Signs and Symptoms of Asthma
Navneet Brar asked:
Getting desperate to breathe in the real sense?
Want to eat all that you crave for?
Want to do anything to get rid of a handicap-like inhalers and medicines?
Do not worry!
Here is a complete guide to free you from this trap FOREVER!
But first of all, let’s join to gather the needed information about your problem Asthma!
Asthma is a chronic condition in which narrowing of the nasal or air passage causes periodic attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These changes occur with the changes in the environment, including weather, allergens (such as dog or cat dander or dust), foods, or respiratory infections (flu, colds).
Asthma is also popularly known as Bronchial asthma, Exercise induced asthma – bronchial.
Causes of Asthma:
1. Inhaled allergens like pet dander, dust mites, cockroach allergens, molds, or pollens
2. Respiratory infections
3. Exercise
4. Cold air
5. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants
6. Stress
7. Food
8. Drug allergies
9. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory medications (NSAIDS)
10. An individual and/or family history of allergies such as Hay Fever (allergic rhinitis) or Eczema
11. strong emotions
Asthma attacks can last from minutes to days and become really dangerous if the flow of the air becomes severely restricted.
Recent researches show that asthma occurs in 3-5% of adults and 7-10% of children. Usually, half of the people with asthma develop this disease before age 10, and the rest before age 30. These symptoms can decrease over time, especially in children.
Asthma Symptoms:
1. Shortness of breath
Your chest feels tight and you start feeling that you can’t catch your breath anymore or get all the air you need.
2. Frequent Coughing
If you cough very frequently every day or if this cough starts interrupting your sleep at night that won’t quit, it could be a symptom of asthma.
3. Wheezing attacks
A whistling sound heard when a person with asthma is breathing. It happens when mucus causes the small passageways in your lungs called alveoli start to narrow. It happens all of a sudden and not constant. It may worsen at bedtime or early morning or by breathing cold air or by exercising.
4. Intercostal Retractions
These retractions stand for the inward movement of the muscles in the spaces between the ribs. The reduced pressure in the chest cavity is the reason for this pulling of the muscles. This is a sign of difficult breathing.
5. Tightness in the Chest
This can be quite threatening to the asthma sufferer. It gives the feeling of a steel band or a weight that is keeping your lungs from fully expanding as your breathe in.
6. Pallor or Cyanosis
Pallor is a whitish color and cyanosis is a bluish color in the lips and face. If either one of these is followed with severe shortness of breath, are danger signs of asthma attack. You need to get help right away if you notice this symptom.
7. Anxiety or Discomfort
A feeling of intense fear and uneasiness occurs when you find it difficult to breathe. If your anxiety is accompanied by short of breath and / or pallor or cyanosis, then undoubtedly, its time to get emergency help.
8. Fast pulse rate
If you find that your pulse is running extremely fast and you are sweating badly, then do not waste even a single moment and visit your doctor.
If you notice any of these symptoms in you or any of your near and dear ones on a regular or ongoing basis, then you might consult a doctor about whether you have asthma. And if already an asthma sufferer then do not waste time and immediately visit your doctor. Your doctor will diagnose your symptoms.
May God bless you!
Getting desperate to breathe in the real sense?
Want to eat all that you crave for?
Want to do anything to get rid of a handicap-like inhalers and medicines?
Do not worry!
Here is a complete guide to free you from this trap FOREVER!
But first of all, let’s join to gather the needed information about your problem Asthma!
Asthma is a chronic condition in which narrowing of the nasal or air passage causes periodic attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These changes occur with the changes in the environment, including weather, allergens (such as dog or cat dander or dust), foods, or respiratory infections (flu, colds).
Asthma is also popularly known as Bronchial asthma, Exercise induced asthma – bronchial.
Causes of Asthma:
1. Inhaled allergens like pet dander, dust mites, cockroach allergens, molds, or pollens
2. Respiratory infections
3. Exercise
4. Cold air
5. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants
6. Stress
7. Food
8. Drug allergies
9. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory medications (NSAIDS)
10. An individual and/or family history of allergies such as Hay Fever (allergic rhinitis) or Eczema
11. strong emotions
Asthma attacks can last from minutes to days and become really dangerous if the flow of the air becomes severely restricted.
