Symptoms of Asthma, What to Look for

Symptoms of asthma are the indications that one sees that one is suffering from asthma.  Asthma is a condition that affects the airways that transport air in and out of the lungs.  This condition occurs when the airways are irritated and cause a swelling in the lungs and causes the air not to pass through as required.

Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, tightness of chest and shortness of breath.  Patients that suffer from asthma usually have symptoms one or more.  These symptoms are usually triggered by various situations that include weather, viral infections, colds, fungi, molds, animals, food, hormones, sex, vigorous exercise, etc.  These situations bring about irritation and trigger the occurrence of asthmatic symptoms.

Coughs are usually brought about by exposure to germs that may be in the environment around us. Clean surroundings are a must to prevent this. Wheezing on the other hand, is actually like a hissing sound that comes from the patient and may at times come along with long gulps of breathing, or heavy breathing.  This is usually brought about by colds or bad weather and even dusty environment.

Tightness of chest is another symptom of asthma, this is brought about by lightening of vessels through which the air passes.  Various medications are used to cause a relaxation of this vessels therefore giving relief to them.  Heavy breathing also is a symptom of asthma and could come about by involvement in work that is too heavy and therefore not supplying sufficient air into the body that also brings about shortness of breath.

Asthma Diseases and Conditions

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma affects people of all ages. Not all people who have asthma have the symptoms of wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. On the other hand, having these symptoms doesn’t always mean that you have asthma.

A number of triggers can cause or worsen asthma. Some of the triggers are allergens found in dust, animal fur, cockroaches, mold, and pollens from trees, grasses, and flowers;  medicines such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemicals or dust, and compounds in sprays; Sulfites present in foods and drinks;  Viral upper respiratory infections; and health conditions such as runny nose, sinus infections, reflux disease, psychological stress, and sleep apnea.

The symptoms of asthma are recurring periods of wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. The conditions such as runny nose, sinus infections, reflux disease, psychological stress, and sleep apnea are related health conditions that can interfere or worsen asthma management.  Cough often occurs at night or early in the morning. The types of asthma symptoms you have, how often they occur, and how severe they are may vary over time. Your symptoms may irritate you. They may be troublesome enough to limit your daily routine. Severe symptoms can threaten your life. It is very important to treat symptoms when you first notice them so that the symptoms don’t become worse.

A lung function test, along with physical examination and medical history is the best way to diagnose asthma. Your doctor will make out e severity level of your asthma—that is, whether it is intermittent, mild, moderate, or severe. Your severity level will determine the treatment you must take. You need to consult an asthma specialist if you have life-threatening asthma attack, if you are in need of higher doses of medicine to control your asthma, or if you your asthma is uncontrollable with any medicines. Asthma in young children can be hard to diagnose. It is also difficult to tell whether a child has asthma or another childhood condition because the symptoms of both conditions can be similar.

Asthma is treated with two types of medicines: long-term control and quick-relief medicines. Long-term control medicines reduce airway inflammation and prevent asthma symptoms. Most asthma patients need to take long-term control medicines daily to prevent asthma symptoms. They don’t give you quick relief from symptoms. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred medicines for long-term control of asthma. If you have severe asthma, you may have to take corticosteroid pills or liquid for short periods. If taken for long periods, these medicines raise your risk for cataracts and osteoporosis .Other long-term control medicines include Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists, Leukotriene modifiers, Theophylline, Cromolyn and nedocromil. Long-term control medicines can have side effects. Consult with your doctor about these side effects and ways to monitor or avoid them.   Quick-relief medicines relieve asthma symptoms quickly. You should take your quick-relief medicine when you first notice your asthma symptoms. Carry your quick-relief inhaler with you at all times in case you need it. Quick-relief medicines don’t reduce inflammation. Asthma medicines can be taken in pill form or as inhaler. An inhaler allows the medicine to go right to your lungs.
Asthma treatment can only control the disease. Good asthma control will prevent symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath, reduce the need for quick-relief medicines and prevent severe asthma attacks.

