has the money to buy a hypoallergenic pet. If these people have serious breathing problems, they may have to just avoid having a pet in their home.

Also, be careful when you visit other people who have pets. If you aren’t expecting the pets or the level of hair or dander that you encounter, it could trigger allergy problems or an asthma attack. What might not bother another person could bother you. Just make sure you ask when you’re about to visit the home of someone you haven’t visited before or someone you haven’t seen in a long time. It can help to protect your lungs and keep you from having a breathing problem. In your own household, make sure you only get the type of pet your doctor recommends for you, so you don’t aggravate any kind of breathing problem you have.

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Breathing Problems in Dry, Dusty Climates

Posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 6:34 pm

For people living in the desert, the dust can be a serious problem. Dust storms pop up frequently, and when they do they can make you feel as though you’re being sandblasted. It’s hard on the paint on homes and vehicles, it stings your eyes, nose, and skin, and it can get into your lungs and make it harder to breathe. Some people who live in these kinds of climates find that they need oxygen to help with their breathing problems, and others cough and sneeze and wheeze their way through the summertime, when the air is at its dustiest. Desert conditions don’t allow for a lot of rain, and the dust often blows and fills the air with fine particles that are inhaled by all of the people who live there.

Usually, they don’t bother anything. They just make people a little stuffy or cause their noses to run. Sometimes, though, they make it much harder to get air properly. If someone already has a breathing problem like asthma or severe allergies, the blowing dust can be a real concern. If you’re dealing with breathing problems, it’s best to protect yourself as much as possible. Stay indoors if you can on days when the dust is really blowing. If you can avoid it, you don’t have to worry about dealing with the breathing issues it can cause.

If it’s unavoidable that you go outside when it’s dry and dusty, take steps to minimize your risk. Limit your time outside, and cover your mouth and nose with a mask, bandanna, or scarf. You’ll still be able to get air, but you won’t be inhaling all of the dust particles that would otherwise get into your nose and mouth. Once the wind has died down or there has been some rain to control the dust, you’ll be able to spend more time outside. Many people really love living in a desert environment. If you’re one of them and you have breathing problems, you can learn to protect yourself as much as possible and enjoy your time outside.

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