Recent researches show that asthma occurs in 3-5% of adults and 7-10% of children. Usually, half of the people with asthma develop this disease before age 10, and the rest before age 30. These symptoms can decrease over time, especially in children.
Asthma Symptoms:
1. Shortness of breath
Your chest feels tight and you start feeling that you can’t catch your breath anymore or get all the air you need.
2. Frequent Coughing
If you cough very frequently every day or if this cough starts interrupting your sleep at night that won’t quit, it could be a symptom of asthma.
3. Wheezing attacks
A whistling sound heard when a person with asthma is breathing. It happens when mucus causes the small passageways in your lungs called alveoli start to narrow. It happens all of a sudden and not constant. It may worsen at bedtime or early morning or by breathing cold air or by exercising.
4. Intercostal Retractions
These retractions stand for the inward movement of the muscles in the spaces between the ribs. The reduced pressure in the chest cavity is the reason for this pulling of the muscles. This is a sign of difficult breathing.
5. Tightness in the Chest
This can be quite threatening to the asthma sufferer. It gives the feeling of a steel band or a weight that is keeping your lungs from fully expanding as your breathe in.
6. Pallor or Cyanosis
Pallor is a whitish color and cyanosis is a bluish color in the lips and face. If either one of these is followed with severe shortness of breath, are danger signs of asthma attack. You need to get help right away if you notice this symptom.
7. Anxiety or Discomfort
A feeling of intense fear and uneasiness occurs when you find it difficult to breathe. If your anxiety is accompanied by short of breath and / or pallor or cyanosis, then undoubtedly, its time to get emergency help.
8. Fast pulse rate
If you find that your pulse is running extremely fast and you are sweating badly, then do not waste even a single moment and visit your doctor.
If you notice any of these symptoms in you or any of your near and dear ones on a regular or ongoing basis, then you might consult a doctor about whether you have asthma. And if already an asthma sufferer then do not waste time and immediately visit your doctor. Your doctor will diagnose your symptoms.
May God bless you!
Hay Fever: What It Is and How It Affects You
September 28, 2009 by admin
Filed under Alternative Medicine
Raily Arena asked:
Hay fever, also known as Allergic Rhinitis, is a common form of allergy that people have been suffering from for many decades. Health experts estimate that about 50 million people chronically suffer from this type of nasal allergy. If you frequently experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, red, swollen eyes and frequent colds, you could have Allergic Rhinitis. Oftentimes, it takes only small particles such as pollen to affect the human body in many ways. Some of these effects include:
- Throat itchiness that may be intermittent or continuous
- Laryngitis or hoarseness due to pollen affecting the larynx
- RAD or Reactive Airway Disease, a prolonged respiratory irritation characterized by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing
- Asthma attacks – often times, your doctor will diagnose RAD before he diagnoses asthma
- Postnasal drainage, which could lead to sore throat because of fluids flowing into and irritating the throat
- Nasal salute, particularly in young children; characterized by a red crease across the nose due to constant rubbing, wiping and scratching
- Allergic conjunctivitis, which can lead to redness, itchiness and teary eyes
- Darkened areas around the eyes
- Headaches
- General fatigue
Why symptoms occur
When exposed to foreign substances such as allergens, the immune system becomes hyper-sensitive and the body reacts. This is the same kind of reaction that happens when the human body is invaded by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Once the body is exposed to these types of allergens, it produces substances called histamines which causes inflammation, production of mucus and other symptoms associated with hay fever.
Causes of hay fever
Although pollen is the most common cause of allergies that lead to hay fever, there are other substances that can trigger symptoms as well. These include dust, molds, pet dander, insects and food. Although hay fever symptoms can easily be detected, proper diagnosis by a qualified physician is the best way for correct assessment of the condition.
Testing for hay fever allergies
The most common method of determining allergies is skin testing, wherein a minuscule amount of allergen is introduced into the skin to produce a reaction. The doctor will then try to determine if cross-sensitivity is present, such as when allergies are caused by varying substances with similar protein structures.