Though Asthma cannot be cured completely, most people who have asthma are able to manage the disease, live normal, active lives and sleep through the night without any interruption from asthma, with today’s knowledge and treatments.

Do Your Dog Have Allergies

Constant scratching, tail-chasing, coughing and wheezing, eye and nose discharges – if these symptoms can be observed on your pet dog, chances are very likely that he/she is suffering from allergies.

Yes, dogs, just like their masters can suffer from allergies. Roughly about 20 percent of the dogs living in our homes suffer from some allergy type. Major classifications of canine allergies are atopic dermatitis, flea allergy, food allergy and inhalant allergy.

Atopic dermatitis is skin allergy disease caused by hypersensitivity developed by your dog’s immune system to several and very common substances like molds and dust mites.

If your dog scratches and licks himself very often (particularly licking and chewing the paws, abdomen and legs), and his/her ears are hot to the touch, he/she may be suffering from atopic dermatitis.

Check to see if your dog’s saliva causes stains. A red to brown stain is another indicator that your dog is atopic. In persistent cases, the skin on the abdomen changes color from pink, to a bright red then to black. Flea allergy is the most common form of canine allergy. However, it is not the flea but the flea’s saliva that your dog may be allergic to.

To find out if your dog has flea allergies, a skin allergy test is preformed. If it he/she is tested positive, a strict control regimen can reduce symptoms. Consult you’re your vet as to what type of treatment is best for your pet. There is a wide array of choices ranging from pills to sprays to shampoos

Just like their masters, dogs are susceptible to allergens inhaled from the air. Pollen from trees, grass, and flowers, dust mites and molds are just some of the common culprits. However, unlike their masters who exhibit inhalant allergies through sneezing and coughing, dogs show their reactions through scratching and biting as well as chewing of feet and licking constantly. A less common reaction is recurrent infections in your dog’s ears.

You can help alleviate the allergy by vacuuming frequently and dusting the areas your dog spends much time in (like his sleeping area). Dogs also exhibit allergies to the food they eat. And this is perhaps the most tedious to diagnose because food allergies can mimic any of the other allergies mentioned in this article. First thing to do is to remove all possible allergy causing ingredients from your pet’s diet. You can do this by using a homemade meal of a protein and starch source your dog has not had before. Add gradually (one at a time for about a week), more ingredients into it. If symptoms return after adding a particular ingredient, then the possible allergen could be identified.

However, allergic reactions may not appear for about a week after consuming the allergen so be sure to confirm your findings with your vet. Once it has been verified, avoid the ingredient in the dog foods you’ll subsequently feed your pet with.

Other symptoms of food allergies are vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing and sometimes, even changes in behavior.

You can help your pet and alleviate his allergy woes by bathing and conditioning your dog regularly. Contrary to what most people will tell you, you can never bathe your dog too often. Water helps to relieve your dog’s skin and keeps it healthy. It also rinses off allergens from their body. Different kinds of shampoos are available to treat allergies, depending, of course, on your pet’s particular condition.

Asthma Prevention – Know How to Prevent Asthma

Asthma is a condition that affects the respiratory system of a person. When one has an attack, the airways swell and make air passage through them difficult. As a result, asthma symptoms are felt and they include; wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Asthma disease has no cure and thus prevention is the only sure way of controlling it.

Asthma affects one in four people on average and is present in all age groups. Asthma symptoms include wheezing, an overproduction of mucus and excessive coughing. The symptoms are the result of muscular over activity causing inflammation and mucus production. It can be triggered by allergies, emotions or stress. Most people have warning signs that an attack is coming on and can treat it with prescription medications such as Albuterol.

There are various medications that are used for this purpose. Preventive inhalers is one of them. This is used frequently to stop an attack from happening. The inhaler helps to decongest the lungs and allow for air to flow freely in and out. They ease the tightness from the chest. The chances of an attack are reduced. Asthma prevention is important because the patient is at a lower risk of making the disease severe.

