The underlying problem in an asthma attack is an inflammation of the lining of the airways, leading to spasms in the surrounding muscles, together with the production of excess mucus. One or more triggers can provoke such an attack, but what precisely are these triggers? There is no all-inclusive list which embraces these factors, simply because each individual is affected differently, but some are definitely more common than others. For instance, cold air will certainly not help, nor for that matter will exposure to polluted air, such as tobacco smoke. There are also certain similarities with hay fever triggers, e.g. grass pollen - especially if in the vicinity of a freshly mown lawn. In addition the indoor environment has had an affect on the development of the condition; with homes these days tending to be warmer and consequently, more appealing for cohabitation by dust mites -- a real enemy of asthma sufferers.
Its not all doom and gloom though, as people become better acquainted with the condition, self management and medication is now a good deal easier. Many carry a peak flow meter, which can determine whether an attack is imminent. For children with asthma, taking such control of their illness not only decreases its symptoms, but also promotes feelings of self-confidence. The usual method of controlling asthma involves the use of inhalers. There are quite a range of these, so it is important to select the right one for each individual. In the main they will be either relievers or presenters. The reliever medicines tend to be put in blue or grey devices. If you only have symptoms every so often, then the occasional use of this type of inhaler may be all that you need. The preventer version is taken every day to prevent symptoms from developing and tend to be either a brown, orange, or red appliance. The medicines commonly used in these are steroids and whilst it can take up to a fortnight for them to build up to their full effect; after a couple of months use, they may be needed far less, if indeed at all!
Mick Burrows writes for http://www.asthma-any-question.com
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How to Treat Your Asthma
Asthma is chronic disease that affects the airways or the tubes that carries air in and out of the lungs. Asthmatics have inflamed airways or the inside walls of the airways are swollen with excessive mucus production making breathing difficult. Symptoms include wheezing, chest pains, difficulty breathing and coughing. Asthma is a very uncomfortabl...
Asthma Triggers and Asthma Control Techniques
Avoid the triggers and improve your asthma conditionNo matter what asthma medication or asthma treatments you are using, reducing the negative effects of asthma relies on avoiding the asthma triggers as well as you can. The irritation of your breathing passages can be reduced if you live and work in a clean environment and if you keep pollen and du...
How to Prevent an Asthma Attack
The main way in which you can prevent an asthma attack is by writing down exactly what it is that triggers your asthma off. Whenever you feel the start of your asthma coming on, write down the following: What were you doing at the time?
What was around you (i.e. animals, people, other environmental factors)
Where were you?By answering these que...
How Do Asthma Attacks Affect Our Body?
To illustrate in simple terms, asthma causes the tiny openings on the inside of our lungs to become narrower. As the openings become narrower, we find it more difficult to breathe.There are three things that contribute to this. The throat muscles tighten, the lining of the lungs becomes swollen, and mucus builds up. The end result feels like being ...
Asthma Attacks
Asthma can be life-threatening. It is a lung disease that is caused by the contraction of the muscles in the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma is mostly characterized by coughing after crying or laughing; wheezing; panting or shortness of breath; and frequent allergies. When you experience one or more of these symptoms, and it seems t...
Cause Of Asthma
You may be wondering what the cause of asthma is, especially if you are keen to reduce the severity and frequency of your attacks. Asthma is a respiratory condition that can have an impact on the quality of your life. With an asthma attack, you feel weakened considerably and may not be able to function normally. However, instead of feeling helples...
The Genetics Of Asthma
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