Controlling symptoms
As a first step, people with allergies are adviced to avoid or at least minimize contact with substances and items that may trigger an attack. It’s also important to be aware of your environment and to perform tasks necessary to reduce allergens, avoid work that might aggravate your sensitive skin and protect your body. With the correct knowledge and treatment regarding Allergic Rhinitis, there is no reason why it cannot be managed efficiently.
Hay fever, also known as Allergic Rhinitis, is a common form of allergy that people have been suffering from for many decades. Health experts estimate that about 50 million people chronically suffer from this type of nasal allergy. If you frequently experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, red, swollen eyes and frequent colds, you could have Allergic Rhinitis. Oftentimes, it takes only small particles such as pollen to affect the human body in many ways. Some of these effects include:
- Throat itchiness that may be intermittent or continuous
- Laryngitis or hoarseness due to pollen affecting the larynx
- RAD or Reactive Airway Disease, a prolonged respiratory irritation characterized by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing
- Asthma attacks – often times, your doctor will diagnose RAD before he diagnoses asthma
- Postnasal drainage, which could lead to sore throat because of fluids flowing into and irritating the throat
- Nasal salute, particularly in young children; characterized by a red crease across the nose due to constant rubbing, wiping and scratching
- Allergic conjunctivitis, which can lead to redness, itchiness and teary eyes
- Darkened areas around the eyes
- Headaches
- General fatigue
Why symptoms occur
When exposed to foreign substances such as allergens, the immune system becomes hyper-sensitive and the body reacts. This is the same kind of reaction that happens when the human body is invaded by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Once the body is exposed to these types of allergens, it produces substances called histamines which causes inflammation, production of mucus and other symptoms associated with hay fever.
Causes of hay fever
Although pollen is the most common cause of allergies that lead to hay fever, there are other substances that can trigger symptoms as well. These include dust, molds, pet dander, insects and food. Although hay fever symptoms can easily be detected, proper diagnosis by a qualified physician is the best way for correct assessment of the condition.
Testing for hay fever allergies
The most common method of determining allergies is skin testing, wherein a minuscule amount of allergen is introduced into the skin to produce a reaction. The doctor will then try to determine if cross-sensitivity is present, such as when allergies are caused by varying substances with similar protein structures.
Controlling symptoms
As a first step, people with allergies are adviced to avoid or at least minimize contact with substances and items that may trigger an attack. It’s also important to be aware of your environment and to perform tasks necessary to reduce allergens, avoid work that might aggravate your sensitive skin and protect your body. With the correct knowledge and treatment regarding Allergic Rhinitis, there is no reason why it cannot be managed efficiently.
How To Identify An Allergic Asthma?
June 19, 2009 by admin
Filed under Non Fiction
Eddy Kong Ww asked:
An allergic asthma. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung airways. It’s symptoms are made worse by exposure to an allergen (e.g., dust, mold, pollen, dust mite allergens and animal dander) to which the patient has been sensitized.
A simple sneeze could trigger allergic asthma or a simple cough could lead to that as well.
What are the symptoms of allergic asthma?
The symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. They include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness. These symptoms are often provoked by an identifiable trigger.
What factors can cause or trigger allergic asthma?
A family history of allergies is the most important predictor of whether a person will develop asthma. Environmental substances (allergens) can trigger an exacerbation – or attack – in patients with allergic asthma.
The allergens include tree, grass, and weed pollen, plus molds, animal dander, dust mites and cockroach droppings. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by viral infections, exercise, cold air and non-specific irritants.
How many people suffer from allergic asthma?
Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, of the 17 million asthma sufferers in the United States, 10 million (approximately 60 percent) have allergic asthma. Three million are children and 7 million are adults.
What is the relationship between allergies and allergic asthma?
Most people with asthma also suffer from other allergic disorders. In fact, research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that at least 70 percent of asthmatics also suffer from allergic rhinitis or “hay fever.”
Nasal allergies and allergic asthma are both triggered by exposure to allergens, initiating a series of events that result in tightening of the airways, swelling of the lining of the airways, nose and eyes, and mucus production.
What is IgE and why is it important in allergic asthma?
IgE (Immunoglobulin E) is an antibody in the human immune system that plays a critical role in the allergic process.