Asthma can also be prevented by taking care of one’s surroundings. In the cases of a working environment that could probably be dealing with toxic chemicals, proper protection gear should be used to prevent one from inhaling the toxic chemicals.

Rooms and other damp areas should also be avoided as mould can often grow in such areas and the mould spores can become airborne and trigger asthma attacks in the same way as pollen. Always use an extraction fan in bathroom areas and if necessary wipe excess water from walls etc after showering to prevent mould from growing.

Dust mite allergens are known to play a major role in it’s development. Researchers have determined that other important allergens (after dust mites) that also need to be eliminated from the home are cats, certain types of mold, dogs, cockroaches and tobacco smoke. It is a popular misconception that children will “outgrow” asthma. It is a severe and potentially life-threatening illness that should be taken seriously. Long term use of steroid drugs is not recommended by doctors and has serious side effects

Purchase vent filters for each vent in your home. It will cut back on air borne particles that can get asthma irritated. If you can’t get the whole home at least get the room the asthma patient sleeps in.

Asthma remedy is given to patients with an asthmatic condition. Infants, children and adults have various remedies for this condition. They could be similar or different depending on the condition of an individual. Asthma affects the airways and therefore air is not transported as it should to the lungs. One remedy for asthma is prevention and one should therefore avoid the causes.

Egg Allergy: Causes & Cure

A person can be very fond of an egg and on the other hand another person is allergic to egg. An egg is not at all bad but if a person is allergic to an egg, it means that the body’s immune system overreacts to proteins in the egg. Living with an egg allergy means you have to be aware of what you’re eating and read food labels carefully when you buy stuffs from shops. This label requirement makes things a little easier than reading the ingredients list — instead of needing to know that the ingredient “ovoglobulin” comes from egg protein, you should be able to tell at a glance which foods to avoid.  Every time something made with eggs enters the digestive system of a person with an egg allergy, the body thinks that these proteins are harmful invaders. The immune system responds by creating specific antibodies to that food, which are designed to fight off the “invader”. These antibodies — called immunoglobulin E (IgE) — triggers the release of certain chemicals into the body, one of which is histamine. So when a person with an egg allergy eats a food that contains eggs, the immune system unleashes an army of chemicals to protect the body. The release of these chemicals can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and the cardiovascular system — causing allergy symptoms like wheezing, nausea, headache, stomachache, and itchy hives.

Egg allergy usually first appears when kids are very young, and most kids outgrow it by the time they’re 5 years old. It usually happens within minutes to hours after eating eggs. Most reactions last less than a day and may affect any of three body systems: -

Skin – in the form of red, bumpy rashes (hives), eczema, or redness and swelling around the mouth;

Gastrointestinal tract – in the form of belly cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting;

Respiratory tract – symptoms can range from a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing to the triggering of asthma with coughing and wheezing.

A few people may have a very strong reaction called anaphylaxis. This severe allergic reaction causes swelling of the mouth, throat, and airways leading to the lungs, resulting in breathing difficulty. In addition, there is a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which can make someone dizzy or may quickly lead to shock.

With severe allergic conditions its better to consult an allergist. Allergists diagnose, monitor, and treat allergies and related conditions like asthma, eczema and hay fever. You may need to find an allergist if you’ve experienced food allergy symptoms, if your allergy specialist or general practitioner wants to refer you for further allergy testing, or if you’ve moved and need an already diagnosed allergy monitored or treated. In some cases, you may be limited by a scarcity of allergists in your geographic area or by your health insurance. Much of the time, however, you’ll have a choice of allergists in your geographic area. You’ll want to look for many of the same things you’d look for in any medical practitioner: an organized and well-run practice, willingness to answer your questions, and an appropriate background with respect to credentials, certifications, and continuing education. The best place to find allergists are through your general practitioner and through family, friends, or other acquaintances that are currently seeing, or have previously seen, an allergist. Your may have a list of allergists, online resources can also help you make a decision, allows you to search allergists in a given geographic area and will provide you with free reports on board certifications, disciplinary actions, hospital affiliation, and education — all things you’ll want to know about before you settle on a practice.

The allergy specialist will want to know —how often you have the reaction, the time it takes between eating a particular food and the start of the symptoms, and whether any family members have allergies or conditions like eczema and asthma. The allergy specialist may perform a skin test on you. This test involves placing liquid extracts of egg protein on a person’s forearm or back, pricking the skin a tiny bit, and waiting to see if reddish raised spot forms, indicating an allergic reaction. Some doctors may also take a blood sample and send it to a lab where it will be mixed with some of the suspected allergen and checked for IgE antibodies. Treating egg allergy might seem simple — you just don’t eat eggs. But so many foods are made with eggs and egg products that it can be really hard to know. If you have a severe egg allergy — or any kind of serious allergy — your doctor may want you to carry a shot of epinephrine with you in case of an emergency.

Acute Bronchitis Symptoms

Acute bronchitis is as a result of inflammation of the medium sized airways otherwise known as the large bronchi.  This can either be as a result of viral bacteria or other infections.  The most common infections are viral.  These usually disappear within within days of the first symptom.

Acute bronchitis symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest pains, fever, fatigue and headache.  The wheezing and shortness of breath is as a result of the airways blocking thus making air passage through them difficult.  The chest pains sometimes cannot be felt.  This is if the infection is not so severe.  The cause of the chest pains is as a result of tightness in the chest as not enough air reaches the lungs.  Another cause can be constant coughing. 

The acute bronchitis symptoms usually start with a dry cough.  This progresses into a productive and wet cough within a few days.  The other symptoms are also felt at this time.  When one starts experiencing the dry cough, it is usually so sever that it can wake you up at night. The fever, fatigue and headache disappear after a few days.  The cough can last for up to one month.  If it lasts for more than this period of time, the diagnosis of an ear nose and throat doctor is needed to rule out any other condition present in the body.

The acute bronchitis symptoms usually do not need medication if they are caused by a viral pathogen.  Theses include influenza. The symptoms are also not so severe. Acute bronchitis symptoms caused by bacteria pathogens need to be medicated by antibiotics and expectorant cough syrup.  These should be administered together.

Asthmatic Bronchitis

Bronchitis that is not well treated can degenerate into asthma. Asthmatic bronchitis is as a result of inflammation of the airways.  Bronchitis is also as a result of an inflammation of the airways or large bronchi.  The inflammation can be caused by a virus or bacteria pathogen. 

When a bronchitis infection takes place, symptoms such as coughing, fever, fatigue and headaches are felt.  Shortness of breath and wheezing can be experienced as a result of blockage of the airways by phlegm.

Asthmatic bronchitis is as a result of chronic bronchitis that goes on for a long time.  Due to the constant irritation of the airways, the condition can turn to be asthmatic.  Asthma has no cure, therefore one need to control the bronchitis condition so that it does not degenerate into other more serious problems.  These are pneumonia and asthma.

When a bronchitis cough lasts for more than one month, there is need to go for diagnosis.  This should be done by an ear, nose and throat specialist. Having irritated the airways for month can lead to asthmatic bronchitis.

The symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.  All these symptoms are as a result of lack of enough air going through the airways.  The symptoms can also be as a result of air forcing its way through the blocked tubes. 

The tubes block as a result of swelling caused by an irritation.  This at most times is an asthma bronchitis trigger.  When the condition is found to be asthmatic, treatment should start immediately to avoid other health problems.  If bronchitis infection is still present, this too should be dealt with.