When an individual is sensitized to an allergen, he or she produces an IgE antibody directed against that allergen. The IgE antibody attaches to mast cells.
When the individual is exposed to that same allergen again, the allergen binds to the IgE on the mast cell causing it to release substances such as histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.
What treatments are available for people suffering from allergic asthma?
It is important for people with asthma to seek treatment. First, patients are evaluated to identify their specific allergic triggers and a program of allergen avoidance is recommended.
Asthma is treated with medications including anti-inflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes that decrease inflammation in the lungs, and bronchodilators used for relief of symptoms.
Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a program of injections that reduces allergic sensitization.
A new drug currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), known as anti-IgE, concentrates on short-circuiting the allergic reaction in the body before it even begins.
Anti-IgE therapy stops the allergic reaction before it starts, allowing the patient to avoid allergy symptoms that often trigger an asthma attack or lead to the development of asthma attacks.
Researchers are looking for targets for new forms of treatment. Future therapies may focus on cytokines, substances that maintain the chronic inflammation responsible for asthma.
Other research may also lead to the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs, which may retain the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids but cause fewer systemic side effects.
As the more and more developing countries are emerging, more and more air pollution is arising, whether asthma or allergic asthma, the number of people having is rising.
They could have acquired this chronic illness rather than having it genetically as the environment is getting more and more dirtier.
An allergic asthma. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung airways. It’s symptoms are made worse by exposure to an allergen (e.g., dust, mold, pollen, dust mite allergens and animal dander) to which the patient has been sensitized.
A simple sneeze could trigger allergic asthma or a simple cough could lead to that as well.
What are the symptoms of allergic asthma?
The symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. They include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness. These symptoms are often provoked by an identifiable trigger.
What factors can cause or trigger allergic asthma?
A family history of allergies is the most important predictor of whether a person will develop asthma. Environmental substances (allergens) can trigger an exacerbation – or attack – in patients with allergic asthma.
The allergens include tree, grass, and weed pollen, plus molds, animal dander, dust mites and cockroach droppings. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by viral infections, exercise, cold air and non-specific irritants.
How many people suffer from allergic asthma?
Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, of the 17 million asthma sufferers in the United States, 10 million (approximately 60 percent) have allergic asthma. Three million are children and 7 million are adults.
What is the relationship between allergies and allergic asthma?
Most people with asthma also suffer from other allergic disorders. In fact, research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that at least 70 percent of asthmatics also suffer from allergic rhinitis or “hay fever.”
Nasal allergies and allergic asthma are both triggered by exposure to allergens, initiating a series of events that result in tightening of the airways, swelling of the lining of the airways, nose and eyes, and mucus production.
What is IgE and why is it important in allergic asthma?
IgE (Immunoglobulin E) is an antibody in the human immune system that plays a critical role in the allergic process.
When an individual is sensitized to an allergen, he or she produces an IgE antibody directed against that allergen. The IgE antibody attaches to mast cells.
When the individual is exposed to that same allergen again, the allergen binds to the IgE on the mast cell causing it to release substances such as histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.
What treatments are available for people suffering from allergic asthma?
It is important for people with asthma to seek treatment. First, patients are evaluated to identify their specific allergic triggers and a program of allergen avoidance is recommended.
Asthma is treated with medications including anti-inflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes that decrease inflammation in the lungs, and bronchodilators used for relief of symptoms.
Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a program of injections that reduces allergic sensitization.
A new drug currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), known as anti-IgE, concentrates on short-circuiting the allergic reaction in the body before it even begins.
Anti-IgE therapy stops the allergic reaction before it starts, allowing the patient to avoid allergy symptoms that often trigger an asthma attack or lead to the development of asthma attacks.
Researchers are looking for targets for new forms of treatment. Future therapies may focus on cytokines, substances that maintain the chronic inflammation responsible for asthma.
Other research may also lead to the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs, which may retain the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids but cause fewer systemic side effects.
As the more and more developing countries are emerging, more and more air pollution is arising, whether asthma or allergic asthma, the number of people having is rising.
They could have acquired this chronic illness rather than having it genetically as the environment is getting more and more dirtier.