Bronchitis Herbal

Bronchitis is a condition caused by the presence of harmful pathogens in the respiratory tract. These pathogens can either be bacterial or viral. The viruses mostly causing the condition include influenza, rhino virus, syncytial and adenoviridae virus. The symptoms experienced include an expectorant cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and occasional chest pains. Wheezing and chest pains are as a result of blockage of the airways causing difficulties in air passing through.

Other symptoms include fever, fatigue and headaches. Bronchitis herbal remedies should only be taken after a doctor’s consultation. Most of the bronchitis infections are caused by viruses. These usually disappear in a matter of days. Therefore, one does not need a bronchitis herbal remedy for this.  The condition caused by the presence of bacteria pathogens need to be medicated using antibiotics.

Bronchitis herbal antibiotics are available. These can only be taken after a diagnosis from a doctor and identifying the cause of the condition as a bacteria infection. The bronchitis herbal remedies can be taken with the permission from your doctor. He is also the one to prescribe which herbal remedy you can take.

When one is having an expectorant cough as a result of bacteria infection, an expectorant cough syrup is needed. This helps flash out all the harmful bacteria in the body by coughing them out.  A bronchitis herbal expectorant cough syrup can be taken. This can be possible after getting a prescription from a doctor. Over the counter medication can be dangerous in the self treatment of bronchitis. You should avoid doing this. In most cases, the symptoms usually disappear in a matter of days. It should not take longer than a month for it to be completely healed.

Bronchitis Home Remedy

Bronchitis home remedy is a great way of dealing with the symptoms of a bronchitis infection.  The symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, wheezing, expectorant cough and shortness of breath.  Wheezing and shortness of breath is as a result of blockage in the airways caused by mucous piling up in them.  A bronchitis home remedy should therefore be able to expel out all the mucous that is being piled up in the respiratory system.

Bronchitis is as a result of a viral or bacteria infection.  Other causes of the condition include smoking and air pollution.  When the disease is as a result of virus pathogens, the symptoms usually disappear on their own in a matter of days. The viral bronchitis infections are the most common ones.  Bronchitis home remedy for a viral infection should aim at reducing the symptoms and making one more comfortable.  The symptoms such as headache, fatigue and fever can really put one down though they disappear in about two to three days.

Bronchitis conditions caused by a bacteria infection needs medication.  This is to flash out or kill the harmful pathogens in the body. A bronchitis home remedy is not recommended if this is the cause of the disease.  One should visit a doctor for a full diagnosis and medication. If you still insist on a home remedy, let the doctor advise you on the best remedy to use.

The bronchitis home remedy used together with a doctor’s prescription can work for or against the disease.  It is therefore advised to get all the proper information on a particular remedy. Some people react differently to bronchitis home remedies. If you notice side effects of the remedy, its use should be stopped immediately.

A Complete Guide To Symptoms, Treatment, And Cure Of Bronchitis

very commonly found now a days. In this condition the air passages in our lungs are inflamed. This disease can either be chronic, acute, or asthmatic.

Acute bronchitis is short term. Caused by the viral infection beginning in the sinuses and/or the nose spreading in to the air passages, it is believed to be cured generally in 10-12 days.

The chronic bronchitis occurs when cough in the sputum stays for three months and up to a year. This is the rather dangerous disease that occurs mainly among the smokers. It is also known as COPD that is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Once diagnosed in the early stage it is curable.

The symptoms though somewhat similar in both the cases vary at some point. The signs & symptoms of acute bronchitis are:

i. Wheezing
ii. Fever
iii. Fatigue
iv. Sore throat
v. Cough producing mucus
vi. Burning sensation in the chest

The symptoms of chronic bronchitis enlist:

i. Wheezing
ii. Chronic cough yielding excessive mucus
iii. Inability to breath
iv. Blue-tinged lips
v. Swelling of ankle, feet, leg, etc.

Some other facts about bronchitis are as follows:

1. Viral infection causes acute bronchitis and bacteria.

2. Usually, acute bronchitis is transmitted from one patient to another.

3. Chronic bronchitis is often caused due to cigarette smoking & long-term exposure with irritants such as dust, grain and air pollution.

4. When you go far an examination, the doctor listens to the chest and the back, examining the throat. He then draws some blood & takes that for culturing the lung secretions in the check ups. In case the doctor suspects COPD or pneumonia, he would also make you undergo a chest x-ray.

5. The simple means of preventing these ailments are –

i. Keeping away from the irritants & air pollutants.
ii. Taking yearly flu & pneumococcal vaccination to avoid infections leading to the chronic bronchitis exacerbation and/or acute bronchitis.

The treatments involved in the cases of these ailments are as follows:

1. Usually viruses get cleared with in 7-10 days in the cases of acute bronchitis.

2. For this the doctors recommend the cough medications including expectorants.

3. They also suggest you to place room humidifiers in your house.

4. You are always advised to drink loads of fluids such as water and juices to get rid of the growing symptoms.

5. In case it is an infection cause due to virus or bacteria, it is a must to check with the doctor first.

6. Usually the doctors prescribe antibiotics.

7. In some cases the doctors prescribe bronchodilators, such as Albuterol. This medication helps an easy opening of the airways in our bronchi. They also effect the corticosteroids that is inhaled or taken in orally so as to reduce the inflammation & mucus.

8. Leading a healthy and hygienic lifestyle is a must. Quit smoking and make use of air conditioners, air filters and curtains in the house in order to breathe clean air in the house. Changing your lifestyle is also a helpful remedy. You need to stop smoking.

9. Plant a steam or humidifier in house, especially bathroom.

10. Get used to having lots of liquids such as water and juices.

11. While the infection is active, you must take rest.

12. In cases of chronic bronchitis when the oxygen in the body gets low, take oxygen therapy at your home itself.

13. Focus on the dietary & nutrition supplements. Experiment with some food materials and see if they are helping to deteriorate or control the bronchial symptoms.

14. Record all the disturbances that you feel and make sure to report them to your doctor.

15. Lessen the dairy products as much as possible as they produce lot of mucus that is not good for your health while in a bronchial condition. Avoid eggs, milk, preservatives, nuts, food coloring, additives, etc.

16. Put lots of garlic & onions in the food as it is advisable in such condition.

17. The studies reveal that NAC that is N-Acetyl-Cysteine is helpful in dissolving the mucus and improving the symptoms pertaining to chronic bronchitis.

18. Zinc supplementation enhances the activities in the immune system. It protects the individual from bronchial infections and colds.

19. The other advisable supplements are vitamin C, quercetin, bromalein, and lactobacillus. All these supplements prevent the individual from getting afflicted with the infections & relieve him/her from the bronchitis symptoms.

20. Usage of herbs to treat varied ailments is a very old & successful concept. Yet this also has its advantages and disadvantages. The herbs can land up in side effects if not taken with proper prescription and knowledge. Especially their interactions with the other supplements, medications, and other herbs.

21. Some of the well known herbs are as follows:

i. Berberis vulgaris or barberry improves the immune system functions & fights infections.
ii. Eucalyptus also known as eucalyptus globules are apt for treating the common colds & coughs. The oil made of eucalyptus helps loosening the phlegm.
iii. Mentha x piperita or peppermint is effective in place of decongestants. This contains menthol that helps in thinning the mucus just like an expectorant. Peppermint also provides a calming & soothing effect for the dry coughs & sore throats.
iv. Slippery elm, also known as the ulmus fulva is known above as it is recognized by U.S. FDA (that is Food & Drug Authority) for its effectiveness & no side effects in the respiratory symptoms & sore throat.
v. Urtica dioica or Stinging nettle acts as another expectorant with anti-viral properties.
vi. Homeopathy along with standard medical attention proves indeed helpful. This is because a person’s psychological, physical, and emotional all make-ups are taken in to consideration in this procedure.

At the end the chances of recovery of the bronchial patient are always enhanced if the treatment starts at an early stage!

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